MHS seniors enjoy special evening
By: Mary Ellen Zangara
Manville High School seniors Christine Bradley and Rafal Brozyna were among the 34 student-athletes honored at the Somerset County Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner last Thursday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset.
Timothy O’Halloran, president of the Somerset County High School Principals’ Association, began the awards by welcoming everyone to the dinner.
"This occasion affords us the opportunity to recognize exceptional young men and women who have demonstrated superior academic achievement and athletic ability. We are proud to pay tribute to these outstanding students and to the parents, teachers and coaches who have helped make their success possible," he said.
After dinner, the awards were presented to the student-athletes by their principal. As their names were read, they entered the room in a spotlight with their senior picture being shown on a big screen.
Manville High School principal Mary McLoughlin presented both of the athletes with a trophy cup and they received a framed biography with their senior photo.
Bradley is the daughter of Dottie and Mark and has earned 10 varsity letters during her high school years four in soccer, three in basketball and three softball. She also received the Most Valuable Player and Highest GPA for MHS. Recently she was awarded the NJSIAA National Girls and Women in Sports award.
Ranked ninth in her class, she also has participated in other activities at MHS like the student council, marching band and the Future Business Leaders of America. In addition to all these activities, Bradley has been a member of the drama club for four years and is a 14-year dance student receiving the 4 Performing Arts Syllabus award in tap. Currently, she is employed by the Manville Recreation and Cool-A-Matic, Inc.
"This was very organized. I didn’t expect the spotlight when I was walking down right in the middle with everyone looking at you, I didn’t except that at all," Bradley said. "We were talking to people from other schools and it was nice. I won’t forget it, I feel accomplished and very proud of myself."
Bradley will be attending Wagner College in September.
Brozyna is the son of Renata and Andrezej and has earned four varsity letters in soccer and has participated on the wrestling and track teams for MHS. Being a native of Poland, Brozyna has overcome language barriers and has excelled in athletics as well as academics.
Ranked fifth in the senior class, he is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, FBLA, Key Club and the Varsity Club. He was also named the 2005 Homecoming King. This year he was awarded a trip to Russia as a four-year Russian Olympiad medallist.
"I was glad my parents were there with me," Brozyna said. "It was a lot of hard work for four years of high school. I was a little nervous but we got to talk to all the other kids and learn about their accomplishments."
In the fall, Brozyna will be attending Rutgers University.
MHS athletic director Pat LaMastro was very proud of this year’s recipients.
"They are very good kids and very good students," he said. "Both of them athletically have lettered a number of times."
McLoughlin was also proud of her school’s representatives at the banquet.
"They have done a lot for the school and have excelled. They made the high school proud. They are going to go on in the future and be leaders in whatever community they get involved with," McLoughlin said.

