SEYMOUR — Honoring Seymour’s finest teachers, Top 10 students and dedicated community members took center stage during the Board of Education’s annual awards meeting last month.
During an in-person meeting held at Seymour Middle School June 22, the board bestowed numerous honors, awards and kudos to various students, staff and residents who’ve worked hard to make Seymour schools the best they can be.
In addition to congratulating longtime, retiring staff members, lauding students for their winning essays on what Memorial Day means to them and wishing Seymour High School’s Top 10 students well on the next chapter of their lives, the board also doled out its annual community service awards.
This year’s David A. Brumer Excellence in Education Award went to Chatfield-LoPresti School 4th grade Teacher Jara Ciocca, recognized for the investment she makes in all of her students and making even the most reluctant learners have a tough time not succumbing to her enthusiasm, according to comments read aloud about her by board member Fred Stanek.
The John J. Gallagher Memorial Athletic Award, named after Seymour’s #1 sports fan, was given to Daniel and Jennette Marra, longtime supporters involved in Seymour Little League, who according to board member Jay Hatfield, raised thousands of dollars to ensure every child had what they needed, even long after the Marras had no children of their own involved in the program.
Seymour High School teacher Kathleeen Papa-Zinko was given the Vincentena Kobasa Excellence in Teaching Award, while Noah Blood received the Thomas J. Petruny Memorial Education and Environment Award.
Outgoing Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson (last day was June 30) was especially pleased to present his Golden Apple Awards to several staff members who he said go above and beyond each day. The award-winning staffers were Lauren Reid – Bungay School; Staci Faria – Chatfield-LoPresti School; Debbie Baldarelli – Special Education; Deborah Bennett – Seymour Middle School and Joe Perrucci- Seymour High School.
Wilson also recognized Doreen Garcia as Seymour’s Paraprofessional of the Year, and Teacher of the Year, Deirdre Sponheimer. CABE Student Leadership Awards were handed out to Seymour Middle School students Brayden Pesantez and Sam Rodrigue, along with SHS students Samantha Massie and Joseph Orlando.
The awards ceremony was capped off by announcing SHS’ Class of 2021’s Top 10 Students, which were: 10. Rounak Uddin; 9. Erin Lifrieri; 8. Samantha Massie; 7. Mia Bronson; 6. Erin Smith; 5. Dzenita Muhovic; 4. Suzana lmetovski; 3. Emma Pasnault; 2. Kenneth Dong and 1. Rebecca Kramer-Earley.
A full list of all the award winners, retiring staff members, etc. from the ceremony can be found online in the board’s meeting minutes here.
