Northwestern names top 10 students

WINSTED — The top 10 students of the senior class at Northwestern Regional High School were honored for their academic excellence at this month’s Board of Education meeting.

The students earned the 10 highest grade point averages of the senior class of 2010 and were honored for their involvement and leadership within the school and their communities. Principal Wayne Conner introduced each student, as follows:

• Nicholas Beaudoin of Barkhamsted plans to attend the University of Arizona and major in International Business. He excelled in advanced placement (AP) modern Europe, a class meant for seniors, as a sophomore, and continued to shine in another senior class, AP American government, as a junior. He received a number of awards including the Gettysburg College Book Award and was a recipient for the Board of Education Social Studies Award.

• Miranda Bullard of Barkhamsted was acknowledged for her academic and musical skills. She has received outstanding achievement and excellence awards in music, Spanish, English, algebra, biology and history. She was also granted the Mount Holyoke College Book Award, was a recipient of the US Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Music Award, and is one of the top 25 flutists in the state. Bullard will attend New York University and hopes to pursue a career in the music industry.

• Ryan Collins of Barkhamsted was unable to attend the Board of Education meeting. He was recognized for his academic achievement and involvement in his class. He received the outstanding achievement award for AP English and was named a CIAC Scholar Athlete, which celebrates scholastic and athletic excellence. Collins will be attending Boston University in order to become an epidemiologist.

• Kristen Dombrowski of New Hartford was recognized for numerous awards, including the Clarkson University Achievement award, the Superintendent’s Student Recognition Award, the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, The Amelia Wilber Memorial Award and the American Citizenship Award. Dombrowski has been president of her class for the past two years and is an active member of student council, math team, National Honor Society (NHS), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). She plans to attend Babson College and major in business.

• Michael English, also from New Hartford, will be attending Brown University to study math and physics. As an underclassman, English was recognized for excellence in physics, a class normally designated for seniors. Because of this, he has assumed the role of student assistant in the laboratory and works with his teacher on advanced physics concepts. English is a captain of the math team and is involved in mock trial, NHS, theater, jazz band, and swim team.

• The valedictorian of the class, Katharine Hinman of Norfolk, has been recognized through her extensive collection of awards and leadership positions. Hinman was named a CIAC Scholar Athlete, received the Dartmouth Club Book Award, the Todd D. Lavieri Social Studies Award, the Board of Education Math Award and the Outstanding Achievement in Physical and Life Science Award. She is also president of the National Honor Society, captain of the math team and student council secretary. She will be attending the University of California at Berkeley, where she plans to study science and pre-medicine.

• Norfolk resident Katherine Kasacek was described as a “true scientist,� having received the Board of Education Award for Science and the Smith College Book Award. She recently received the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the Girl Scouts’ equivalent to Eagle Scout status. Kasacek is a member of the math team, National Honor Society and the softball team and will be attending Hartwick College this fall.

• Hannah Lasko of Norfolk earned the Award for Outstanding Achievement and the President’s Award for Educational Excellence and was recently honored by the Breast Cancer Coalition Foundation, receiving a $500 scholarship for an award-winning essay. Lasko will use this scholarship to continue her education at the University of Connecticut, where she will study speech pathology and audiology.

• Kathleen Nelson of New Hartford was recognized for excellence in honors chemistry and received an Outstanding Achievement in Life Science award. She was accepted into the Northern Region Band and Northern Region Flute Choir. She is a member of the school yearbook staff, National Honor Society and SADD. She will attend Susquehanna University in the pre-medicine program.

• Colleen Traub of New Hartford was acknowledged as being the 2010 class salutatorian. She was a semifinalist in the 2009 Governor’s Scholar Program, in which she was recognized as one of the top performing students in the state. Traub also received the Trinity College Book Award and the Presidential Service Award for completing 100 hours of service for the National Youth Health Service Program. She will attend Marywood University, where she will major in education, nursing or social work.

The night concluded with applause for the top 10 students and acknowledgement that their hard work had paid off.