(Pictured above: VCMS eighth grader Sarah Rizzo, who collected a variety of top honors at her school's Evening of Excellence, stands with her family.)
Vernon Center Middle School honored students for everything from academic excellence to perfect attendance during end of school year activities. Eighth graders were honored during a special program called “Evening of Excellence.”
Listed below are the eighth, seventh and sixth grade award winners and their awards. (If you do not see a student’s name listed, it is because the student’s parent or guardian opted not to allow the school to release the student’s name under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.)
Eighth grade
Perfect attendance: Jamaldeen Abdulsalam, Kendra Crawford, Samantha DeMarco, Makayla Farris, Gabriella Himelberger, Said Jimenez Mejia, Gabriella Louden, Dominick Sanchez Valle, Kacey Willette.
VCMS Scripps Spelling Bee champion: Alexis Ufongene.
History Day: Madison Gordon and Sarah Rizzo.
World Language awards
French: Cadence Bunker, Delilah Sullivan.
Spanish: Maya G. Smith, Chase M. Kopcza, Brianna C. Carl, Jake W. Cowell, Sarah E. Rizzo, Kamilah Bah-Traore, Liam Hodge, Eliza Coma.
Excellence in Language Study award
Spanish: Janayah Rodriguez.
Art awards (students’ work is placed in the VCMS permanent collection): Kimberly Cournoyer and Madison Gordon.
Three-sport athletes: Jacob Bilodeau, Anaiyah Colon, Brayden Owens, Maya Smith, Lilah Stevenson, Declan Yarusewicz.
Athletes of the Year: Maya Smith and Declan Yarusewicz.
Lou Bazzano Award: Eliza Coma and Kevin Fair.
Muriel Gauvin Drama Award: Makayla Farris.
John Kalina Award: Caleb Andujar.
Florence Whitlock award for students with highest academic average: Sarah Rizzo and Cadence Bunker.
Connecticut Association of Schools Scholar-Leader Awards: Lucas Herzog and Sarah Rizzo.
Ronald Bonanno Award for algebra students who have the highest academic average: Sarah Rizzo and Cadence Bunker.
Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Award: Sarah Rizzo and Madison Gordon.
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education leadership award: Maya Smith and Eliza Coma.
General honors, for students with no grade below 80 in any subject and an average of 85 or above: Caleb Andujar, Logan Britney, Madisyn Bui, Evan Cevallos Alcivar, Ralph Jackson IV, Marcel Jacques, Avery Pomales, Makayla Thibodeau, Ronan Wilper, Declan Yarusewicz.
High honors, for students with no grade below 85 in any subject and an average of 90 or above: Kamilah Bah-Traore, David Ball, Jacob Bilodeau, Cadence Bunker, Mia Bushnell, Brianna Carl, Kendra Cascario, Sophia Charrette, Kimberly Cournoyer, Jake Cowell, Amanda Davila, Samantha DeMarco, Makayla Farris, Madison Gordon, Lucas Herzog, Gabriella Himelberger, Jensen Hurd, Noah Jangula-Mootz, Luke Kenary, Chase Kopcza, Gabriella Louden, Emily Maynard, William Newton, Brayden Owens, Sarah Rizzo, Adriana Sanchez-Hernandez, Natalie Saucier, Maya Smith, Ashlyn Smulski, Lilah Stevenson, Tyler Thomas, Ella Tomkins, Alexia Urbanski, Maiyah Velazquez, Abigail Wessell, Abigail Wheeler, Kacey Willette.
Three-year Honors, for students who have maintained an average of 85 or higher over three years at VCMS: Caleb Andujar, Madisyn Bui, Madison Gordon, Marcel Jacques, Emily Maynard, William Newton, Makayla Thibodeau, Ella Tomkins, Abigail Wheeler, Ronan Wilper, Declan Yarusewicz.
