Student Awards, 2003-2004


Throughout the school year, Pingry students demonstrate their skills through competitions sponsored by state, national, and international organizations. The following is a list of those students who have been recognized for their exceptional efforts.


Looking for senior awards? Find them all here.

American Association of Teachers of French Le Grand Concours, or National French Contest, is a French event in the form of a 60 minute national examination, designed, written, financed, and disseminated by the members of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). Its purpose is to help stimulate further interest in the teaching and learning of French and to help identify and reward achievement on the part of both students and teachers.		Susannah Bragg Grade 12 (VI) Nicole Green Grade 12 (VI) Casey Huser Grade 11 (V) Jeremy Jordan Grade 12 (VI) Katherine Lawrence Grade 12 (VI) Noah Mamis Grade 12 (VI) Alex Raiffe Grade 12 (VI) Caroline Savello Grade 11 (V) Andrew Schlesinger Grade 12 (VI) Chantal Berman Grade 10 (IV) Jonathan Bregman Grade 10 (IV) Canton Lee Grade 11 (V) Emily Majka Grade 12 (VI) Allison Seebald Grade 11 (V) Caitlin Jennings Grade 10 (IV) Juliette Jordan Grade 10 (IV) Sara Mouradian Grade 10 (IV) Julia Saering Grade 11 (V) Ishita Bali Grade 9 (III) Jordan Homer Grade 9 (III) Hadley Johnson Grade 9 (III) Amanda King Grade 9 (III) Matthew Laud Grade 9 (III) Hal Lee Grade 9 (III) Julie McMahon Grade 9 (III) Brian Murphy Grade 9 (III) Ajay Tungare Grade 9 (III) Victoria Bianco Grade 8 (II) Ijeoma Eboh Grade 8 (II) Katherine Fisanick Grade 8 (II) Angela Hui Grade 8 (II) Marguerite Mole Grade 8 (II) Olivia Shelton Grade 8 (II) Midori Wada Grade 8 (II)
American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) The mission of the AATG is based on the belief that bringing the language, literatures and cultures of the German-speaking world to all Americans is a vital humanistic endeavor which serves essential national interests. It's the only national individual membership organization dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the language, literature, and culture of the German-speaking countries.		Marisa LaValette Grade 12 (VI) Sytze Kamphuis Grade 10 (IV) Marisa LaValette Grade 12 (VI) Noah Mamis Grade 12 (VI) Miguel Roman Grade 11 (V) Gabriel Fernando Grade 9 (III) John Kolb Grade 9 (III) Michael Rosenman Grade 11 (V) Michael Bayersdorfer Grade 10 (IV) Kristen Brodgesell Grade 11 (V) Max Horlbeck Grade 9 (III) Paul Kolb Grade 12 (VI) Erin Toner Grade 9 (III)
USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education, the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is the premier competition in biology in the United States. The USA Biology Olympiad is a four-tiered competition open to all U.S. high school students. It is aimed at choosing the USA Biology Olympiad National Team, and a four-person U.S. team to travel to the International Biology Olympiad. Semifinalists represent the top 10 percent of students who took the USABO Open Exam.		Andrew Schlesinger Grade 12 (VI) Ed Suh Grade 11 (V)
Cum Laude Society Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools. The founders of the society modeled Cum Laude after Phi Beta Kappa and in the years since its founding, Cum Laude has grown to 344 chapters, approximately two dozen of which are located in public schools and the rest in Independent schools.		Thomas Glazer Maz Haines-Stiles Paul Kolb Emily Majka Caroline Na Rebecca Speiser Jenna Whiteley Elana Wilf Robert Zacharias		Danielle Peretore Jonathan Roberts Michael Rosenman Caroline Savello Allison Seebald Amanda Smith Nikhil Srivastava Lauren Tanenbaum Andrew Young
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college celebration of science. Held annually in May, the Intel ISEF brings together over 1,200 students from 40 nations to compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: $50,000 college scholarship and a high-performance computer.		Michael Page Grade 11 (V) ISEF Finalist Received 9 prizes at North Jersey Regional Science Fair
Rutgers University Drama and Poetry Declamation Contest One of the oldest language competitions in New Jersey, sponsored by Delta Phi Alpha, Rutgers' German Honor Society.		Marisa LaValette Grade 12 (VI) 2nd place for advanced students
Eastern Region Senior Teen Conference		Ashley Jackson Grade 12 (VI) Academic Award
Math League Contest Math League's 6th, 7th, and 8th grade contests challenge students and schools in interschool league competitions. Students in each league compete for the highest scores, while schools compete for the highest team score: the total of the top 5 scores in each school. These contests encourage a variety of problem-solving skills and methods, to improve students' abilities and understanding of mathematical connections, while having fun!		Pingry ranked 20th out of 224 schools. Seventh grade team ranked 1st in Somerset County. Zara Mannan ranked 1st individual scorer in Somerset County. Pingry ranked 17th out of 218 schools. Eighth grade team ranked 1st in Somerset County. Andrew Cala and Evan Rosenman tied for 1st place in Somerset County. Grace Lin and Darina Shtrakhman ranked 3rd and 4th respectfully in Somerset County.
