--Sixty-Eight seniors recognized for exemplary academic achievement--

(Dover, De.)  Top students from Delaware’s 33 public high schools were honored this evening as exemplary scholars of the graduating Class of 2008 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 the honor based on a record of academic excellence and community service.  Many students recognized this evening have received awards of state, regional or national significance.  Tonight’s dinner is meant to give recognition to the students for their many achievements and to encourage them to continue to strive for excellence. 

“The academic scholars of the graduating class of 2008 are very talented young men and women,” said Governor Ruth Ann Minner. “They have not only demonstrated success in the classroom, but they have also dedicated themselves to their schools and their communities. These outstanding young people have set the standard for their fellow students and represent academic excellence in the state of Delaware.”

Deputy Secretary of Education Nancy Wilson, Ph.D. agreed.  “This evening we praise 68 very talented young men and women who will now continue their academic journey.  From chosen careers including engineers, doctors, pharmacists and teachers, to chemists, psychologists and lawyers, our scholars will make a difference.  I know their future will be bright.”

In addition to Governor Minner and Deputy Secretary Wilson, invited guests included Lieutenant Governor Carney Jean Allen, President, State Board of Education; Courtney Fox, Delaware’s Teacher
of the Year for 2008; Senator David P. Sokola, Representative Vincent Lofink; members of the House and Senate; representatives from the business community and higher education.

Listed alphabetically by school district, the scholars are:

• Appoquinimink School District: Cera Babb, Yasmin Ogale, Danielle Paltrineri and Ashley Suszcznski, Middletown High School.
• Brandywine School District: James Kersch and Maciej Klosowski, Brandywine High School; Kenny Brown and Leo Ghanekar, Concord High School; Michelle Dee and Cedrick Yancey,  Mount Pleasant High School
• Caesar Rodney School District: Meghan Elliott, Robert Hall and Kylie Paige, Caesar Rodney High School
• Cape Henlopen School District: Bruce Aldred and Kristen Mintzer, Cape Henlopen High School
• Capital School District: Nathan Adamson, Erin Harvath and Kana Panchmatia, Dover High School
• Christina School District: Shazia Ahmed and Ashley Kempczynski, Christiana High School; Alexandra Cummings and Katherine Kleinot, Glasgow High School; Florina Bacuta, Michelle Lepori-Bui and Elizabeth Smith, Newark High School
• Colonial School District: Gene Brodie Emory, Nicole Hanby, Michael Kilbride and Kimberly Lopez, William Penn High School
• Delmar School District: Joshua Vicent, Delmar Middle & Senior High School
• Indian River School District: Abigail Buchler and Cori McCowan, Indian River High School; Grace Belkot and Paige Eskridge, Sussex Central Senior High School
• Lake Forest School District: Derrick Kelley and Jenna MacKenzie, Lake Forest High School
• Laurel School District: David Bartee, Laurel High School
• Milford School District: Garrett Jenkins and Nathanial Parsley, Milford High School
• New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District: Cristina Cafini, Edward Humbertson Jr. and  John Lehman III, Delcastle Technical High School; Jason Agostinelli and Allison Moye, Hodgson Vocational Technical High School; Terrance Potter and Vincent Saienni, Howard High School of Technology
• POLYTECH School District: Benjamin Byler and Hannah VanSant, POLYTECH High School
• Red Clay Consolidated School District: Rachel Cox and Elsia Gill, Cab Calloway School of the Arts; Tabitha Filer-Epps and Pamela Oppenheimer, John Dickinson High School;  Keaton Davis, Nathan Tyler Estock and Ryan Nimtz, Alexis I. duPont High School; Patrick Delaney and Erica Marshall, Thomas McKean High School
• Seaford School District: Brenna James and Trevor Lee, Seaford High School
• Smyrna School District: Alicia McDaniels and Leila Sammander, Smyrna High School
• Sussex Technical School District:  Kristen Conner and Christopher Mitchell, Sussex Technical High School
• Woodbridge School District: Alyssa Bailey, Woodbridge High School
• Campus Community Charter School: Jennifer Lloyd
• Charter School of Wilmington: Anastasia Niedzielski and Rajarajan Vel
• Delaware Military Academy: William Rogers, Jr.