The Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute presented its 2024 Student Achievement Awards and Distinguished Service Awards to students and school officials in the region on Thursday, May 9.
One of the major themes of the awards is recognizing students who have overcome obstacles, and New York State School Boards Association Area 5 Director William Miller and Member Relations Manager Patrick Longo spoke about that during the event.
“It’s just a tremendous opportunity to showcase that the kids in our area are doing,” Miller said.
The O-M-H SBI Awards and Annual General Membership Meeting took place at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. The O-M-H SBI includes 35 school districts in the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and Madison-Oneida BOCES regions.
The students and school officials were joined by their nominators, families, local board members and school officials to be honored and share their stories during the annual event. O-M-H SBI President Douglas Gustin and O-M-H SBI Coordinator for Board Training James Van Wormer welcomed guests and shared comments of congratulations during the event.
Student Achievement Awards
The Student Achievement Awards are presented to high-school juniors who have demonstrated a positive attitude, which reflects initiative, a sense of responsibility and an ability to interact with others, including peers, faculty and the community.
Recipients also have strong character values, perform academically to the best of their ability and may have overcome significant adversity while working toward their career goals.
The Student Achievement Awards were presented this year to the following students:
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES region:
Steven Cioch, of Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and Central Valley Central School District (nominated by Shannon Darrow)
Emily Hartman, of Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and Mount Markham Central School District (nominated by William Carpenter and Courtney Bishop)
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES region:
Shianne Austin, of Remsen Central School District (nominated by Kathleen Nebush)
Cody Coon, of Waterville Central School District (nominated by Christa Nigro)
Memphis Ferguson, of Whitesboro Central School District (nominated by Amy Ambrose)
Travis Leone, of Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and Whitesboro Central School District (nominated by Elaine Buttenschon and Sarah Thayer)
Jaden Roback, of New York Mills Union Free School District (nominated by Bryan Waterman)
Madison-Oneida BOCES region:
Derrick Furness, of Morrisville-Eaton Central School District (nominated by Michele Cesta)
Evan Lewthwaite, of Rome City School District (nominated by Ryan Tuggey)
Sarah Moyer, of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District (nominated by Karen Holton)
Connor Schoener, of the New York State School for the Deaf/Unadilla Valley Central School District (nominated by Chris Kimball)
Distinguished Service Awards
The Distinguished Service Awards are presented to outstanding superintendents, Board of Education members, central office staff and others. The award seeks to recognize those who have dedicated time, continued support and strong action in the service of public education and the welfare of children and have demonstrated a positive influence in their school community and/or the state.
The Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year to the following school officials:
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Board of Education member Doreen Corbin (nominated by the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Board of Education)
New York Mills Union Free School District Board of Education member Jackie Edwards (nominated by the New York Mills Union Free School District Board of Education)
Richfield Springs Central School District Board of Education President Scot Mondore (nominated by the Richfield Springs Central School District Board of Education)
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2024 Student Achievement Awards were given out to local students on Thursday, May 9, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Winners, pictured from left: Cody Coon, of Waterville Central School District; Jaden Roback, of New York Mills Union Free School District; Emily Hartman, of Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and Mount Markham Central School District; Sarah Moyer, of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District; Evan Lewthwaite, of Rome City School District; Memphis Ferguson, of Whitesboro Central School District; Travis Leone, of Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and Whitesboro Central School District; Connor Schoener, of the New York State School for the Deaf/Unadilla Valley Central School District; Derrick Furness, of Morrisville-Eaton Central School District; and Shianne Austin, of Remsen Central School District. Not pictured: Steven Cioch, of Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and Central Valley Central School District.
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2024 Distinguished Service Awards were given out on Thursday, May 9, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Pictured, Distinguished Service Award winner Jackie Edwards, a New York Mills Union Free School District Board of Education member.
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2024 Distinguished Service Awards were given out on Thursday, May 9, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Pictured, Distinguished Service Award winner Scot Mondore, the Richfield Springs Central School District Board of Education president.