VCMS Scholars, for students who have attained High Honor Roll status for their entire time at VCMS: Kamilah Bah-Traore, David Ball, Jacob Bilodeau, Cadence Bunker, Brianna Carl, Kendra Cascario, Sophia Charrette, Kimberly Cournoyer, Jake Cowell, Amanda Davila, Samantha DeMarco, Makayla Farris, Lucas Herzog, Gabriella Himelberger, Jensen Hurd, Noah Jangula-Mootz, Luke Kenary, Chase Kopcza, Gabriella Louden, Brayden Owens, Sarah Rizzo, Adriana Sanchez-Hernandez, Natalie Saucier, Maya Smith, Ashlyn Smulski, Lilah Stevenson, Alexia Urbanski, Maiyah Velazquez, Abigail Wessell, Kacey Willette.
Eighth grade, 8A
Academic excellence: Spanish, Maya Smith; language arts, Abigail Wessell; social studies, Autumn Hazeltine; science, Lilah Stevenson; math/algebra, Declan Yarusewicz; learning labs, Shawn Moore; Boost language arts, Olivia Marchese; Boost math, Abigail Wheeler.
Most improved: Spanish, Noah Hodson; language arts, Xzavier Brown; social studies, Jazmine Daniel; science, Wynn Wakefield; math/algebra, Meredith Quinn; Boost language arts, Joseph Gonzalez; Boost math, Jeremiah Jarmon.
Most conscientious: Spanish, Marcel Jacques; language arts, Abigail Wheeler; social studies, Olivia Marchese; science, Kacey Willette; math/algebra, Natalie Saucier; Boost language arts, Douglas DuFour; Boost math, Drianna Rios.
Soaring Eagle: Gabriella Louden.
Eighth grade, 8B
Academic excellence: learning lab, Donald Walker, Jr.; social studies, William Newton; math, Caleb Andujar; Spanish, Kendra Cascario; French, Samantha DeMarco; Boost reading, Madison Gordon; language arts, Adrianna Sanchez-Hernandez; Boost math, Chase Vines; science, Mia Bushnell; English learners/multilingual learners, Fernando Navidad Villalta.
Most improved: learning lab, Gabriel Boucher and Guiseppe Villanueva; math, Tajanai Rosario; Spanish, Amanda Davila; French, Ezekiel LeBlanc; Boost reading, Emmett Taridona; language arts, Madison Gordon; Boost math, Abzier Ramos-Marti; science, Tristan Gordon; English learners/multilingual learners, Vasilisa Topalo.
Most conscientious: learning lab, Raelynn Ackerson; math, Madison Gordon; Spanish, Caleb Andujar; French, Tyler Thomas; Boost reading, Tajanai Rosario; language arts, Brayden Owens; Boost math, Aliana Morales; science, David Ball; English learners/multilingual learners, Laryssa Viega Goncalves.
Soaring Eagle: Eliza Coma.
Seventh grade
Perfect attendance: Saifeddine Attar, Zachary Cefaratti, Aniya Eato, Asad Ikram, Arthur Lu, Shawn Parrott, Nolan Rey, Kaylee Rosario and Vanessa Yrayta.
World Language awards
French: Alexander Tebo, Perfeita Thibodeau, Sophia Peña.
Spanish: Asad Ikram, Elam Castle, Samuel Cooke, Grayson Freeman, Brianna Maury, Arianna Perez, Vanessa Yrayta.
Three-sport athletes: Lilianna Day, Felicity Gounaris, Jasmine Khaliefa, Ainsley Owens, Anthony Skoly, Leah Wujcik.
Batchelder award: Grayson Freeman.
Florence Whitlock award for students with highest academic average: Audra Williams and Muhammad Chaudhry.
General honors, for students with no grade below 80 in any subject and an average of 85 or above: Milan Ashmeade, William Beaudry, Amiyah Cain, Harley Croke, Madison Fabuien, Jordyn Garcia, Cobie Gardner, Felicity Gounaris, Kristina Hurd, Asad Ikram, Jasmine Khaliefa, Almir Khan, Brissa Naupari Jaen, Brayden Normandin, Robert Pacheco III, Sophia Pena, Amelia Powers, Aniya Sowell, Brody Stremel, Bentley Vue.
