A total of 214 eighth grade students participated in a Commencement Program at Ansonia Middle School on June 17 in the school auditorium. The program was followed by a reception for students and their families.
Co-Principals Amy O’Brien and Terri Goldson also announced the top two graduates of the class: Xhemile Shahini of Team 8‑West, who gave the welcoming address, and Bryan Nguy of Team 8‑East, who delivered the history of the class.
Xhemile, daughter of Donike and Fatos Shahini, is a member of the AMS National Junior Honor Society and the AMS Human Relations Club. She has been selected as a Student of the Month and has maintained perfect attendance. In the community, Xhemile has played recreational soccer, has donated clothes and food for charity, and plans to play volleyball in high school. She will attend Ansonia High School in the fall and is considering entering the field of architecture in the future.
Bryan, son of Bruce Nguy and Quyen Lam, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and the Yearbook Club at AMS. He will attend Ansonia High School in the fall and is considering studying to become a software developer.
Other speakers during the commencement included Jose Aguilar, a member of Student Government, who led the Pledge of Allegiance; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Merlone; and Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti. Students Gloria Arapi and Nevaeh Sorrentino announced the yearbook dedication to Teacher Michelle Sloat.
Ninety-seven students earned gold seals for earning grades of 85 percent or higher throughout the year. An asterick before their names indicates those students:
Michael Anthony Abate, *Jose Antonio Aguilar, Tyrell Allen, Darwin Amaya, Troy Anthony Anderson, Ayanna Atia Andrade, *Martin Antoine, *Gloria Arapi, Bryanna Bernice Ayala, *Sebastian Ayala, *Arsalan Rehan Baig, *Carlos Gerald Bayon, *Luca Ferriero Belenchia, Anthony C. Bellido, *Jazmin Beltran, *Abba Sidona Bestman, Sorreall Sammywleh Bestman, *Timmy Betancur, Luceidy Kyani Billini, Samuel Bishara, *James Bolandk, Anthony J. Boothe, Dominick James Boylan, *Cali Tatum Brown, Terjuan Treymayne Burney, and Travis Antione Bush.
*Savanna N. Buster, Javier Enrique Cabrera, Matthew C. Cafaro, Emmanuel Campo, *Julia Ashley Catale, *Laurie Jasmine Cavallaro, Preston Christy, Akorah Kaitlyn Collins, Tyler Collins, Sergio Miguel Cardona Colon, *Jayme Lea Conklin, Devin Conniff, Michael Vincent Daniels, James DeFrank, Mackenzie Alexa DeNigris, *Tony Diaz, *Gianna Marie DiLorenzo, *Carly Lynn Douglas, *Athennia Roselyn Drauss, Alexcia Edmonds, *Michael Esposito, Nicholas Christopher Evans, *Rachael Eye, *Victor Michael Falkowski, Gabriela Nichole Fernandez, Millenia Figueras, *Jacklyn Iyana Finney, Adrian Flores, *Daniell’s Flores, and Lekeisha Tatiana Fonseca.
*Gaby Galicia Barrientos, Ilia Garcia, Jonathan F. Garcia, *Alaina Elizabeth Gaudet, Eric Gaudet, Jaecyn Cianna Gill, Sky Daysha Gillison, Izabela Gola, Madeline Elizabeth Go’mez, Bianca Maryann Gonzalez, Elijah Jai Antonio Gray, Jah’nae L. Green-Younger, *Karl Rasheen Gregory, Anthony Hallak, Nychelle Natalia Shanice Hamilton, *Leslie Sharilet Hernandez, *Nikkole Genevieve Hine, Glenn Hines, *Devin Jorden Hollister, Albert Bernard Hooks, *Abbie Hosking, *Robert John Hudak IV, Zah’nae Salita Hudson, Jaden Hunt, *Hunter Irwin, Maliq Jacobs, *Gabriella Irene Januario, *Andrij Jatsiv, *Angeleah Johnson, Leah Johnson, Hezekiah Johnson-Coverson, and *Mia Joseph.
Connor Kahyaoglu, Peter Kantzas, *Anna Marie Kichar, Matthew Jason Kleiner, *McKinley Rae Koehler, *Tyler K. Koenig, Kalie Morgan Konovaluk, *Grace Lee Kuntz, *Isabella Nicole Kurus, *Kamil Kwaskiewicz, Mark Joseph Lambert, Johnia M. Lawson, *Nadia Jean Lebron, *Anna Michelle Leggo, Bruce Joseph Lichti, *Tyler Ann Lock, Jose Lopez, *Stephanie Michelle Lopez, Justin Mathew Charles Lung, *Sarah Ann Madar, Nathanael Ainsley Maine, Ian Edward Marganski, Michael Marino, *Sahara Cassidy Markoya, *Eliezer Javier Martinez, Jeremie Javier Martinez-Santos, Dylon Mayo, *Tajunique Irie McIntosh, *Miyah Jullian Mcleod, Devon Mero, *Johnathan J. Moger, George Louis Mooney, Emerie Sade Morales, Lilliana Ivelise Morales, Essence Naomi Morris, Andrew Raymond Mort, *Evelysse Motta, and Aaron Nicholas Mueller.
