Jackson Dong and Patricia Kirejczyk are the top students in the eighth grade class at Ansonia Middle School
ANSONIA – A total of 195 eighth grade students participated in a Commencement Program at Ansonia Middle School (AMS) on June 18 in the Richard Nicolari Auditorium. The program was followed by a reception for students and their families.
Principal Dr. Michael Marotto also announced the top two graduates of the class: Jackson Dong of Team 8‑West, who delivered the future history of the class, and Patricia Kirejczyk of Team 8‑East, who gave the welcoming address.
Jackson, son of Feng Dong and Wu Zhu, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society at AMS. He has been honored for maintaining perfect attendance, been selected as a Student of the Month, and has won Unified Arts certificates. In the community, he is a member of the Boys & Girls Club and enjoys basketball, football, cooking, games and traveling. His intended occupation is to be a computer engineer. His advice to next year’s eighth graders is to “try your best, be responsible and respectable, be patient, and follow your passion.” Jackson will be attending Ansonia High School in the fall.
Patricia, daughter of Ewa Kirejczyk and Wojciech Kirejczyk, is also a member of the National Junior Honor Society at AMS, as well as the Yearbook Club and the Human Relations Club. In the community, she has helped out with food drives and works at her church. She enjoys soccer, drawing, photography and editing. Her advice to the incoming Grade 8 class is, “Don’t be nervous; you will be fine. Be serious with your grades.” Patricia will attend Ansonia High School and is considering pursuing a career as an attorney or photographer.
Other speakers during the commencement included Mia Padro Eshona Vickers, who led the Pledge of Allegiance; Noah Darrow and Victoria Koenig, who announced the yearbook dedication to art teacher Holli Oberacker; and Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti. Teacher Jessica Gomez-Bedosky spoke about the National Junior Honor Society, and Assistant Principal Steve Marchetti announced the award recipients.
Dr. Carol Merlone, Superintendent of Schools, presented the graduates, who are listed below. An asterisk appears before the names of the 41 members of the National Junior Honor Society:
Sha’Kyah Abrahams, Brianah Heaven Akins*, Faith Marie Altieri, Cristian Alvarez, Joshua Isaic Andujar, Jesse Arnold, Jeremiah Atkins, Jalinda Aviles, Jeffrey Benavides*, Manolo Bermeo*, Mateo Bermeo*, Anazia Mo’net Bess, Ashley Betty*, Ethan Michael Bishop, Alannah Grace Black, David Brian Blackwell III, Emily Borona*, Giovanna Noelle Borrelli, Dayannelis Maria Bosque, Jordan Brown, Kaylana Brown, Madison Kenya Brown, Alexa Ginelly Burgos, Kendall Cain, Ty’Qweshia Nevah Caldwell, Marissa Carde*, Jayshelis Nicole Casillas, Ashraf Bilal Chahid, Maximus Chueka, Elaina Cibulas, Brianna Lee Clark, Anthony Cohen, Elizabeth Collins, Briana Concepcion, Khmareon Cook, Caroline Martha Dabkowski.
Nikita Grace Dainiak, Noah David Darrow*, Astoria Davis*, Mikenna Davis, Isaiah Dejesus, Joseph Dejesus, Diane Isabell DelaRosa, Stephanie Deleon Morales, Nathan DelValle, John Torre Darrel Denby Jr., Mekhi Marques Deris, Angelo Corleone DiLorenzo, Jackson Dong*, Bayron Espinosa*, Olbin Steven Espinoza, Jayden Esquilin, Aimee Estok, Constance Marie Ferraro, Daniel Figueroa, Hailey Figueroa, Pharell Flowers, Maya Nicole Frager*, Samiyah Freelove Rump, Oscar Freire, Nyanah Fussell, Aliesha Lee Gabbidon*, Matthew Timothy Gadling, Jezzamie Unique Garcia, Kiely Geoghan*, Rose Gerry, Mark Owen Getchell, Jace Allen Gifford, Angel Gjoni, Chas Glenn, Amani Jesenia Gonzalez, Nayeli Grande Zepeda.
Sterling Griffin, Angel Griffing, Louis Gripper*, Carly Jean Grover, Jovi Guevara, Sara Haliti, Jamal Hanaif, Michael Harris, Niyana Harris, Eric W. Henriquez, Jania Aryness Hernandez, Christopher Hill, Ava Hultman, Craig Richard Huydic Jr., Donnie James, Jason James, James Anthony Jamison II, Taras Jatsiv*, Christian Anthony Jaume, Alex Jimenez, Mia Jimenez, Haylee Johnson*, Alejandra Juarez, Bailey Kahyaoglu, Elizabeth Kelley, Nolan Kerr, Arianna Kerrigan, Kaylene Kezer*, Patricia Kirejczyk*, Rian Nicole Koenig*, Victoria Koenig*, Elion Kukaj*, Alyssa Kuskowski*, Jalen Lambert, Edyler Ballardo Lara, Christopher Lee.
