ANSONIA – Jere Mae Pintacasi is valedictorian of the Class of 2020 at Ansonia High School, Principal Paul Giansanti has announced. Jere Mae and the rest of the top 10 students of the class will lead their classmates – traveling by car – during the commencement exercises planned at AHS on June 20 (rain date: June 21).
All of the top 10 students have earned numerous college credits by completing college-level courses offered by Ansonia High School, and most of the students are going to potentially earn many more for courses they recently completed. With each course ranging in value from more than $600-$3,800 and higher, the top 10 graduates may potentially save more than $30,000 each, thanks to courses they successfully completed while attending AHS.
The completed courses taken by the majority of the top 10 include the following: Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Language and Composition and U.S. History. Students have also taken advantage of numerous other courses, including Physics I and II, Calculus, Computer Science, Art III, and Accounting. Numerous college-level courses are offered as a result of partnerships with UConn, the University of New Haven, HCC (Housatonic Community College) and the University of Bridgeport. Several courses are a combination of AP (Advanced Placement) and ECE (Early College Experience).
Here is a brief overview of each student and their accomplishments while attending AHS:
Jere Mae Pintacasi, valedictorian, is the daughter of Jeremy and Laksmi Pintacasi. She is a four-year member of the Junior Statesmen of America, serving as debate director for two years, secretary for one year and taking the helm as president this year; historian of the National Honor Society; student representative for two years; a participant in the Sikorsky STEM Challenge; and a member of the World Language Honor Society, Art Honor Society, AHS chapter of the NAACP. Environmental Club, Human Relations Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Student Ambassadors and the Robotics Club.
She has received numerous awards, including the Academic Excellence Award in Grade 10 and 11, the Governor’s Scholars Semi-finalist in Grade 11, Excellence in Spanish in Grade 10 and 11, and the PSATs Excellence Award in Grades 9 – 11. Jere Mae is also active in the community.
In the Valley, she has helped out at the Griffin Hospital Cancer Center 5K run for several years, assisted in a local political campaign, volunteered at the 2nd Annual Reading Rocks event in June 2019 and for Coco’s Animal Rescue Efforts of Seymour (CARES). Last summer, she volunteered at the Philippines Medina General Hospital, where she organized equipment and supplies and greeted visitors.
She also spent some of her summer at the Philippines Barangay Upper Centro, where she gave food to poor and malnourished children, and participated in the cleanliness program, visiting homes to share information about how to avoid the Dengue Disease outbreaks. Jere Mae has earned about 34 college credits by completing the following college-level courses: AP Statistics, AP/UB Calculus, AP/ECE Biology, AP/ECE Chemistry, AP/ECE Physics, AP Language and Composition, AP/ECE English Literature, AP/ECE U.S. History and AP Psychology. She will be majoring in Nursing at UConn in the fall.
Selena Bishara, daughter of Makram and Madlain Bishara, is salutatorian. Selena has been a member of numerous clubs and teams at AHS, including the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, AHS Tennis team, Sikorsky STEM Challenge Team, Debate Club, Human Relations Club, AHS Chapter of the NAACP, the Environmental Club and Student Ambassadors.
During her senior year, she helped with the Griffin Hospital Cancer Center 5K run, did face painting to raise money for the fight against breast cancer, campaigned for the Democratic Party in Ansonia, worked the election polls, helped in the elementary schools with a cultural event and in the libraries, participating in the Leprechaun Leap for Literacy Volunteers of Southern Connecticut, and was a guest reader in Read Across America.
She expects to earn 43 college credits as a result of completing these courses: Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, U.S. History, Language and Composition, Literature and Composition, Marketing, and Art III. She will be majoring in computer science at UConn.
Faiza Chowdhury, the daughter of Kamrul Chowdhury and Nessa Musammat, is ranked third. She is a member of numerous clubs and teams at AHS and held leadership positions in the following: Co-President, Human Relations Club; President, National Art Honor Society, Parliamentarian of the National Honor Society, and Co-leader and designer leader of the Sikorsky STEM Challenge team.
She is also a member of the Tennis team, Book Club, Environmental Club, Astronomy Club, Robotics Club, the NAACP chapter and Student Ambassadors. Faiza has attained the High Honor Roll and won the Senior Art Award. In the community, she provides clerical assistance in the cardiology department in Griffin Hospital and, since the coronavirus pandemic, has written letters to healthcare workers and doctors. She also volunteered at Derby Neck Library in 2018.
Faiza earned 29 UConn credits and will be earning 8 additional credits this year. She has taken the following college-credit courses at AHS: Statistics, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, U.S. History, ECE Art III, Literature and Composition. Faiza will be majoring in biomedical engineering at UConn this fall.