High honors, for students with no grade below 85 in any subject and an average of 90 or above: Ekuba Amponsah-Mensah, Valeria Arrazola-Martinez, Saifeddine Attar, Alexander Baramidze, Samerah Beason, Heth Bhattacharya, Elam Castle, Zachary Cefaratti, Muhammad Chaudhry, Bethany Christians, Logan Coker, Molly Cook, Samuel Cooke, Samantha Corentin, Grayson Freeman, Dominic Greco, Benjamin Hinton, Juana Hussein, Rupneet Kaur, Kevin Lancelin, Hayden Magrey, Emma Masse-Leblanc, Brianna Maury, Roman-Isaac Okyere-Ampofo, Ainsley Owens, Collin Pender, Arianna Perez, Natalie Rizzo, Amelia Sahadeo, Benjamin Smith, Elliot Splain, Perfeita Thibodeau, Audra Williams, Robert Wise, Vanessa Yrayta.
Seventh Grade, 7A
Academic Awards: language arts, Molly Cook; math, Natalie Rizzo; French, Samantha Corentin; Spanish, Ekuba Amponsah-Mensah; Boost reading, Robert Pacheco III, Boost math, William Beaudry; science, Audra Williams; learning lab, Brissa Naupari Jaen.
Most improved: Social studies, Nazier Morris; language arts, Joellen Disipio; math, Johnny Mieses Ventura; Spanish, Naomi Medina; Boost reading, Brody Stremel; Science, Harley Croke.
Most conscientious: social studies, Valeria Arrazola-Martinez; language arts, Cobie Gardner; math, Ameila Sahadeo; French, Mason Reynolds; Spanish, Felicity Gounaris; Boost reading, Marley Hunter; science, Jordyn Garcia; science Benjamin Hinton; and learning lab, Logan Coker.
Soaring Eagle: Zachary Cefaratti.
Seventh Grade, 7B
Academic excellence: social studies, Mason Lagassie; math, Hayden Magrey; Spanish, Muhammad Chaudhry; Boost reading, Milan Ashmeade; Boost math, Emma Masse-Leblanc; learning lab, Israel Rodriguez; English learners/multilingual learners, Alexander Baramidze.
Most improved: social studies, Nicolas Jurado; language arts, Aniya Sowell; math, Zander Ulrich; Spanish, Kristina Hurd; and science, Asare Bekoe.
Most conscientious: language arts, Snehapreet Singh; math, Amiyah Cain; Spanish, Ainsley Owens; Boost reading, Yelianiz Santiago Rivera; Boost math, Alexander Baramidze; science, Robert Wise; French, Juan Pablo Ruiz Ramos.
Soaring Eagle: Kevin Lancelin.
Unified arts and physical education awards
Academic excellence: tech ed, Heth Bhattacharya; tech ed Natalie Rizzo; animation, Aubrie Parrot; family and consumer science, Emma Masse-Leblanc; band, Samerah Beason; clay/mixed media, Ekuba Amponsah-Mensah; computer ed 1, Robert Wise; computer science 7, Ainsley Owens; intro to piano, Logan Kiely; EPOCH art, Audra Williams; photo/film, Ainsley Owens; digital media, Grayson Freeman; Endeavor, Amelia Sahadeo; wellness, Vanessa Yrata; wellness, Leah Wujcik; wellness, Molly Cook; and physical education/wellness, Felicity Gounaris.
Most improved: tech ed, Logan Coker; tech ed, Alexander Baramidze; animation, Alexander Tebo; family and consumer science, Felicity Gounaris; band, Nolan Rey; computer ed 1, Kofi Kumah; computer science 7, Anthony Skoly; intro to piano, Nathan Decarli; EPOCH art, Natalie Rizzo; photo/film, Emma Masse-Leblanc; digital media, Lilliana Day; Endeavor, Jack Ginther; wellness, Omar Santiago; wellness, Szerriani Galvez; wellness, Brent Siwek.
