Best-Of-The-Best Honored During Wantagh Senior Awards

Press release from the Wantagh Union Free School District:

June 25 2020

Wantagh School District’s top seniors were recognized for their scholarship, community service, overcoming hardships and enthusiasm for extra-curricular activities during the annual senior awards ceremony, held virtually on June 18.

During this cherished tradition, led by senior awards adviser Kali Psihos and Director of Guidance Frank Muzio, 117 of the Class of 2020’s most notable students received scholarship money from local community businesses and organizations, as well as special honors from government officials. The students’ graduation photo was flashed on the screen as faculty and administrators introduced the recipients of 115 awards.
Ms. Kali Psihos said the virtual ceremony was a way to honor the students who have worked diligently throughout their four years at Wantagh High School. She said they will be remembered for their “fortitude, grace and kindness.”

During her remarks, Principal Carolyn Breivogel congratulated the students and said, “We are positive that the next phase of your lives will be bright.”

For a list of awards, please log onto the district website at www.wantaghschools.org.

Wantagh High School Senior Awards Ceremony

In Honor of Our Outstanding Seniors
Class of 2020

Flag Salute

Welcome Ms. Carolyn Breivogel

Awards by Outstanding Organizations
Award Recipients
Board of Education Paideia Award
Leadership, Scholarship, Service ...................Travis Minutoli

Superintendent's Excelsior Award
Achievement and Dedication Athena Yao

County Executive Achievement Award
Scholarship & Community Service Justin Reisert

Presiding Supervisor of Hempstead Community Service and
Academic Excellence Award Abigail Colaco

New York State Comptroller’s Achievement Award Olivia Vinson

Nassau County Comptroller’s Achievement Award Elizabeth Maher

Nassau County Clerk Award Jason Zheng

President’s Award for Outstanding Educational Excellence Travis Minutoli
Athena Yao

President’s Award for Outstanding Educational Achievement Jonathan Caradonna
Jacob Chan
Thomas Curan
Shayna DeRosa
Matthew Devine
Julia Ferrara
Morgan Flaherty
Arej Hussain
Ethan Insinga
Timothy Migliaro
Jenna Miller
Cristina Paier
Dylan Small
Leah Stavrides
Joseph Streib
Ashley Tavroff
Alexandra Vaccaro
Ankitha Varanasi
Hannah Watson

Wantagh High School Senior Awards Ceremony

Nassau County Legislative Student Citizenship Award, District 19 Kristina Fuchs
Owen Grabkowitz
Laura Kelton
Timothy Migliaro

New York State Attorney General’s Office Triple “C” Award,
Character, Courage & Commitment to Improving Society Andrew Amato
Kaitlin Steingruebner

Nassau County Association of School Business Officials &
New York State Association for Superintendents of Buildings & Grounds Jacob Chan

The John Pisani Memorial Scholarship Abigail Colaco
Timothy Ross

NYCPD Blue Scholarship Scott Gadell Memorial Scholarship Aidan Hotaling

Wantagh American Legion Post 1273 Scholarship Award Olivia Vinson

Wantagh American Legion Post 1273 Scholarship Award Matthew Devine

Wantagh American Legion Post 1273 Auxiliary Scholarship Award Jack Benedetto

United States Marine Corp Scholastic Excellence Danielle Lynch
Michael Silverman

Kiwanis Club of Wantagh Award Elizabeth Byrnes
Elizabeth Maher
Athena Yao

Wantagh Lions Club Scholarship Jamie McDevitt
Christopher Walpole

Sons of Italy Giovanni Caboto Lodge Scholarship Award Travis Minutoli

Wantagh Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Elizabeth Byrnes
Samantha Kerrigan

Departmental Awards

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT Presented at the Wantagh High School Varsity Athletic Awards

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Excellence in English Delaney Skelton
Alexandra Vaccaro
Olivia Vinson

Excellence in Theatre Arts Olivia Cruz
Justin Froese
Killian Hannigan
Samantha Kerrigan
Michael Silverman
John Vaiano