Nicholas Beaulieu, son of Nancy Iarusso, is fourth in his class. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has received several awards, including Excellence in Mandarin II, Academic Excellence during grade 10, and high honors or honors throughout his AHS career. He has earned nearly 30 college credits by completing these courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Accounting, English Language and Composition, and English Literature and Composition. This fall, he will be majoring in Computer Science at UConn.
Ian Gifford, son of Heath and Danielle Gifford, is fifth in his class. Ian is a member of the Varsity Football team and the Basketball team at AHS and has volunteered in the community as an assistant coach for Ansonia Pop Warner Football. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was one of three AHS juniors selected for a paid summer internship with the Teamsters-Sikorsky Career Pathways Union Mentoring Program in 2019. Ian has earned 22 college credits for completing the following courses at AHS: Biology, Statistics, U.S. History and Physics. He will be majoring in electrical engineering at Gateway Community College this fall.
Ashmal Baig, daughter of Rehan and Asma Baig, is ranked sixth. Ashmal has held a number of leadership positions this year, including as vice president of the National Honor Society, the National Art Honor Society and the Human Relations Club; varsity captain of the Tennis team; Secretary of AHS Band; Photo Editor of Yearbook; and researcher for the Sikorsky STEM Challenge team. She was also a member of Student Ambassadors. Ashmal was a winning essayist for the Laws of Life Essay Contest and the Ansonia Veterans Day Program, and she is a recipient of the Yale Book Award and the ASAP Celebration of Young Photographers Award.
She has a lengthy list of community service activities: coaching at the Pinky Silver Boxing program, which is run by Mayor David Cassetti; helping to organize the Honoring Ansonia Blue event, where Ansonia Police officers were honored; helping at the Griffin Hospital Cancer Center 5K run; and assisting at the elementary schools.
She serves as a Core member of the Period CT Team, where she has taken pictures at the CT Period Rally and has reached out to organizations and businesses to run donation drives. Ashmal will graduate with about 30 college credits earned from completing these courses: Biology, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Political Science, Accounting, Art III, U.S. History, Literature and Composition and Language and Composition. This fall, she will be majoring in Neuropsychology at UConn.
Tyler Cafaro, son of Laurence and Lisa Cafaro, is ranked seventh. He is Captain of Varsity Football and Baseball, Vice President of Student Ambassadors and was captain of the Titan Business Challenge team, which placed second. Tyler is also a member of the National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and winner of the Gordon C. Parker Award. In the community, he helped with Little League Baseball and Youth Football clinics and helped to pack meals at the Salvation Army with the AHS Football team in 2019. He has earned college credit by completing five college level courses at AHS: Statistics, Biology, Calculus, Physics and U.S. History. Tyler will major in Mechanical Engineering at Union College in the fall.
Kaitlyn LaRiviere, daughter of Roland and Alisa LaRiviere, is eighth in her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Global Scholars Club, the Human Relations Club and the Student Ambassador’s Club. Kaitlyn is a figure skater and has volunteered at a local ice rink, at church and for a preschool. She won a PSAT Scholars Award during Grade 10 and 11.
She has taken numerous college credit courses at AHS, earning about 35 credits for completing these classes: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, Psychology, US History, Language and Composition, and English Literature and Composition. She will be majoring in Mathematics at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Joseph Cortez, son of Francisca Fermin and Jose Cortez, is ranked ninth. He is captain of the Boys Varsity Soccer team, a member of the Band, the National Honor Society and the United Way High School Volunteer Council. Joseph has participated actively throughout the year as a role model student in the 530AM Warriors Program, led by School Resource Officer Michael Barry. He has attained first honors, won the Excellence in Spanish III Award and was selected as a CTE Student of the Week. In the community, Joseph has volunteered at Harvest House in Shelton, St. Joseph Church and has tutored.
He has earned numerous college credits by successfully completing Biology, Statistics, Calculus and Physics at AHS. Joseph will be majoring in Mathematics (Secondary Education) at SCSU in the fall.
Nikola Jaworska, daughter of Leszek and Renata Jaworska, is ranked tenth in her class. She has been very active in clubs and teams at AHS, including the AHS Band for four years, the Book Club for four years, the Junior Statesmen of America for four years, serving as vice president as a senior. She was a member of the HRC for two years, FBLA for one year, the National Honor Society and the National Chinese Honor Society. She played on the Tennis team for two years, was a lead researcher for the Sikorsky STEM Challenge Team, and was treasurer of the NAACP chapter during her senior year. Nikola has attained high honors and was a PSAT Scholar Award winner. In the community, she served as campaign manager for Leslie Navarrete during the 2019 Ansonia elections. Nikola has earned 26 college credits by completing Chemistry, Physics, Literature and Calculus. She is attending UConn this fall, where she will focus on a STEM-related program of study.