The National Latin Exam The National Latin Exam is offered under the joint sponsorship of the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. They are pleased to announce the 2004 ACL/NJCL National Latin Exam. More than 128,000 Latin students across the U.S.A., Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Niger, Switzerland, Zimbabwe took the 2003 National Latin Exam. The ACL/NJCL National Latin Exam has been approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and placed on the Advisory List of National Contests and Activities for 2003-2004.		Benjamin Blonder Grade 12 (VI) Douglas Ellwanger Grade 12 (VI) Paul Kolb Grade 12 (VI) Michael Rosenman Grade 11 (V) Allison Seebald Grade 11 (V) Sam Tasher Grade 11 (V) Robert Blatt Grade 8 (II) Nicole Daniele Grade 11 (V) Isaac Davis Grade 9 (III) Jenna Devine Grade 8 (II) Hadley Johnson Grade 9 (III) Evan Lammertse Grade 8 (II) Sarah Levinn Grade 9 (III) Grace Lin Grade 8 (II) Noah Mamis Grade 12 (VI) Rajiv Mehta Grade 12 (VI) Stephanie Naratil Grade 9 (III) Brian O'Toole Grade 8 (II) Kelly Peeler Grade 10 (IV) Julian Quintanilla Grade 9 (III) Stephen Roach Grade 8 (II) Ajay Tungare Grade 9 (III) Midori Wada Grade 9 (III)
New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education The Governor’s Awards in Arts Education (GAAE) are designed to promote awareness and appreciation for the arts by honoring individual students (grades 9 through 12) and students who are classified, (age 14 - 21), who have achieved national/state recognition in the arts and attend public or nonpublic schools in New Jersey, and leaders in arts education who have demonstrated excellence and dedication in arts education (kindergarten through grade 12).		Ashley Jackson Grade 12 (VI) Rebecca Ng Grade 11 (V)		Jonathan Roberts Grade 11 (V)
New Jersey State NAACP Competition		Ashley Jackson Grade 12 (VI) Gold Medalist - Instrumental Classical
National Achievement Scholarship Program The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Black students may enter both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT and meeting other published requirements for participation. The two annual programs are conducted simultaneously but operated and funded separately. A student's standing is determined independently in each program. Black American students can qualify for recognition and be honored as Scholars in both the National Merit Program and the National Achievement Program, but can receive only one monetary award from NMSC.		Nicole Green Ashley Jackson
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) was founded in 1981 as a nonprofit arts organization. Its mission is to identify emerging artists and assist them at critical junctures in their educational and professional developments, and to raise appreciation for, and support of, the arts in American society.		Ashley Jackson Grade 12 (VI) Merit Award in Harp
National Merit Scholarship Program The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT — a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.3 million entrants each year — and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements. Of the 1.3 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (verbal + math + writing skills scores) will qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. About 16,000 students or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, will be notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists.		Benjamin Blonder Susannah Bragg Athena Christakos Douglas Ellwanger Pritha Ghosh Thomas Glazer Jill Kehoe Amit Kumar Noah Mamis Rajiv Mehta Ravi Parikh Gwen Tobert Melissa Tyson
National Young Leaders Conference The National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) offers students the opportunity to discuss current events and issues with top policy makers in Washington, D.C., analyze concepts, and then put them immediately to work! NYLC's dynamic program features creative decision-making simulations that challenge young minds to solve problems and lead their peers through role-playing exercises in an energy-charged atmosphere far from the traditional classroom experience.		Jessica Meyer Grade 11 (V)
NJMEA All-State Opera Festival The mission of the New Jersey Music Educators Association is the advancement of music instruction in New Jersey's educational institutions at all levels that provide in-service and enrichment opportunities for practicing and retired teachers and prospective music educators, as well as sponsoring various festivals and all-state performing groups for K-12 students.		Rebecca Ng Grade 11 (V) Awarded the Governor's Award for Arts Education for Opera.		Jonathan Roberts Grade 11 (V) Awarded the Governor's Award for Arts Education for Opera, and the C. Scripps BeeBee Scholarship Prize.
U.S. Figure Skating U.S. Figure Skating is the official governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States, recognized as such by both the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Skating Union (ISU). As the governing body, U.S. Figure Skating's mission is to provide programs to encourage participation and achievement in the sport of figure skating. Among other things, U.S. Figure Skating's status as governing body gives it the authority to regulate and govern the sport in the United States, create rules for the holding of tests, competitions and other activities, and to organize and sponsor competitions for the purpose of stimulating interest in the sport.		Caroline Pinke Grade 8 (II) Completed all requirements for Senior Moves in the U.S. Figure Skating Field Test. Moves in the Field elements consist of different skating steps and footwork sequence skated in prescribed patterns without music. The Senior Moves is comprised of five required elements which must be performed by the skater with excellent power, strong edge control and depth, extension, and precise footwork control. The Senior Moves is the Field Test is the highest attainable moves in the field test is the USFSA structure.
The Waksman Challenge is a research problem in bioinformatics or structural biology that teams of high school-level students can attempt to solve using their ingenuity and the resources of the Internet. The students listed here received an Excellent project ranking on the topic of DNA Binding Specificity.		Gabe Fernando Grade 9 (III) Team Captain Isaac Davis Grade 9 (III)		Max Horlbeck Grade 9 (III) Ajay Tungare Grade 9 (III)