Elisabeth Patricia Lundequist*, Kayleigh Lemachko, Jacob Madigosky, Natalia Theresa Maielli*, Christian Malave, Aaliyah Maldonado*, Eric Marcinko, Max Louis Marsden, Brianna Amira Martin, Rian Joseph Massaro, Darell McKnight, Wilbert Clyde McPhail III, Andrea Mercado, Kiyree Michel, Taylor Grace Middlemass, Jhael Desire Molina, Isabella Monteagudo, Jase Wilton Morel, Albert Muir, Anakin Murphy, Colette Mweze, Khadija Mynti, Michael Negron Lopez, Aiyana Negron, Devyn Newton, Thomas Nolasco, Myrical Janisse Norman, Xavier Ocasio, Anthony Orellana, William Ortega, Jayden Ortiz, Mia Padro, Russell Page, Brendan Palmer, Maddie Chloe Palmieri, Zachary Pena.
Andy Peralta, Gia Victoria Peralta-Leon, Arianna Perez, Zenovia Phillips, Tyler James Piccirillo, Carlos Pinto, Alessandra Pizzola, Martyna Podsiadlo, Joshuah Preston, Makayla Tian Grace Quinn*, Haley Rich, Pauletta Rich*, Brandon Richards, Faith Noelle Ries*, Kenny Rivera, Emily Robles, MacKenzie Rodriguez, Zachary Rodriguez, Errol Salkey, Jada Allana Starr Sampson, Josephine Sanchez, Alison Nicole Sandoval*, Layla Marie Santiago, William Schmidheini*, Alyssa Khountida Sengaphay, Jeremy Soto, Hayden Speck, Jillian Ann Stewart*, Kennayashia Stovall, Arianna Swaby*, Alyssa Mae Swanson, Kierra Thomas*, Mikayla Jasmyn Thomas, Lea-Renee Tillotson*, Joseph Tito, Justin Anthony Torres*, Drilon Trepca, Lyndsey I. Troy, Leandra Tuttle*, Jordan Tyler, Nathan Makhi Tynan, Ian Us, Brittney Ayanna Angel Vazquez, Eshona Jaelyn Vickers*, Jovonnie Viselli, Hannah Vu*, Pamela Annmarie Wallace, Ariana Wang, Raymarie Whyte, Janah Wicker, Damon Wooten-Kovacs.
Commencement Prizes
The College Access for ALL Kids Program, for demonstrating a keen interest in higher education and a dedication to academics all year long: Lea-Rene Tillertson and Maya Frager.
Ansonia Middle School Prize, for outstanding scholastic achievement, to the highest ranking graduates: Jackson Dong and Patricia Kirejczyk.
Ansonia Federation of Teachers Local 1012 Prize, for highest average in algebra: Patricia Kirejezyk, Louis Gripper, and Jackson Dong.
Ansonia Administrators’ Organization Award, for highest average in language arts: Ariana Wang and Emily Borona.
Ansonia Middle School Principals’ Award, for special recognition: Ashraf Chahid and Nathan Delvalle.
Ansonia Middle School Science Prize, for outstanding achievement: Mia Padro, Victoria Koenig and Emily Borona.
The Ansonia Middle Social Studies Award, for outstanding achievement: Elisabeth Lundequist, Rian Koenig and Keily Geoghan
Raymond Steeves Award, for most improved in academics and citizenship: Brendan Palmer and Craig Huydic.
Walter Richter Memorial Award, given by Hilltop Hose Co. #5, for outstanding effort: Mikenna Davis and Haley Rich.
Seymour “Bob” Spanier Memorial Awards, given by Hilltop Hose Co. #5, for improvement in math and volunteerism: Faith Ries and Pauletta Rich.
Knights of Columbus – Holy Rosary Council Award, for the most motivated and conscientious: Patricia Kirejezyk and Elion Kukaj.
Ansonia American Legion Post 50 Award, for good citizenship, patriotism and spirit: Victoria Koenig and Lyndsey Troy.
Ansonia Middle School Awards, for outstanding achievement: Arianna Kerrigan and Alyssa Kuskowski (art); Eric Marcinko and Craig Huydic (music); Jayden Esquilin and JoJo Sanchez (P.E.); Louis Gripper and Nyana Fussell (health); and Elisabeth Lundequist and Jackson Dong (computers).
ESL Award, for greatest improvement and effort in the study of English: Mateo Bermeo, Manolo Bermeo and Andy Peralta.
AMS Math Prize: Mateo Bermeo and Jackson Dong.
AMS Spanish Prize, for outstanding achievement: Jovi Guevara and Emily Borona.
Thelma Komisar Award, for greatest improvement in Reading: Christian Alvarez and Jojo Sanchez.
Ernest M. Grant Memorial Scholarship Award, to the second highest ranking African American girl and boy on each team: Alannah Black, Jason James, Kierra Thomas and Nathan DelValle.
P.A.S.S. Program Award, for volunteering in the program and serving as a role model: Nathan DelValle.
