Middle School Honors Academic Standouts

Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from the Louis M. Klein Middle School were honored at the annual Student Recognition Awards Dinner Monday night at Harrison High School; for their outstanding achievements in various subject areas.

Parents, students and teachers gathered at the awards ceremony, which was held in the high school's Performing Arts Center and followed by a dinner in the cafeteria. The event was sponsored by the Mack Goldner Foundation, which has continually supported L.M.K. for more than 10 years. It's a foundation that is run by the Marraccini family and established to give-back to the Harrison community.

Eighty-nine of the students received a certificate in their specific academic area of excellence - including band, orchestra, French, Spanish, social studies, English, math, science, music or for their involvement in scholastic activities and sports. 

"We want to recognize their achievements and success in a variety of ways; in core academic subjects of English, social studies and math, but also many of our students achieve excellence in art and science, technology, music and subjects outside the core curriculum," said L.M.K. Assistant Principal Brian Seligman. "Two years ago we decided to make a change so that we can give a variety of teachers an opportunity to recognize students that excel in their classes as well."

Each of the teachers read the student's name and briefly spoke about that student so each of the parents could hear why they received the award.

"It's our job to find the gifts that reside in your children," Harrison School Superintendent Louis Wool said. "I'm really excited to be here tonight and I would like to congratulate everybody."

"You should be very proud of yourselves--I know that getting here wasn't easy- I also have received this award, and although the name of the program has changed the criteria for the recognition certainly has not," said Christie Marraccini, who spoke on behalf of the Marraccini family. "I know it takes a lot of character, dedication, integrity and ambition in order to achieve this award."

"This award has motivated me to achieve excellence in school and I hope it will motivate you," she said.

Below is a list of L.M.K. award recipients:

Grade 6:

• Daniel Barnett, Matthew Bonnano, Brooke Canno, Lara Cummins, Caroline DeCarlo and Bianca Diniz.

• Paris Evans, James Francisco, Graham Gevirtz, Christopher Hicks and Emma Hochman.

• Risa Komatsu, Joseph Lovinger, Deanna Macchia, Philip Milana, Scott Moretzky, Lauren Ryan, Mihoko Sakanaka, Andrew Son, Constantinos Staten, Ayaka Yorihiro and Andrew Zink

Grade 7:

• Erica LaManna, Kyle Lometti, Grace Manning, Sydney Mueller, Joseph Nannariello, Megan O'Rourke, Cori Pitiger, Catherine Rocchi, Michael Salvatori, Justin Scaperotti and Paula Segovia.

• Ian Vela, Carol Ann Albanese, Olivia Barbulescu, Gabriella Barile, Scott Bartman,  Stephen Clow, Jacqueline Dalfonso, Mariana De Oliveira, Nicole DiBella, Christopher Garritano, Hayato Kadoya, Emily Kahn and Emma LaBarbera

Grade 8:

• Rula Abdul Samad, Sabrina Adipietro, Benjamin Adler, Michael Amicucci, Matthew Baker, Joseph Barnett, Charlotte Breslin, Emma Camillone, Sarah Crozier, Nicole Cuneo and Sarah Curtis.

• Alba Damaso, Erica Dattero, Daniel DeBois, Kendra Deschamps, Ryan Doty, Amanda Friedman, Christina Frohlich, Aura Gomez-Tagle, Amna Haider, Yuriko Hirota and Deven Jacobi.

• Alexis Ledesma, Coby Lefkowitz, Trent Lefkowitz, Liliane Lindsay, Antonia Lovjer, Sophie Major, Daniel Maldonado, Halle Mastroberardino, Maximillian McMullen and Riley McTague.

• Ryan Nangle, Julia Ng, Laura Noejovich, Stepheny Ordonez, Lucas Pettinato, Joseph Puccio, Stephanie Rodman, Alex Rosales - Acosta, Joseph Sanabria, Fiorella Seminario-Espinosa and Michael Stella.