HHS senior duo quite impressive
By: Mary Ellen Zangara
Two Hillsborough High School students were among the 32 student-athletes honored Thursday night at the 20th annual Somerset County Scholar Athlete Awards Dinner at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset.
HHS seniors Mike Klueber and Jean Hsu were honored by the Somerset County High School Principals’ Association for their hard work in athletics as well as academics. Parents, teachers, coaches, friends and school officials joined in the celebration. Richard Stotler, President of the Somerset County Principal’s Association, welcomed the crowd and acknowledged the guests in the audience. David Livingston, the County Superintendent and Freeholder Ken Scherer were part of the audience who came to honor the young achievers.
"On behalf of the Somerset County secondary principals and athletic directors, I am pleased to welcome each of you to the 20th annual Somerset County Scholar Athlete dinner. One of our primary missions as high school principals is to prepare our students to be knowledgeable and reputable members of society who function with self-esteem, discipline, integrity and compassion. Student involvement in high school athletics not only provides balance to their academics but also contributes to molding their character.
"This evening we recognize 32 of Somerset County’s finest scholar-athletes for their achievements in the classroom and on the playing fields. They have all presented their schools in exemplary fashion. We are also here to honor the families, teachers counselors and coaches for the outstanding support and guidance they have given to this evening’s recipients throughout their four years of high school."
Edmund Jones, Principal of Somerset County Vo-Tech, spoke on behalf of the principals’ association and thanked the Lewis J. Gray foundation for their generous support of scholarship money. The invocation was said by Immaculata High School principal Sister Mary Birster and the dinner began.
After dinner, all the scholar athletes were asked to leave the ballroom so they could be announced for their awards.
Chairperson Dr. Thomas DiGanci, principal of Watchung Hills Regional High School, announced each recipient as he read their biography and their senior photograph was shown on a big screen. As each athlete entered the dark room, a spotlight followed them right to the front where their principal was waiting to present them with their bowl award, and their photograph was taken by a studio photographer to commemorate the event.
As Hillsborough High School was read, Klueber entered to his biography:
"Michael, son of Gary and Linda, is the National Honor Society Public Relations Officer. Michael is a four-year member of Prevention Using Students Help. Michael is a Peer Mentor and a member of the Paul Robeson Trail Leadership Academy at RVCC. Michael received the Magna Cum Laude National Latin Award as a sophomore.
"Since joining the cross country team during his sophomore year, Michael has claimed every school record and has been a three-time MVP. As an indoor and outdoor track athlete, Michael has been a team captain and is a three-time All-American in the mile."
Hsu followed next while her bio was read:
"Jean, daughter of Mei-Yin ands Yuan-Chuan, has been an honor roll student throughout her four years along with membership in the National Honor Society, vice president of the French Honor Society and treasurer of the Art Honor Society. She has participated on the school’s field hockey and lacrosse team all four years, swim team four two years and winter track team for one year, earning six varsity letters.
"She is an active member of the Class Cabinet and the Student Council, serves as a Peer Mentor, does volunteer work through the Interact Club or upon her own volition, and fights for human rights."
For both Mike and Jean, the night was a special one they will always remember.
"I feel extremely honored to received this recognition. When I was a freshman, a long term goal I set was to received the scholar-athlete award," Klueber said. "Many times I get recognition for what I do on the track and cross country races but not everybody sees how hard I work in the school and it’s a great honor to get this attention and to be honored with the scholar athlete scholarship. To have some of the people who have helped me the most in high school attend this meeting to show their support for me, I’m very thankful and glad that my parents are here because the have been the biggest support for me. It’s really a great event and I’m really fortunate to have been chosen as a Somerset County Scholar Athlete."
Jean was also honored to be a part of the awards.
"I’m so happy to received this wonderful honor, this wonderful award. Since I was a freshman, I always strived to maintain a perfect balance with my academic life as well as my extracurricular life and this just proves to myself that I have been able to do well," she said. "I am also especially glad that I could share this with my family and the teachers that have made such a difference in my life with my guidance counselor who has guided me through my school process, and my coaches who have also made me strive to do my best. This is just a very special night that I never dreamed I could ever obtain."

