Academic and Extracurricular Achievements

• Ariel Lewellyn of Clinton, a student pursuing a degree in education at Fordham University, was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi national honor society.

• Literacy Volunteers of Valley Shore CT, Inc. (LVVS), recognized 14 students at its annual Student Awards/International Potluck Dinner. The students were cited for outstanding achievement in writing essays on the topic "I see myself as?" Awards went to Elizabeth Ramirez of Old Saybrook (First Place, Low Intermediate ESL); Elizabeth Pacasi of Clinton (First Place, High Intermediate ESL); Gloria Robison of Westbrook (First Place, High Advanced ESL); Hugo Arce of Westbrook (Second Place, High Intermediate ESL); and Sabrina Kosky of Westbrook (Second Place High Advanced ESL.). An honorable mention recognition went to Isabel Alvarez of Clinton (ESL Advanced).

• Literacy Volunteers of Valley Shore CT, Inc. Outstanding Student Participation Awards: Norma Garzon of Old Saybrook, Niru Keshwala of Clinton, and Sam Soo Kleinhauf of Old Saybrook.

• Private First Class Tucker James MacGregor, 19, of Madison, graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. While in basic training, MacGregor received his Rifle Expert Badge. He is currently stationed at Camp Leguene in Jacksonville, North Carolina. MacGregor is the son of Scott and Tricia MacGregor, both of Madison, and is the grandson of Ann Rickert of Madison and the late James J. Rickert, and Mr. and Mrs. MacGregor of Clinton.

• Sean McAvoy of Old Saybrook has matriculated at Florida Institute of Technology, at which he plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

• Mercy High School Graduates: Nicole Kana of Clinton, Katerina Lisitsin of Clinton, Morgan Naarden of Clinton, Thanh Phan of Clinton, Alexis Quattrini of Westbrook, Emily Schofield of Old Saybrook, and Emily Smith of Old Saybrook.

• The Middlesex Community College Foundation Scholarship Recipients: Danielle Barron of Clinton, Courtney Bugden of Westbrook, Ryan McKeon of Clinton, Jose Saetamo of Clinton, Bradley Samodel of Clinton, and Alexander Schneider of Westbrook.

• Brian Mitko of Clinton earned a bachelor's of science from Skidmore College.

• Rachel Moskowitz of Old Saybrook has matriculated at the University of Delaware.

• Stephen Nadeau of Clinton earned a bachelor's of business administration in finance from Hofstra University.

• Rebecca Nash of Clinton earned a bachelor's of science in accounting from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

• Frank Navarro of Old Saybrook graduated from Wake Forest University.

• Sean Nunan of Clinton earned a bachelor's of science in movement and sport studies from Springfield College.

• Elena Patricia Ortiz of Old Saybrook received an award from Literacy Volunteers of Valley Shore CT, Inc., for Special Recognition for perseverance in obtaining citizenship.

• Alex Ouellette of Clinton starred in the Dean College Dance Company's production of Change and earned an associate's of arts in dance from Dean College.

• Crystal Parmelee of Westbrook has been inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda, the Kappa Mu Chi Chapter, at Goodwin College.

• Providence College Graduates: Lauren Kent of Old Saybrook earned a bachelor's in marketing, and Brian Thompson of Clinton earned a bachelor's in finance.

• William Putnam of Old Saybrook, a junior at the University of New Haven, received a $2,500 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship award. Putnam is working to develop a computerized application that will allow data server processors to consume less power. A double major in computer science and computer engineering, he hopes to start his own video game company one day.

• Quinnipiac University Graduates: Ali Almaawi of Clinton, bachelor's of science in biology; Christopher Anderson of Clinton, bachelor's of science in biology; Caroline Chalker of Clinton, bachelor's of arts in psychology; Amanda Fairbanks of Old Saybrook, master of arts in secondary education; Megan Gilbert of Clinton, bachelor's of arts in English; Alexandra Jensen of Old Saybrook, bachelor's of science in marketing; Chemi Lama of Old Saybrook, bachelor's of science in economics-international business; Danielle Laudano of Clinton, bachelor's of science in entrepreneurship; Kelsey Norton of Clinton, bachelor's of science in nursing; and Cooper Westerkamp of Clinton, bachelor's of science in health/science studies.

• Colby Redway of Old Saybrook, a senior majoring in English, presented work at the Eastern Connecticut State University's School of Arts and Sciences 13th annual Arts and Sciences Research and Exhibition Conference.

