Six Amity Students Receive 2013 Superintendent's Awards

Six Amity students have something special to be proud of — they are the recipients of the 2013 Superintendent's Awards.

High school seniors Tara Ramirez and Michael Vitale, Amity Middle School, Bethany campus 8th graders Katie Handler and Alexander Tzepos, and Amity Middle School Orange campus students Jessica Ferraiolo and Joseph Antaya were recognized by the Region 5 Board of Education at its meeting Monday. (Ramirez was unable to attend.)

The Superintendent’s Award is sponsored by the South Central Area Superintendent’s Association (SCASA), and is given to recognize students for their academic success, leadership to the school community, community service and service to others.

On March 15, the six Amity students are invited to a special luncheon at the Laurel View Country Club in Hamden where they will receive their awards along with the other recipients from districts throughout the Greater New Haven region.

The following information about each of the award recipients was provided by their school principals.

Tara Ramirez

 Tara is an outstanding student who has also demonstrated strong leadership qualities at Amity High School.

She is the captain of the Amity girls’ soccer team, and she also plays on regional teams. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has worked on many of the organization’s fundraisers. Tara works with the children’s ministry at her church and attended a mission trip to Jamaica last summer.

As a Link Crew leader, she has served as a role model and mentor for incoming 9th graders to help them make the transition to high school. Tara is in the top 9 percent of her class and is looking forward to attending college and playing soccer on the college level.

Michael Vitale

Michael is known for providing leadership and service to Amity High School. He helps others because it is the right thing to do, not to seek recognition for it.

He has been a member and captain of the Amity High football and track & field teams for four years, and his coaches say he leads by example. In the community, Michael has been a member of the Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department for more than three years.

He recently began fire training and plans to pursue a career as a firefighter. After Hurricane Sandy, he volunteered to help cut fallen trees and direct traffic in order to protect the safety of others.

Katie Handler

Katie is an extremely mature, motivated and hard-working student who lives in Woodbridge.

She is enrolled in rigorous advanced-level courses and has received first honors every semester. Katie is humble, well liked and respected by all her peers. She volunteers as a peer tutor for other students, offering positive feedback and insightful comments to her classmates.

She takes flute and saxophone lessons out of school, and participates in the school band, the school jazz band and the band at the Neighborhood Music School. She is an active member of the Social Robotics Research Program and the cross country team at Amity Middle School, Bethany campus.

Alexander Tzepos

Alexander is an outstanding and determined student from Bethany who shows empathy toward others. He has always maintained an A average in middle school, and plays clarinet in the school concert band.

Outside of school, Alexander belongs to a church group, the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, participating in fundraisers to benefit charities, volunteering at a local soup kitchen, and doing chores for members of his church who are ill or elderly. He has volunteered several times for the Special Olympics, assisting his father who provides eye exams for participants.

He is a member of the Leo Club at school and celebrates Earth Day by picking up litter in his neighborhood. This summer he plans to volunteer at the Cape Cod Natural History Museum as a junior naturalist.

Jessica Ferraiolo

Jessica is an intelligent young woman with drive and determination. She is strong-willed, hard-working and an excellent student who cares about helping others. She has volunteered to help preschool children at her church and at sports events in town.

Jessica is a highly talented athlete and participates as a dedicated leader on several sports teams. She participates year round as a three season athlete at Amity Middle School in Orange and on town recreation leagues.

In school, she is a positive team player, a role model and a classroom leader, highly respected by both her teachers and classmates.

Joseph Antaya

Joseph is highly deserving of the SCASA Award. He is a kind, personable young man who is dedicated toward achieving his goals. He is intelligent and hard-working in school, striving toward the highest academic potential.

Joseph has been active for many years in the Boy Scouts, devoting much of his free time to his Troop and participating in extensive community service work. He is also an athlete both in and out of school, a talented runner and basketball player and a leader on several teams. He is also the only French horn player in the Amity Middle School Band.

He is viewed by his teachers and classmates as a role model and classroom leader, always willing to help his fellow students and school faculty.