SHA Juniors Presented with College Medals & Book Awards

by Staff ◊ Jun 17, 2011

Each year it is a tradition in many high schools that the Alumni Associations of area colleges present outstanding juniors who excel in scholarship, leadership, and personal accomplishments with College Medals and Book Awards. This year at Honors Convocation, Sacred Heart Academy recognized the following outstanding juniors with College Medals and Book Awards based on the criteria of each college:

The College of the Holy Cross Book Award was presented to Jenna Buccetti, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John G. Buccetti of Wallingford. This award is presented to a junior who has demonstrated consistently demonstrated high academic achievement in a competitive class level and is an active participant in her school community. 

The Fairfield University Book Award was presented to Alexus Skobodzinski, Ms. Vanessa Asasouk of Seymour. This award is presented to a junior who excels academically, is actively involved in the spirit of her school, and possesses a genuine sense of concern and responsibility toward others.

The Gettysburg College Book Award was presented to Clare Donohue, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brendan T. Donohue, Sr. of Hamden. This award is presented to a junior who has distinguished herself in a very competitive program in American History and is an overall high achieving student.

The Harvard University Book Award was presented to Roxanne Raoila, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Raoila of Guilford. This award is presented to a junior who excels in academics at the most competitive level and enjoys academic challenge while developing a commitment to service to others.

The Mt. Holyoke College Book Award was presented to Taylor DeRosa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don E. DeRosa of Hamden. This award is presented to an outstanding junior in very rigorous courses who has shown service to her school and community volunteerism.

The Regis College Book Award was presented to Nicole Sroka, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Sroka of Derby. This award is presented to a junior who has demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills, displayed outstanding academic promise and exhibited strong leadership qualities.

The St. Anselm College Book Award was presented to Jenna Hernandez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Hernandez, Jr. of Hamden. This award is presented to a junior who has earned high academic grades in a very competitive curriculum, has an awareness of social responsibility and possesses strong character.

The St. Michael’s College Book Award was presented to Halle Cairns, daughter of Ms. Joanne Cairns of Cheshire. This award recognizes an outstanding junior in academics, a member of National Honor Society, and a leader who demonstrates a sustained commitment to school and community activities.

The Smith College Book Award was presented to Allysandra Giannini, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Giannini, Jr. of Branford. This award is presented to a high achieving junior who shows a serious commitment to academics and service to others.

The Trinity College Book Award was presented to Florette Pursell, daughter of Atty. and Mrs. Thomas B. Pursell of New Haven. This award recognizes a junior who has displayed outstanding academic achievement and strong potential for competitive college work. 

The Villanova University Book Award was presented to Caroline Luciani, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian A. Luciani of Woodbridge. This award is presented to a junior who has demonstrated academic excellence in a challenging curriculum, a commitment to serving and embodies a sense of school and community spirit.

The Wellesley College Book Award was presented to Sara Campos, daughter of Ms. Elena I. Fusco of East Haven. This award is presented to a junior in high academic standing in a very rigorous course curriculum who shows outstanding potential for college.

The Yale University Book Award was presented to Christine Smith, daughter of Dr. Brian Smith and Dr. Keiren Smith of Madison. This award is presented to a junior who exhibits a very high academic standing in a very challenging curriculum and has outstanding personal character and integrity and will be a serious candidate for a most competitive college. (The book will be presented in a ceremony at Yale in October.)

The Princeton University Book Prize was presented to Erin Hillis, daughter of Atty. Michael S. Hillis and Dr. Lynne Hillis of Derby. Each year, the Princeton University Alumni Association of Eastern Connecticut holds an essay contest for their Book Prize. This year, Erin Hillis wrote an essay about Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor and was honored as one of 13 winners by the Alumni Association.

The University of Rochester Xerox Innovator Award was awarded to Qingyu “Kathy” Xu, daughter of Dr. Yuelian Xu and Mrs. Hua Lou of East Haven. Awarded jointly by the Science, Computer and Math faculty, this award is presented to a junior who shows high motivation in innovation and information technology.

The University of Rochester Eastman Young Leader Award was presented to Nicole Sroka, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Sroka of Derby. This award is presented to a junior who exhibits strong leadership at school and in her community with the potential to continue these leadership qualities throughout her life.

The University of Rochester Humanities Award was presented to Erin Hillis, daughter of Atty. Michael S. Hillis and Dr. Lynne Hillis of Derby. This award is given to that junior who, in the opinion of the faculty in the English department, has shown outstanding and consistent high achievement in the humanities. 

The Bausch and Lomb Medal was presented to Alexus Skobodzinski, daughter of Ms. Vanessa Asasouk of Seymour. This award is presented to that junior, who in the opinion of the science department, has an outstanding overall academic record in science.

The Rensselaer Medal was presented to Rita Matta, daughter of Mrs. Marie-Therese Matta of Hamden. Awarded by the science department, this medal is presented to a junior who has exemplary academic achievement and is motivated toward a career in science, engineering, and/or technology.

Sacred Heart Academy, a Catholic independent preparatory school founded in 1946 by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, successfully prepares young women in grades 9 through 12 for learning, service, and achievement in a global society. There are currently 500 students enrolled hailing from New Haven, Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, and New London counties.