• Reflections Arts Competition Winners: McKenzie Blanusa of Clinton (grade 8, first place in the Literature category); Gabrielle Bussiere of Clinton (grade 7, third place in the Visual Arts category); Brett Martin of Clinton (grade 7, second place in the Visual Arts category); Chad Paradis of Clinton (senior, second place in the Literature category); Eli Phelps of Clinton (junior, first place in the Literature category); Wyatt Reu of Clinton (grade 7, second place in the Literature category); and Lauren Shields of Clinton (grade 7, first place in the Visual Arts category).

• Alyssa Reilly of Westbrook, a sophomore majoring in visual arts at Eastern Connecticut State University, contributed to the Willimantic Screen Project.

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Graduates: Amber Arsenault of Clinton earned a bachelor's of science in psychology, and Brian Schenck of Westbrook earned a bachelor's of science in mechanical engineering.

• Amy Robinson, a junior at Old Saybrook High School, was one of 30 finalists chosen as a Governor's Scholar for 2013.

• Sacred Heart University Graduates: Andrea Onorato of Old Saybrook, bachelor's of science in marketing; Anna Kadlof of Clinton, bachelor's of science in business economics; Ariana Pappas of Old Saybrook, bachelor's of science in marketing; Rory Parcell of Clinton, master's of science in environmental system analysis management; Elissa Pinette of Clinton, bachelor's of arts in social work; and Deane Volz of Old Saybrook, bachelor's of science in business administration.

• St. Michael's College Book Award for Academic Achievement with a Social Conscience Recipients: Julia DePalermo of Old Saybrook, a student at Old Saybrook High School; Christopher Dahl of Westbrook, a student at Westbrook High School; Paul Michael Mullally of Clinton, a student at The Morgan School; Danielle Nobitz of Clinton, a student at The Morgan School; Grant Patterson of Old Saybrook, a student at Old Saybrook High School; and Arden Tomassetti of Westbrook, a student at Westbrook High School.

• Olivia Schiess of Clinton, the daughter of John and Michelle Schiess of Clinton, earned a bachelor's of arts in early childhood education from Coastal Carolina University. She is the granddaughter of Mary and Vernon Beatrice of Madison and Richard and Caryl Schiess also of Madison.

• William Schwab of Westbrook graduated from University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

• Alex Schwarzkopf, a former Old Saybrook resident and current electromechanical engineering student at Wentworth Institute of Technology, received $6,000 for a project he and a teammate created. The funding came from Wentworth's Accelerate program, in which students work to create an idea for a startup and pitch to a panel of judges. Schwarzkopf's team came up with a business model for UrbanFlex, a new flexible style of lights for skateboards and other equipment.

• Emily Smith of Old Saybrook matriculated at the University of Dayton. She received the University of Dayton Scholarship Award, University of Dayton Leadership, In Service Scholarship at Mercy High School.

• Southern Connecticut State University Graduates: Margaret Achee (Clinton, bachelor's of arts); Lauren Allen (Clinton, bachelor's of science); Jeffrey Banks (Clinton, bachelor's of science); Jessica Bielawski (Westbrook, bachelor's of science); Emily Boucher (Old Saybrook, master of library science); Kelly Braza (Old Saybrook, sixth-year diploma); Thomas Briggs (Old Saybrook, master's of business administration); Lynn Brown (Old Saybrook, sixth-year diploma); Kristen Carey (Clinton, master's of arts); Jennifer Ciesla (Clinton, bachelor's of science); Jody Farrell (Clinton, master's of science); Katherine Hally (Clinton, sixth-year diploma); Natasha Irmscher (Clinton, bachelor's of science); Ahlam Jalil (Westbrook, bachelor's of science); Holly Kennedy-Levy (Clinton, sixth-year diploma); Ngawang Lama (Westbrook, bachelor's of science); Amy Laverty (Old Saybrook, master's of science); Christopher Lawlor (Clinton, bachelor's of science); Jessica Lupone (Clinton, bachelor's of science); John Marr (Clinton, master's of science); Elaine Merola (Old Saybrook, bachelor's of arts); Casey Mugavero (Clinton, master's of science); Rachel Narducci (Westbrook, bachelor's of science); Diane Remetta (Clinton, master's of science); Natasha Rosenbloom (Clinton, bachelor's of science); Kara Santopietro (Westbrook, bachelor's of arts and bachelor's of science); Kevin Shugrue (Westbrook, bachelor's of science); Tami Testa (Clinton, bachelor's of arts); Peter Van Vliet (Old Saybrook, sixth-year diploma); Erin Walsh (Clinton, bachelor's of science); Kelsey Welch (Clinton, bachelor's of science); and Vincent Zacarelli (Clinton, bachelor's of science).