Most conscientious: tech ed, Alyzayah Shemanskis; animation, Elam Castle; family and consumer sciences, Madison Fabuien; clay/mixed media, Brissa Naupari Jaen; computer ed 1, Amelia Powers; computer science 7, Perfeita Thibodeau; EPOCH art, Amelia Powers; photo/film, Rupneet Kaur; digital media, Ekuba Amponsah-Mensah; Endeavor, Bethany Christians; wellness, Alessandro Giansante; wellness, Heth Bhattacharya; wellness, Samuel Cooke.
VCMS Scripps Spelling Bee champion (and 4th place finisher in Connecticut): Zahaak Khan.
World Language awards
French: Alexander Tebo, Perfeita Thibodeau, Sophia Peña.
Spanish: Asad Ikram, Elam Castle, Samuel Cooke, Grayson Freeman, Brianna Maury, Arianna Perez, Vanessa Yrayta.
Three-sport athletes: Lilianna Day, Felicity Gounaris, Jasmine Khaliefa, Ainsley Owens, Anthony Skoly, Leah Wujcik.
Florence Whitlock award for students with highest academic average: Audra Williams and Muhammad Chaudhry.
General honors, for students with no grade below 80 in any subject and an average of 85 or above: Milan Ashmeade, William Beaudry, Amiyah Cain, Harley Croke, Madison Fabuien, Jordyn Garcia, Cobie Gardner, Felicity Gounaris, Kristina Hurd, Asad Ikram, Jasmine Khaliefa, Almir Khan, Brissa Naupari Jaen, Brayden Normandin, Robert Pacheco III, Sophia Pena, Amelia Powers, Aniya Sowell, Brody Stremel, Bentley Vue.
High honors, for students with no grade below 85 in any subject and an average of 90 or above: Ekuba Amponsah-Mensah, Valeria Arrazola-Martinez, Saifeddine Attar, Alexander Baramidze, Samerah Beason, Heth Bhattacharya, Elam Castle, Zachary Cefaratti, Muhammad Chaudhry, Bethany Christians, Logan Coker, Molly Cook, Samuel Cooke, Samantha Corentin, Grayson Freeman, Dominic Greco, Benjamin Hinton, Juana Hussein, Rupneet Kaur, Kevin Lancelin, Hayden Magrey, Emma Masse-Leblanc, Brianna Maury, Roman-Isaac Okyere-Ampofo, Ainsley Owens, Collin Pender, Arianna Perez, Natalie Rizzo, Amelia Sahadeo, Benjamin Smith, Elliot Splain, Perfeita Thibodeau, Audra Williams, Robert Wise, Vanessa Yrayta.
Sixth grade
Perfect attendance: Gbayedon Ali Atti, Carter Buonome, Grayson Buonome, Corey Crawford, Jacqueline Serrano.
Unified Arts awards
Academic excellence: engineering tech, Olivia Bilodeau; family and consumer science, Emerson Paribello; band, Logan Powell; exploring art, Elijah Adorno and Island Tomaino; digital learning, Aria Shekleton and Arielle Sanchez; music exploration, Mackenzie Hellyar; Endeavor, Emmanuel Fonrose.
Most improved: engineering tech, Evan Arnajallum; tech ed, Jazmine Rogers; exploring art, Matson Knoff; digital learning, Peyton Lapointe and Isabelle Pedrosa; Endeavor, Andrew Gross.
Most conscientious: engineering tech, Khalid Bah-Traore; family and consumer science, Thomas Eames; tech ed, Ephraim Rainey; band, Khloe Cruz; exploring art Kaya Poczesny and Jayden Smith; digital learning, Rose Lackey and Olivia Amenta; music exploration, Jennelle Oppong-Mintah; Endeavor, Ben Lewis.
Physical Education/VCMS 101 awards
Academic excellence: VCMS101, Elijah Adorno and Matthew Szczycinski; wellness, Island Tomaino, Addison Carl and Karley Dyment.
Most improved: VCMS101, Liam Tyler and Noah Desroches; wellness, Zacharie Orevil and Erickson Fronczek.