Alisha Christina Napoleon, *Tyler Alexander Navarro, *Bryan Lu Nguy, John Nimons, Kaylyn Ortiz, Nathan Luis Ortiz, Tatayana Lashia Osborn, *Katarzyna Osiecka-Kaszuba, *Dain Magnus Padilla, Freddie R. Padilla III, Keara Monique Padin, Johnathon Thomas Palmieri, Vincent Alessio Pannone, Monte Robert Parisi, Javel Parker, *Sohan Faraz Pasha, *Rebecca L. Paskiewicz, John David Peabody, *Egypt Monique Pearson-Coleman, Monte Peppers, *Camila Andrea Peralta, *Zuleyka Pereira, Karim Petit-Jean, Blake Phillips, *John V. Picheco III, *Lance Hawk Praseutsack, *Anthony Joseph Pulieri, Joshua Ryan Rainish, Aziah Rae Ramos, *Nikka Mae Real, Taniyah Ann Reid, Raul Donavin Reyes, *Autumn Elizabeth Ries, Christopher L. Rivera, Jommar T Roc, Jonte T Roc, *Gabrielle A. Rodriguez, Kevin Alexander Rodriguez, Larissa Giselle Rodriguez, *Omar Rodriguez, *Ricardo Rodriguez, *Alexandra Courtenay Rogers, *Delahla Caridad Rosario, *Samantha Marlene Rowland, *Abigail Rupar, and *Marco Domenico Russo.
*Hunter M. Saddler, *Ruth C. Sanon, Elias Santiago, *Jessica Schryver, Karyme Teresa Serrano, *Xhemile Shahini, *Siona Janiece Shakoor, Jermaine Smalls, Alfonso Smith, *Nevaeh Marie Sorrentino, Zinia Nubia South, Stephen Joseph Sulkowski, *Ashir Ahmed Syed, Michal Tarasik, *Kayla Noel Targouski, Edwin Tavarez, *Lexy E. Tomasella, Karyanne Monique Torres, Kristopher Trent Torres, *Matthew Torres, Matthew M. Torres, *Kathy Tran, Kreshnik Trdevaj, *Colby Reese Trembley, and Keah N. Trimble.
Hunter R. Us, Brandon Jorel Lee Vargas, Nicolas Vega, *Jada Caryn Venson, Xander Viteri, *Destiny Marie Walker, *Aaron Wang, Jovonn M. Ward Jr., *Ekettee Menkarpoe Weamie, Alexia Weitzler, Raymond Anthony Williams-McCoy, Elizabeth China Wilson, *Noah Winley, *Christopher J. Winters, Jason Leigh Wohnsen, *Katie E. Zarka, and *Victoria Lee Zelanin.
Commencement Prizes
Commencement prizes were also awarded to Ansonia Middle School eighth graders during a program on June 17 in the Ansonia Middle School auditorium. They were:
Ansonia Middle School Prize, for outstanding scholastic achievement, to the highest ranking graduates: Bryan Nguy and Xhemile Shahini.
Ansonia Federation of Teachers Local 1012 Prize, for highest average in algebra: Johnathan Moger and Jacklyn Finney.
Ansonia Administrators’ Organization Award, for highest average in language arts: Cali Brown and Jacklyn Finney.
Ansonia Middle School Principals’ Award, for special recognition: Colby Trembley and Victoria Zelanin.
Ansonia Middle School Science Prize, for outstanding achievement: Bryan Nguy and Hunter Irwin.
Raymond Steeves Award, for most improved in academics and citizenship: Sahara Markoya and Alisha Napolean.
Walter Richter Memorial Award, given by Hilltop Hose Co. #5, for outstanding effort: Kaylyn Ortiz and Camila Peralta.
Seymour “Bob” Spanier Memorial Awards, given by Hilltop Hose Co. #5, for improvement in math and volunteerism: Gianna DeLorenzo and Gaby Galicia Barrientos.
Knights of Columbus – Holy Rosary Council Award, for the most motivated and conscientious: Gianna DeLorenzo and Grace Kuntz.
Ansonia American Legion Post 50 Award, for good citizenship, patriotism and spirit: Julia Catale and John Picheco III.
Ansonia Middle School Awards, for outstanding achievement: Siona Shakoor and Sarah Madar (art); Nevaeh Sorrentino and Mia Joseph (music); Terjuan Burney and Jeremie Martinez-Santos (P.E.); Abigail Rupar and John Picheco III (health); Dain Padilla and Xhemile Shahini (consumer economics).
Bright Lights Musicals, LLC award, for outstanding drama students: Cali Brown, Aziah Ramos, Colby Trembley and Elias Santiago
ESL Award, for greatest improvement and effort in the study of English: Edwin Tavarez and Madeline Gomez-Pena.
AMS Social Studies Prize: Johnathan Moger and Ludmia Joseph.
AMS Math Prize: Lance Praseutsack and Tyler Lock.
AMS Spanish Prize, for outstanding achievement in a foreign language: Matthew Torres and Mia Joseph.
James Klenota 8 West Award for excellent behavior, perseverance and determination: Autumn Ries.
Ernest M. Grant Memorial Scholarship Award, to the second highest ranking African American girl and boy on each team: Ekettee Weamie, Terjuan Burney, Jacklyn Finney and Karim Petit-Jean.