Escapades Editorial Excellence Award Juliet Watstein

Excellence in Journalism Jenna Miller

Wantagh Herald-Citizen Journalism Award Juliet Watstein

FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES DEPARTMENT

Excellence in Culinary Arts Anthony DeMatteo
Kate Padgett
Michael Rossi

Excellence in Child Development Samantha Kravitz
Ryan Smith

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT

Arts Leadership Award from the Art Supervisors Association Athena Yao

Excellence in Drawing Erin Obregon
Cristina Paier
Noel Polack
Emily Sturm

Excellence in Painting Ankitha Varanasi
Athena Yao

Excellence in Printmaking James Fisenne

Excellence in Graphic Design Matthew Frucsi
Dale Robertson
John Sileo
Emily Sturm
Kyle Thompson

Excellence in Screen Printing James Fisenne
Nalani O’Brien

Excellence in Digital Publishing Jessica Graca
Jenna Kaufmann
Erin McCarthy
Gianna Surace

Excellence in Photography Kaitlin Steingruebner
Nina Storic
John Vaiano

Overall Excellence AP Scholars Noel Polack

Scholastic Art Awards

Gold Key Athena Yao

Silver Key Ankitha Varanasi
Athena Yao

Honorable Mention Athena Yao

All County Senior Scholarship Winner Cristina Paier

New York State Art Teachers Association Elizabeth Droluk
Gabriella Gerardi
Kaitlin Quigley
Ashley Tavroff
Olivia Vinson

Music Presented at Music Awards Ceremony

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics Kathleen Frazer

Outstanding Participation in Mathematics Jenna Miller

Excellence in Algebra Travis Minutoli

Excellence in Geometry Abigail Colaco

Excellence in Algebra II Athena Yao

Ellen Spiegel Award Alexandra Avena
Morgan Flaherty
Owen Grabkowitz
Laura Kelton
Elizabeth Maher
Julianna Maynard
Travis Minutoli
Cristina Paier
Justin Reisert
Timothy Ross
Olivia Vinson
Athena Yao
Jason Zheng

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Excellence in Earth Science Matthew Frusci

Excellence in Biology Justin Reisert

Excellence in Chemistry Travis Minutoli

Excellence in Physics Timothy Ross

Excellence in AP Biology Elizabeth Maher

Excellence in AP Physics Athena Yao

Excellence in Forensics Ryan Carlo
Paige Carman
Arej Hussain
Lindsay Nelson

Excellence in Anatomy Alexandra Vaccaro

Excellence in AP Environmental Science Jason Zheng

American Chemical Society Award Justin Reisert

Science Olympiad Award Abigail Colaco
William Hostetter
Travis Minutoli
Justin Reisert
Athena Yao

SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Excellence in Social Studies Jonathan Caradonna
Abigail Colaco
Shayna DeRosa
William Hostetter
Katherine Mazzer
Jenna Miller
Travis Minutoli
Justin Reisert
Timothy Ross
Joseph Streib
Julia Wilkinson
Athena Yao
Jason Zheng

TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Excellence in Automotive Technology Connor Sommers

Excellence in Engineering Anthony Piergiovanni

Excellence in Robotics Joseph Streib

Excellence in Wood Working Cecilio Vargas

Wantagh High School Senior Awards Ceremony

Departmental Awards

WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

WORLD LANGUAGES SEAL of BI-LITERACY AWARDS
Abigail Colaco
Jacob Chan
Julia Ferrara
Jenna Miller
Kaitlin Steingruebner
Athena Yao

Excellence in Italian Travis Minutoli

Excellence in Spanish Olivia Vinson

ENL Jinyou Xie

WANTAGH DRAMA PARENTS & ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Achievement in Theatre Arts Kyra Orgass
John Sileo
John Vaiano

Board of Education Appreciation Award Kaitlin Steingruebner
Juliet Watstein

Wantagh High School Assistant Principal Award Killian Hannigan
Nalani O’Brien

Wantagh High School Award for Special Service to the Class of 2020 John Sileo
Juliet Watstein

Wantagh High School Black & Gold Award Kate Padgett
Erin McCarthy

Wantagh Schools United Retirees Mildred Mangum Scholarship Award Anthony Piergiovanni

Wantagh Schools United Retirees Jeannette Stern Scholarship Award Katherine Mazzer