Most conscientious: VCMS101, Faith Jennings and Patrice Jones; wellness, DJ Tindal, Callie Boyajian and Logan Powell.
World Language awards
French: Olivia Bilodeau, Ranveer Khinda, Tamarhii Gordon, Marc-Anthony Walsh, Evan Ball.
Spanish: Sofia White, Logan Powell, Reagan Dumais, Kayla Saucier, Elijah Adorno.
Three-sport athletes: Olivia Bilodeau and Arielle Sanchez.
Heavisides award: Matthew Szczycinski and Olivia Bilodeau.
Florence Whitlock award for students with highest academic average: Kayla Saucier and Logan Powell.
General honors, for students with no grade below 80 in any subject and an average of 85 or above: Christian Calca, Evan Castro, Cameron Comparone, Alex Cournoyer, Chogan Cutter, Reagan Dumais, Erickson Fronczek, Amani Goins, Adna Hodzic, Ihab Hussein, Patrice Jones, Ranveer Khinda, Evan McDowell, Isabelle Pedrosa, Elijah Peterson, Kaya Poczesny, Ephraim Rainey, Addyson Rogala, Kaydence Stapleton, Matthew Szczycinski, Wyatt Therrien, David Tindal, Nicholas Tomkins.
High honors, for students with no grade below 85 in any subject and an average of 90 or above: Vivian Aagaard, Elijah Adorno, Khalid Bah-Traore, Evan Ball, Eliana Bernier, Olivia Bilodeau, Callie Boyajian, Carter Buonome, Grayson Buonome, Addison Carl, Rian Coma, Addison Corthouts, Karley Dyment, Olivia Firth, Emmanuel Fonrose, Kelsay Fox, Bridget Fredrickson, Alyson Fronczek, Tamarhii Gordon, Davan Gowda, Ahmad Ikram, Alexander Jakiel, Payton Johanson, Benjamin Lewis, Jonathan Lora, London Martinez, Logan Powell, Abigail Prue, Alyas Ranson, Carter Rischowsky, Arielle Sanchez, Kayla Saucier, Caillou Skula, Blake Stremel, Amalia Tierney, Island Tomaino, Luis Vazquez Reyes, Lydia Vigneault, Kenneth Wakefield, Marc-Anthony Walsh.
Sixth grade, 6A
Academic excellence: Boost reading, London Martinez; science. Emmanuel Fonrose; language arts, Addison Corthouts; social studies, Matthew Szczycinski; math, Davan Gowda; learning lab, Caleb Labrecque; Spanish, Elijah Peterson; French, Thomas Eames; Boost math, Aria Shekleton.
Most improved: language arts, Alex Cournoyer; social studies, Blake Stremel; math, Alexis Cyr; learning lab, Kyle Tran; Spanish, Will Shea; French, Zacharie Orevil; English learners/multilingual learners, Kyle Tran.
Most conscientious: Boost reading, Natalie Creamer; language arts, Bridget Fredrickson; social studies, Eliana Bernier; math, Evan Ball; learning lab, Daniel Scully; Spanish, Addison Carl; French, Emerson Paribello; English learners/multilingual learners, Rodrigo Navidad Villalta.
Soaring Eagle: Kayla Saucier.
Sixth grade, 6B
Academic excellence: social studies, Logan Powell; math, Alex Jakiel; learning lab, Wyatt Therrien; Spanish, Khalid Bah-Traore; French, Charlie Kemp.
Most improved: science, Noah Desroches; social studies, Liam Tyler; math, Ihab Hussein; learning lab, Mason Reis; French, Knovah Crish; language arts, Jackson Koch; Boost math, Genino Quesnette; Boost math, Yamura Martin.
Most conscientious: Boost reading, Kelvin Peters; science, Evan McDowell; social studies, Kaydence Stapleton; math, Reagan Dumais; learning lab, Jackson Koch; Spanish, Luis Reyes Vasquez; French, Khloe Cruz; language arts, Callie Boyajian; Boost math, Olivia Amenta.
Soaring Eagle: Amalia Tierney.