• Kenneth Allen Stanwix of Old Saybrook, the son of Allen and Teri Stanwix, earned a bachelor's of science in business administration from Endicott College.

• Zachary Therrien of Old Saybrook earned a bachelor's of arts degree from Curry College.

• University of Delaware Graduates: Stephen Britt of Old Saybrook and Jessica Sarkisian of Clinton.

• University of New Haven Graduates: Charles Baker of Clinton, master's in business administration; Elaine Colvin of Clinton, associate of science in dental hygiene; Liana Conklin of Westbrook, bachelor's of science in criminal justice; Alexander Dyer of Westbrook, bachelor's of science in criminal justice; John Loud of Clinton, master's in criminal justice; Brook Murphy of Clinton, master's in education; Michael Smith of Old Saybrook, master's in education; and Brittany Streeto of Clinton, bachelor's of arts in psychology.

• University of Rhode Island Graduates: Kimberly Eininger of Clinton, bachelor's of science in nursing; Jared B. Herrick of Old Saybrook, bachelor's in political science with a minor in history; Venkat R. Koganti of Westbrook, master's of business administration; and Kara E. Meleski of Clinton, bachelor's of science in nursing.

• University of St. Joseph (Hartford) Graduates: Meredith F. Newman of Old Saybrook earned a master's of arts in marriage and family therapy, and Jessica Jordan Pitkin of Old Saybrook earned a master's of arts in special education.

• University of Vermont Graduates: Heather M. Czapla of Clinton, master of science in biology; Leah M. Houde of Clinton, bachelor's of science in professional nursing; and Kathryn M. Bohannan of Westbrook, master of social work.

• The Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley Scholarship Recipients: Preston Briggs of Old Saybrook, a nursing student at Southern Connecticut State University, and recent high school graduate Dana Pendleton of Old Saybrook.

• Laura Vollhardt of Clinton, the daughter of Charles and Susan Vollhardt, has matriculated in the graduate education program at the University of New Haven. She is participating in a year-long, teaching internship at Central School in Old Lyme.

• Constance Wall of Clinton, a sophomore at the University of Scranton College of Arts & Sciences, completed the Leadership Program during the 2012-'13 academic year.

• Westbrook High School Theatre Alumni Edinburgh Fringe Festival Attendees: Austin Charles (Class of 2011) as Magistrate, Carly Neil (Class of 2010) as Genia/Old Women's Chorus, Sean Spencer (Class of 2009) as Herald/Old Men's Chorus, and Brittany Wigglesworth (Class of 2011) as Reconciliation/Old Women's Chorus, all of Westbrook. They presented Lysistrata: The Disco, Vaudeville, Rock and Roll Musical.

• Western Connecticut State University Graduates: Alex Bielawa of Westbrook earned a degree in accounting; Anna Giordano of Clinton earned a degree in musical theater; and Benjamin Townsend of Clinton earned a degree in music.

• Western New England University Graduates: Christopher L. Fagan of Clinton, bachelor's of arts; Albinko Hasic of Clinton, juris doctorate; Jocelyn A. Rose of Clinton, bachelor's of science, cum laude, in criminal justice; Matthew S. Rosenthal of Old Saybrook, juris doctorate, cum laude; and Elizabeth L. Wininger of Westbrook, bachelor's of science.

• Tetiana Winiarskyj, while a freshman at Old Saybrook High School, was inducted into the 2013 Connecticut Student Writers winners' circle at the University of Connecticut. The Connecticut Student Writers is an annual publication of UConn's Connecticut Writing Project. Winiarskyj, who works on Old Saybrook High School's newspaper, The Rambler, has had articles, essays, and poems published in Musings, Teen Ink, and Ukrainian Weekly. She was also accepted into the Young Authors Foundation summer intensive writing program in New York City.

• Ruijie Zhang of Westbrook was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society for undergraduate and graduate students at Quinnipiac University.

Honor Roll Students

• Hamden Hall Country Day School 2012-'13: Braedon C. Kohler of Clinton, a junior.