Wantagh Schools United Retirees James Smith Scholarship Award Brianna Carroll

Wantagh United Teachers Scholarship Shayna DeRosa
Matthew Devine
Morgan Flaherty
Travis Minutoli

Wantagh United Teachers Pat McDonnell Memorial Scholarship Elizabeth Byrnes

Wantagh United Teachers Annie Allison Memorial Scholarship Hannah Watson

Scholarship on behalf of Wantagh Educational Secretaries Association Alyssa Lombardo

Wantagh High School Senior Awards Ceremony

Wantagh 6 – 12 Association Scholarships

Wantagh 6-12 Association Achievement Scholarship Andrew Amato
Alexandra Avena
Christina Barbarino
Jack Benedetto
Kyle Benedetto
Nicholas Conklin
Jenna Kaufmann
Julianna Maynard
Meghan Reilly
Michael Rodin
Christopher Walpole
Joseph Weldon

Wantagh 6-12 Association Recognition Scholarship Alyssa Albanese
Biana Badame
Megan Beard
Debbie Boudouris
Grace Buscemi
Kelly Casey
Kayla Conklin
Danielle DiBenedetto
Julia DiCianni
Gabriella Gerardi
Brandon Goldberg
Nikki Hooker
Theodore Hostetter
William Hostetter
Laura Kelton
Melissa LoPiccolo
Jamie McDevitt
Emily McNally
Angelina Obdyke
Ricky Russo
Joseph Streib
John Vaiano

Wantagh 6-12 Association Board of Education Recognition Scholarship Elizabeth Byrnes

Wantagh 6 – 12 Association Achievement Awards

Art Noel Polack
Michael Silverman
Jonathan Caradonna

Physical Education Jack Padula
Ryan Smith

Business Education Jake Boden
Domonique Esposito

English Athena Yao

Dramatics Kyra Orgass
John Sileo
Joseph Streib

Family and Consumer Sciences Kate Padgett

Mathematics Morgan Kramer

Music
Band William Hostetter
Scott Stout
Orchestra Melissa LoPiccolo
Kaitlin Steingruebner
Chorus Samantha DeVito
Julia Ferrara
Juliet Watstein

Science Travis Minutoli

Social Studies Justin Reisert

Technology Joseph Streib

World Language
Spanish Kaitlin Steingruebner
Italian Timothy Migliaro
ENL Jinyou Xie

Wantagh P.T.A. Council Scholarship Andrew Amato
Christina Barbarino
Nicholas Conklin
Jenna Kaufmann
Morgan Kramer
Alyssa Lombardo
Julianna Maynard
Meghan Reilly
Scott Stout
Joseph Streib
Emily Sturm
Christopher Walpole
Joseph Weldon

Forest Lake P.T.A. Scholarship Kathleen Frazer
Morgan Kramer
Joseph Weldon

Forest Lake P.T.A. Scholarship in Memory of Betty Mauer Julianna Maynard

Forest Lake P.T.A. Scholarship in Memory of Paul Segerdahl Julia Wilkinson

Forest Lake P.T.A. Scholarship Board of Education Recognition Award…………….. Katherine Mazzer

Forest Lake P.T.A. Scholarship in Memory of Chris Garske Eric Kuchynsky

Forest Lake P.T.A. The Maureen Goldberg Scholarship Ryan Smith

Mandalay P.T.A. Scholarship Alyssa Lombardo

Mandalay P.T.A. The Lynne D’Agostino Scholarship Joseph Tarry

Mandalay P.T.A. Board of Education Recognition Scholarship Christopher Walpole

Mandalay P.T.A. Victoria Riccardi Memorial Scholarship Joseph Streib

Mandalay P.T.A. Athletic Scholarship John DeVito

Mandalay P.T.A. Mandalay Retired Teachers Scholarship Angelina Obdyke

Wantagh Elementary P.T.A. Scholarship Julia DiCianni
Justin Reisert
Sabrina Simone
Stephen Smith
Kaylee Pizzileo

Wantagh Elementary P.T.A. Board of Education Recognition Scholarship Elizabeth Byrnes

