Dozens of South Seneca High School students were recently recognized for their active participation and extraordinary academic performance throughout the 2016-2017 school year.
Students in grades nine through 11 received honors during the annual Undergraduate Awards ceremony in the school’s auditorium. Teachers commended their stellar students for their commitment, courage and character displayed all year.
Guests filled the auditorium and offered cheers and applause as each name for over 200 awards was called. Principal Tim Houseknect shook hands with each recipient, some of whom earned multiple honors. Academic star in high school health awards were given to Samantha Povero, Annabelle MacIntosh, Aliyah Reed and Aryanna Zona, while the academic star in wellness award was given to Kyra Brewer. Academic star in responding to emergencies honors went to Marris Eck and Jeremy Faulkner.
Physical education nods went to Jade Parsons and Hannah Goldberg for outstanding effort and performance, while Brandon Swanson received the outstanding sportsmanship award. Jeremy Williamson, Ron Wheeler, Julia Hubbard, Emma Seamon Haleigh Mills and Quinton Wormuth-Munde all received the outstanding participation award.
Student of merit in Beyond our Borders awards were given to Tryston Scesny, Lilyanna Zona and Aryanna Zona. Catlin Cornish and Aryanna Zona received outstanding achievement in social studies honors; highest overall grade in global studies was awarded to Nick Twardeski and most improved in global studies went to Morgan Crane.
Individual awards were given to students who exhibited integrity, academic excellence, effort, attitude, community, hard work, enthusiasm and outstanding performance in global history, U.S. history, overall ninth-grade, overall 10th-grade, English 9, English 10, English 10 honors, English 11, algebra I, algebra II, pre-algebra, geometry, business math, college statistics, college prep math, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, high school chorus, musicians merit, jazz band, marching band and Earth science groups.
Specialized science awards were given to 13 students who exemplified all of the aforementioned wonderful qualities in their classroom, while academic excellence and improvements were recognized in business education, architectural drawing, basic woodworking, studio art, photography and creative crafts classes.
Houseknect applauded the students, offering additional accolades for the silver and gold president’s education award recipients. After he read a letter from President Donald J. Trump congratulating students on their success, Houseknect distributed silver awards to students who achieved an overall average of 85 to 89.9 Gold Presidential award recipients achieved an overall average of 90 and above.
Also, scholarship, service, leadership and character exhibited throughout school and the community led several South Seneca students to become inducted into the high school’s chapter of the National Honor Society.
A recent ceremony was held in the high school auditorium where Principal Tim Houseknecht said he was impressed with the 12 inductees’ attitude, school spirit and academic accomplishments that prepared them for the special honor. Current NHS President Cameron Vanselow welcomed guests and other NHS members explained the significance of the group’s emblem, torch and the four aforementioned wardens in a candlelight ceremony.
Guest speaker and social studies teacher Felicia Woodard offered inductees words of inspiration, as she spoke about the power of education and using skills gained at South Seneca to change the world and serve with humility.
Together, new and 2016-2017 members recited the NHS oath before closing remarks were offered by Kimberly deCoudres, NHS coordinator and English teacher.
The new members announced are: Kyra Brewer, Hunter Denmark, Seth Denmark, Avrielle Fletcher, Nikole Herndon, Madelyn Houck, Julia Hubbard, Olivia Kampnich, Heidi Langley, Annabelle MacIntosh, Brianna McCoy and Madison Welch.