• Loomis Chaffee School: Alexandra Attanasio of Clinton, a junior.

• Mercy High School, 4th Marking Period 2012-'13: Tatiana Bardagova (Clinton, junior, high honors), Katherine Bartolotta (Clinton, sophomore, first honors), Margaret Bartolotta (Clinton, junior, high honors), Abigail Benchimol (Clinton, junior, high honors), Jessica Corcoran (Clinton, junior, first honors), Emily Hall (Clinton, junior, high honors), Nicole Kana (Clinton, senior, first honors), Marla Katz (Westbrook, junior, high honors), Katerina Lisitsin (Clinton, senior, first honors), Danielle Pellini (Westbrook, junior, first honors), Alexis Quattrini (Westbrook, senior, first honors), Emily Schofield (Old Saybrook, senior, first honors), Olivia Shropshire (Westbrook, sophomore, second honors), Emily Smith (Old Saybrook, senior, first honors), and Emily Tyler (Clinton, freshwoman, high honors).

• Mercy High School, 3rd Marking Period 2012-'13: Tatiana Bardagova (Clinton, junior, high honors); Margaret Bartolotta (Clinton, junior, high honors); Abigail Benchimol (Clinton, junior, high honors); Grace Brodeur (Old Saybrook, junior, first honors); Jessica Corcoran (Clinton, junior, first honors); Jamie Corrone (Clinton, junior, second honors); Emily Hall (Clinton, junior, high honors); Nicole Kana (Clinton, senior, first honors); Marla Katz (Westbrook, junior, high honors); Katerina Lisitsin (Clinton, senior, first honors); Danielle Pellini (Westbrook, junior, first honors); Alexis Quattrini (Westbrook, senior, high honors); Emily Schofield (Old Saybrook, senior, first honors); Olivia Shropshire (Westbrook, sophomore, second honors); Emily Tyler (Clinton, freshwoman, high honors); and Anna Yang (Clinton, sophomore, second honors).

• Pomfret School, Winter Term 2012-'13: Nora Lee of Old Saybrook, a junior, earned high honors.

• Sacred Heart Academy, 2nd Quarter 2012-'13: Amanda Collison of Old Saybrook (sophomore, high honors), Jillian Laggis of Clinton (sophomore, honors), and Jordan Veneri of Clinton (sophomore, high honors).

• Vinal Tech, 3rd Trimester 2012-'13: Alex Calle (Old Saybrook, high honors); Tylar Carmody (Clinton, high honors); Andrew Clark (Westbrook, high honors); Robert DeGaetano II (Westbrook, honors); Kirsten DiStasio (Clinton, honors); Austin Kane (Clinton, high honors); Brandon Kane (Clinton, high honors); Alexandra Lebert (Clinton, honors); Michael Pappas (Clinton, high honors); Jared Preston (Clinton, honors); Cody Striby (Clinton, honors); and Paul Tautkus (Clinton, high honors).

• Xavier High School, 4th Term 2012-'13: Ross Bohan (Clinton, junior, high honors); Dustin Braman (Clinton, junior, honors); Ian Coyne (Clinton, freshman, honors); Tyler Cusack (Clinton, senior, honors); Anthony DeNello (Clinton, sophomore, honors); Peter Finnegan (Old Saybrook, junior, honors); Daniel Kelly (Clinton, freshman, honors); John Kelly (Clinton, junior, honors); Alex Matunas (Westbrook, senior, honors); Bradley Maurice (Clinton, sophomore, honors); Matthew Naarden (Clinton, sophomore, honors); Trent Nobile (Old Saybrook, sophomore, honors); Dillon Patel (Old Saybrook, junior, honors); Nicholas Porter (Westbrook, junior, honors); Parker Reid (Clinton, junior, high honors); Wesley Reid (Clinton, sophomore, honors); Scott Santiago (Clinton, sophomore, honors); and Jordan Shropshire (Westbrook, senior, honors).

Career Achievements

• Kathleen Callinan of Westbrook has been promoted to assistant vice president at Essex Savings Bank.

• Maryam Elahi of Old Saybrook is the new president and CEO of the Community Foundation.

• Nicole Goguen of Clinton received the Connecticut Assisted Living Award for Outstanding Achievement in nursing from Crescent Point in Niantic. Goguen has been an LPN at Crescent Point for three years.

• State Sen. Art Linares (R-Clinton, Old Saybrook, Westbrook) was selected to serve on a new Connecticut Clean Energy Center Task Force.