SEPTA - Supportive Education P.T.A. Scholarships………………………………….. Ceili Brown
Allison DePaulis
Julia Kessler
Jack Padula
Connor Sommers
Christopher Walpole

Allyson Rosenblatt Memorial Scholarship Cristina Paier

Barbara Santise Strength & Honor Memorial Scholarship Danielle DiBenedetto
Josiah Hixson

George Onufrey Memorial Scholarship William Hostetter

Gregory S. Gervasi Memorial Art Scholarship Dale Robertson

Jerry Cusack Memorial Scholarship Angelina Obdyke

Josephine Stencel Memorial Award Sabrina LoCascio

Forever 20 June Leahy-Furda Memorial Scholarship Jenna Kaufmann
Emily Sturm

Courtney Kernaghan Memorial Scholarship Kyra Orgass
John Sileo

Jeffrey M. Klapper Memorial Scholarship Jamie McDevitt

The Fearless Warrior Scholarship Olivia Vinson

John A. Rieckhoff Memorial Scholarship Jake Boden

The Kathleen J. Cahill Memorial Scholarship Andrew Amato
Kaitlin Steingruebner

Music Awards Presented at Music Awards Ceremony

Outstanding Service Symphonic Orchestra Justin Froese
Samantha Kerrigan
Melissa LoPiccolo
Cristina Paier
Justin Reisert
Kaitlin Steingruebner
Joseph Streib

Outstanding Vocalist Kaylee Pizzileo

Outstanding Service Choral Ensemble Matthew Berlin
Elizabeth Byrnes
Samantha DeVito
Julia Ferrara
Julia Kessler
Emily Sturm
Joseph Tarry
Hayley Vecchio
Juliet Watstein

Outstanding Vocalist Vocal Jazz Ensemble James Degnan

Senior Dance Captain - Senior Color Guard Captain Awards Melissa Weber
Cristina Paier

Senior Drum Major Awards Julia DiCianni
Kathleen Frazer

NYSCAME Leadership Award Kathleen Frazer

Band Council Executive Board Service Awards Theodore Hostetter
William Hostetter
Laura Kelton
Katarina King
Julianna Maynard
Travis Minutoli
Sabrina Simone
Scott Stout
Melissa Weber
Joseph Weldon
Julia Wilkinson

Music Awards Presented at Music Awards Ceremony

Band Council Service Awards Aaron Aponte
Matthew Berlin
Jacob Chan
Aidan Hotaling
Michael Silverman
Ankitha Varanasi

Pep Band Student Directors Michael Silverman
Scott Stout
Band Citizenship Award Katarina King

Outstanding Section Leadership Award Timothy Eletto

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award Scott Stout

Semper Fidelis United States Marine Corps Award Julia DiCianni
Timothy Eletto

John Philip Sousa Award William Hostetter

Wantagh High School Bandwagon Scholarship Award Travis Minutoli

Mindy Dragovich Scholarship Award Theodore Hostetter

Pat McDonnell Memorial Scholarship Award Elizabeth Byrnes

6-12 Scholarship Award for Band Scott Stout

6-12 Scholarship Awards for Orchestra Melissa LoPiccolo
Kaitlin Steingruebner

6-12 Scholarship Award for Chorus Elizabeth Byrnes

*******

Board of Education

Ms. Elizabeth Guber President
Mr. Adam Fisher Vice-President
Mr. Anthony Greco Trustee
Ms. Kera McLoughlin Trustee
Ms. Laura Reich Trustee

Administration

Mr. John McNamara Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Marc Ferris Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Mr. Anthony Cedrone Assistant Superintendent for Business

High School Administration

Mrs. Carolyn Breivogel High School Principal
Mr. James E. Brown …Assistant High School Principal
Mr. Nick Pappas………..………………………………………………………... Assistant High School Principal

Master of Ceremonies

Mr. Frank Muzio Director of Guidance & Family and Consumer Sciences

Ms. Kali Psihos Chairperson, Senior Awards

We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the many faculty members of the Awards Committee who give their time and energy in identifying the Outstanding Seniors we honor this evening.

We also acknowledge the generosity of our Wantagh Drama Parents & Alumni Association and
our 6-12 Association for their respective awards.

This press release was produced by the Wantagh Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.