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FREE! High Schools’ Top Scholars Share Similar Characteristics By Linda Tishler Levinson
Fun at the Fair Three-year-old Isabel of Ellington tries her luck at the Ring Toss game at the Ellington Fair on the Green on May 7. More photos, page 13. Photo by Barbara Bresnahan
In This Issue • EAST WINDSOR: Annual budget approved on first vote ................p. 4 • EAST WINDSOR: Senior Center offers wide variety of programs ..........pgs. 6-7 • ELLINGTON: Budget approved, includes small increase ............p. 10 • ELLINGTON: Substance free grad party has challenging future ....p. 11 • 2011 BEST OF NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT READER’S POLL....p. 12 • SUNDAY DRIVE: Music, microbrews & more on tap for June....p. 13
• SOMERS: Town budget below last year’s spending amount............p. 20 • SOMERS: Library News..........p. 21 • SOMERS: Images from prom ....p. 26 • REGIONAL: Groups invited to participate in Enfield Celebration............p. 28 • STAFFORD: Voters will get second chance at budget June 14 ............p. 29 • STAFFORD Middle School honor students for term five ..........................p.30 • BUSINESS: Hospital awarded grant, new business opens..............pgs. 36-37 • CLASSIFIEDS:..................pgs. 41-43
• NEXT ISSUE • DEADLINE: June 24, 2011 (860) 698-0020 www.thenorthcentralnews.com
They are self-motivated, involved in seemingly everything and strongly supported by their parents. These are the traits this year’s valedictorians and salutatorians share. “I’ve always been very driven to succeed in life,� Somers High School salutatorian Kathryn Squillace said. Her parents always urged her to do her best and told her repeatedly that her best was good enough. But she was always trying to do better. In addition to holding various part-time jobs, Squillace is class treasurer, National Honor Society treasurer and is a Daisy Girl Scouts troop leader. She plans to attend Bentley University and major in corporate finance and accounting. Thomas Szymanski, the valedictorian at Stafford High School, is equally busy and motivated. “I’ve always set really high standards for myself,� he said. He is on the track team and is involved in music and volunteer work. He plans to attend the University of Rhode Island, where he will study pharmacy. Julie Dillon, the salutatorian at Stafford High School, said that she “always really liked school.� Dillon said she made it a game to get her homework done so that her parents would allow her to do other
things. She is involved in track, cross-country and madrigals, and volunteers at Johnson Memorial Hospital. She plans to attend West Point, where she will major in chemical engineering. Commencement Due to this year’s frequent, heavy snowstorms, commencement exercises at local high schools are being held about a week later than usual. East Windsor East Windsor High School will hold its graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. June 24 at the school. The valedictorian is Jaime Kessler, and the salutatorian is Nicholas Parker. Kessler, who is a member of the National Honor Society and student council, is class treasurer, a peer adviser and belongs to Interact. She plans to enter the University of Connecticut Honors Program in the fall, majoring in engineering physics. Parker belongs to the National Honor Society and Student Council, plays trumpet in the marching, jazz and concert bands, is involved in the yearbook and is on the indoor and outdoor track teams. He plans to attend the Air Force Academy, where he will study aerospace physiology.
SCHOOLS/page 8
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