• Marci Martindale of Old Saybrook, head of school for Children's Tree Montessori, has been appointed to the American Montessori Society Public Policy Board.

• Kimberly Pezzente of Old Saybrook was named life enrichment director at Peregrine's Landing at The Shoreline in Clinton.

• Valerie Smith of Old Saybrook, a chorister, spent four days rehearsing and then singing before hundreds of people at the 2013 Baha'i Choral Festival at the Baha'i Temple near Chicago.

• Stephen Tagliatela, co-owner of the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Business degree from the University of New Haven (UNH). He is a member of the UNH Board of Governors and is also a co-owner of Franklin Construction in New Haven and North Haven Health & Racquet. In addition, he is a director of his parent's foundation, the Louis F. and Mary A. Tagliatela Family Foundation; is a member of the UNH Center for Family Business; funds an endowed scholarship at the university; and is a generous benefactor of the university's Tagliatela College of Engineering. Tagliatela is a member of the Connecticut Marina Trades Association and the advisory board of Liberty Bank. He also serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency's Long Island Sound Study and is a board member of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Inc.

• Cathy Wade of Westbrook received the Connecticut Emergency Nurse Association's Nurse Manager award for her work at Middlesex Hospital's Shoreline Medical Center in Essex.

• Associate Professor Kathleen Whitbread, Ph.D., of Clinton, earned tenure in the School of Education at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford.

Service Awards and Recognitions

• The Bridle Path Conservancy Elected Board Members: Kristin Elliott Leas of Westbrook, vice president, and at-large member Donald Hazuka of Clinton.

• Darlene Briggs of Westbrook was installed as the chairman of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. First Selectman Bishop issued a Proclamation declaring June 5, 2013 as "Darlene Briggs Day" in Westbrook.

• Kristin Brooks, drug-free grant coordinator for Clinton's Partners in Community, received an official state citation from State Sen. Art Linares and State Rep. Tom Vicino for her work in making the Clinton community a safe, healthy, substance-free area for youth through positive attitudes and lifestyle choices.

• Bill Griffin of Clinton, a Housatonic Community College academic, was honored for his foresight in laying the groundwork for the college's Regional Advanced Manufacturing Center.

• Literacy Volunteers of Valley Shore CT, Inc. Board of Directors, Re-Elected Officers: Paula Chabot of Westbrook and Peter Mezzetti of Clinton.

• Literacy Volunteers of Valley Shore CT, Inc. Certificates for Longstanding Service Recipients: Jacki Diana of Westbrook (10 years), Sharon Durham of Old Saybrook (five years), Patti Humphrey of Clinton (five years), Corinne Kelly of Clinton (10 years), Anne Pretzat of Old Saybrook (15 years), Larissa Schroeder of Clinton (10 years), Maggie Stokes of Old Saybrook (10 years), and Marie Tramontana of Old Saybrook (five years).

• Anthony Pinto of Clinton was named chairman of the Town of Clinton Economic Development Commission.

• Betty and George Rehberg of Westbrook were honored by State Rep. Marilyn Giuliano and State Sen. Art Linares for their lifelong commitment and dedication to Westbrook.

Acts of Community Service and

Charitable Contributions

• Kristina Campano of Clinton, while a freshman at Providence College, spent a week working with Habitat for Humanity as part of the college's Alternative Spring Break 2013 program.

• Literacy Volunteers-Valley Shore CT Tutors: Denice Bryan of Clinton; Linda DeRusha, Michael Newborg, and Michelle Woolery of Old Saybrook; and Joan Murphy of Westbrook.

• Dr. Milone of the Milone Chiropractic Center in Clinton donated nearly $800 to Families Helping Families, Inc. The funds were raised during the center's Miracle Year of Wellness campaign. In exchange for a $25 donation to Families Helping Families, Inc., Milone donated his time and services. All proceeds go directly to the Families Helping Families Fuel Assistance Program, which helps local families during this holiday and winter season.

• Sarah Wagner of Clinton, a senior at Hopkins School, participated in Hopkins Volunteer Day by helping in the greenhouses, packing room, and retail area at Roses for Autism, located at the Pinchbeck Rose Farm in Guilford.

Milestones

• Lori and Sean Grace of Westbrook renewed their vows on Jan. 7 at St. Mark's Church in Westbrook. The couple married 19 years ago and has four children: Joseph, Jaclyn, John, and James Grace.