Release Date: May 5, 2004 1:00 AM  

Sixty-Three Seniors Recognized for Outstanding Academic Prowess

Dover, Del.–May 5, 2004 Top students from Delaware’s 31 public high schools were honored this evening by government and education officials at the annual Secretary of Education’s Scholars Dinner held at the Sheraton Inn and Conference Center in Dover.

The scholars were nominated by their principals and selected for being the exemplary scholars of the graduating Class of 2004.Many students recognized this evening have received awards of state, regional or national significance.

Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff said the dinner is meant to give recognition to the students for their many achievements and to encourage them to continue to strive for excellence.“Each student here this evening has shown a strong commitment to learn and be successful. The young men and women we recognize tonight have also been actively involved in their schools and in their communities.”Added Secretary Woodruff, “Through hard work and discipline, each of these 63 scholars have performed extremely well. I applaud their outstanding efforts and wish each of them continued success.”

Lt. Governor John Carney agreed. “This evening, we honor 63 seniors who have set incredibly high standards in order to attain even higher goals.It is obvious that their talents and abilities will enable them to succeed in the years ahead.” Added Lt. Governor Carney,“Tonight, we also praise the incredible help and support from families, friends, and neighbors that have helped each student to achieve.Lastly, I want to personally thank the never-ending support from all of our public school educators who have touched and shaped the lives of our 63 scholars.”

In addition to Lt. Governor Carney and Secretary Woodruff, invited guests included Dr. Joseph Pika, President, State Board of Education; Rita Hovermale,Delaware’s Teacher of the Year for 2004; Senator David P. Sokola, Representative Bruce C. Reynolds, members of the House and Senate; and representatives from the business community and higher education.

Listed alphabetically by school district, the scholars are:

• Appoquinimink School District:
  Amy Coan, Lyndsey Fisher, and Muhammad Hussain, Middletown High School.
• Brandywine School District:
  Beth Lattin and Alison Sanchez, Brandywine High School; Mary Choi and Jennifer Doorey, Concord High School; and Jennifer Ann Tyrawski and Berry M. Zee, Mount Pleasant High School.
• Caesar Rodney School District:
  Stephanie Guan, Lindsey Kling, and Caitlyn Nutt, Caesar Rodney High School.
• Cape Henlopen School District:
  Austin Andrews and Leeanne Hazzard, Cape Henlopen High School.
• Capital School District:
  Sherif Girgis, Devin Krupka, and Katherine Walsh, Dover High School.
• Christina School District:
  Elizabeth M. Brown and Wensi Wang, Christiana High School; Lauren Diefenderfer and Jennifer Griffith, Glasgow High School; Vivek Desai, Darren W. Mooney, and Ah-Young Song, Newark High School.
• Colonial School District:
  Rebecca Andrews, Laura Dean, Jacqueline Muller, and Stephanie Taylor, William Penn High School.
• Delmar School District:
  Kristina Sowell, Delmar Middle & Senior High School.
• Indian River School District:
  Megan Orhelein, Indian River High School; Ashley Margaret Adams and Kyle Valliant White, Sussex Central High School.
• Lake Forest School District:
  Colleen Gleeson and Kimberly Oyerly, Lake Forest High School.
• Laurel School District:
  Andrew Hartstein, Laurel High School.
• Milford School District:
  Benjamin Smith and Ryan R. Sutcliffe, Milford Senior High School.
• New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District:
  Michelle Cicchetti, Shanon Cox, and Kevin Lafferty, Delcastle Technical High School; Heather Lee Barcus and Tanisha Foster, Hodgson Vocational Technical High School; LaToya Bailey and Connie Liang, Howard High School of Technology.
• POLYTECH School District:
  Maria Byler and Christina Miller, POLYTECH High School.
• Red Clay Consolidated School District:
  Christopher Patrick Soltys, Cab Calloway School of the Arts; Brittany Lynn Price and Jeffrey J. Schmidt, Jr., John Dickinson High School; Dennis McBrearty and Hilary Sophrin, Alexis I. duPont High School; Jan Duhamel and Emilie Englehart, Thomas McKean High School.
• Seaford School District:
  Emma Louise Millman and Ryan Shockley, Seaford Senior High School.
• Smyrna School District:
  Sharron Duong and Kajal Patel, Smyrna High School.
• Sussex Technical School District:
  Andrew D. Harp and Patrick H. Hughes, Sussex Technical High School.
• Woodbridge School District:
  Kelly L. Mumford, Woodbridge Senior High School.
• Charter School of Wilmington:
  Jason G. L. Chu and Jonathan Meier.
• Positive Outcomes Charter School:
  Amber Main

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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.	Contact Info. Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us
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