CHS and Timberlane students who earned accolades at state and national levels lauded.
By John Tredrea
High school and middle school students participating in three extra-curricular organizations that have earned accolades at the state and national levels were honored at the May 19 Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education meeting.
Once again this year, Central High School’s Envirothon team turned in an outstanding performance in state competitions. The team will move on to compete against units from around the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In this year’s state competition, five HoVal students took first places in competitions that focused on forestry, soils, wildlife and other areas, high school science Supervisor Trudy Iwanski told the school board. The five first-place winners are Graelyn Brashear, Alex Carney, Seung-An Chyun, Sami Nichols and Jon Sellers. The third-place winners are Vince Caristo, Hope Connolly, Chrissy Fairbanks, Adam Forbes and John Nettles. Aaron Edwards was an alternate member of the Envirothon team.
High school band, orchestra and choral groups who recently competed in Orlando, Fla., against units from all over the country also did very well, fine arts Supervisor Peter Griffin said, taking a batch of first and second places in their respective divisions.
It wasn’t only their musical acumen that impressed Mr. Griffin, who began working in the Hopewell Valley district a few years ago. "In 19 years of traveling with young musicians, I’ve never had a finer group than this one," he declared. "Like their performance onstage, their performance offstage was really exemplary."
This year’s Mini Model Congress in Trenton drew a team of 18 Timberlane students to the state house in Trenton. "Our schools have no more important goal than helping produce good citizens," said Timberlane Principal Steve Cochrane. He said participation in the Mini Model Congress is an integral part of that effort. Advisors to this year’s team were Joann Guellnitz and Leigh Washburn.
Timberlane students who won awards for writing bills at this year’s Mini Model Congress are: Beth Goldgar, Owen Healy, Ben Sheng, Trevor Saunders, Joan Barrasso, Dan Brown, Cara Mitchell, Anura Deshmukh, Anna Bruestle, Lacey Gehm and Brian DeAnglis.
Students who won awards because their bills were chosen for debate are Manishika Agaskar and Archiana Rachakonda. Students who won awards for public speaking are Devon Kennedy, Amalia McKee and Ric Gainsborg.

