Top KCSD students honored
The Kennett Education Association (KEA) held its 24th Annual Scholarship and Awards Reception, May 6, to recognize outstanding students for their academic merit and school citizenship. These students represent the excellence that the members of the Association encourage in the Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD).
KEA award winners for the 2014-15 academic year.
The KEA is the professional organization of teachers, librarians, guidance counselors, school nurses and school social workers of the KCSD. Each year members of KEA select students from different levels and disciplines for special recognition for their outstanding academic achievements and school citizenship qualities. The awards are funded by contributions from members of KEA totally more than $7000 in support by members.
Elementary level winners were fifth graders Lainee Foester and Luke Summa (Bancroft Elementary School), Kaila Haenn and Luke Augustine (Greenwood Elementary School), and Curie Cha and Jackson Hannon (New Garden Elementary School). These students were awarded certificates and $50 book gift cards.
Recognized for their performance at Kennett Middle School winners were eighth graders Emily Augustine and Davis Piercy who received certificates and $100 book gift cards.
Mike Kelly with scholarship winner Jacqueline Pizzini and her mentor Beth Decker
Earning accolades at the high school level for excellence throughout their high school careers in their disciplines were seniors Jonathan Sweet (Business Education), Laura Elliot (English), Jailis Caraballo (Family and Consumer Science), Andrew Luebbe (Fine Arts), Richard Doty (Mathematics), Marisa Maxwell (Music), P.J. O’Sullivan (Technical Arts), and Tiana Santos (World Languages). Arshia Faghri earned awards in two disciplines (Science and Social Studies). Each of these awards carried with it a check for $200.
Association President Michael Kelly presented the most prestigious award of the evening to senior Jacqueline Pizzini who will be pursuing a teaching career. Mr. Kelly welcomed Jackie into the profession and commended her for her dedication to building the future. Ms. Pizzini will major Early Education and Special Education at West Chester University. In her application letter, Pizzini noted that it had been her long time dream to be a teacher.
Mr. Kelly remarked, “Jacqueline has stayed true to her dream because many of her life experiences have nurtured that dream. She has been a camp counselor, a peer counselor, a participant in La Communidad Hispana’s Vive Tu Vida, a member of Kennett High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club, and a student at the Teacher Academy at the Technical College High School (TCHS).”
As part of her TCHS experience, Jacqueline spent three months working with third graders and with her former teacher at New Garden Elementary School, Mrs. Beth Decker, who spoke about the experience, “During her time with us, Jacqueline worked with the students in small groups or individually. They would get so excited if they knew it was their day to get to work with Miss Pizzini. She is a natural. We even got to make our television debuts together this year. Jacqueline was chosen to be the featured Teacher Academy student for a promotional video for the program that was broadcast across the county.”
Mr. Kelly presented Ms. Pizzini with scholarship money in the amount of $5000 to be paid over her four years of college. A reception hosted by KEA followed the presentations. For more information, contact Anne M. Carroll, 610-721-6258,
ac******@kc**.org
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