The Southington
Cit itii zen
Volume 9, Number 26
Southington’s Hometown Newspaper
www.southingtoncitizen.com
Friday, June 28, 2013
Class of 2013 looks to the future Photo by Matt Leidemer
By Savannah Mul Special to The Citizen Amid the sounds of air horns and bells, about 500 seniors received their Southington High School diplomas Friday, June 21. Before the graduation ceremony, students walked the halls of the high school for the last time, snapping pictures with their friends and teachers. “It feels really good,” Nicholas Charnysh said. “I’m really excited to go to college, but sad to leave.” Charnysh said most of the seniors he knew shared that bittersweet sentiment. “It’s time to start a new chapter in our lives,” he said. Haley Marquardt, though, is upset about leaving high school. “I’m sad,” the teary-eyed Marquardt said. “I don’t want to go. It’s exciting, but I’m just so sad to be done.” The ceremony took place on the
The Southington High School graduation ceremony was held Friday, June 21. Some 500 seniors received their diplomas that evening. school year.” He congratulated the graduating class and honored the students who will be serving in the armed forces after graduation and called for 26 seconds of silence in memory of the children and teachers who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown last December. “I am humbled to stand in front of you and to offer a bit of advice,” Erardi said. “Giving, caring and kindness can ensure all the graduates a successful life after SHS.” Class President Edmund Klein, school’s football field, with parents, family, friends and faculty in attendance.
School Superintendent Joseph Erardi said, “This evening will always be my highlight of the whole
See Future, page 22
Iza Howes believes in giving back to her town, country By Savannah Mul Special to The Citizen
Since Iza Howes emigrated from Poland to America, she said she has adopted this
country as her own and has been giving back since she graduated Southington High School in 2000. Now, she said, “It just runs in the family.” She knew no English when
work wherever and whenever she could, all while raising her first child, Jasmyne, right out of high school. Jasmyne also gives back to Southington by participating in leadership programs
at DePaolo, and next year at the high school, she said, she has plans to join the Key Club. Howes knew that she
See Howes, page 7
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Photo by Christopher Zajac
From left, Iza Howes with the family dogs; daughter Madison, 7, with her Daddy Doll; and daughter Jasmyne Engman, 14.
she came and enrolled in third grade at Kelley School. And she didn’t expect that her brother’s best friend whom he met in America would turn out to be her husband many years later. “I came here with my mom and dad; my brother and grandmother were already here,” Howes said. “We got visas to come and as soon as I spoke English, I ran with it.” It took Howes less than a full year to be comfortable with the English language. “I learned fairly quickly,” she said. “Being so young and wanting to fit in, Kelley School did a fantastic job of getting me the tools. Halfway through third grade, people understood me pretty well.” After high school graduation, Howes became heavily invested in the community. She got her medical assistant license and started volunteer
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