The Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute recently presented its 2022 Student Achievement Awards and Distinguished Service Awards during separate ceremonies.
During the Distinguished Service Awards ceremony, O-M-H SBI Coordinator for Board Training James Van Wormer said the seven award winners have a combined 265 years of service to public education.
“Congratulations to our DSA winners,” Van Wormer said.
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 Student Achievement Awards were held virtually on Thursday, May 19, and the Distinguished Service Awards were held in-person on Monday, June 6, at Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills.
At the DSA ceremony, O-M-H SBI President Robert Batson, who is also the president of the Poland Central School District Board of Education, congratulated the DSA winners and said the region is lucky to have such dedicated people serving our communities.
Batson also said the SSA ceremony stands out each year as students’ ability to overcome challenges and succeed are highlighted.
“I don’t think there’s any program we have that’s better than that,” Batson said.
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 and faculty.
Recipients also perform academically to the best of their ability, have overcome a significant adversity and participate in extracurricular and community activities. Other criteria include strong character values and a post-graduate commitment toward a career goal or higher education.
The Student Achievement Awards were presented this year to the following students:
- Abbriana Albro, of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District (nominated by Katie Ragozzino)
- Craig Arquiett, of Hamilton Central School District (nominated by Victoria Daoust)
- Evan Baker, of Morrisville-Eaton Central School District (nominated by Michele Cesta)
- Rowan Cady, of Stockbridge Valley Central School District (nominated by Cassandra Gleason)
- Dakotah Dudgeon, of Central Valley Central School District (nominated by Amy Billings)
- Paul Hoffman, of Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and West Canada Valley Central School District (nominated by Rachel Kent)
- Nay Linn, of Whitesboro Central School District (nominated by Amy Ambrose)
- Natalie Rieben, of Oriskany Central School District (nominated by John Bauer)
- Jerome Schwendermann, of Rome City School District (nominated by Teri Burns)
- Ann Zhao, of Herkimer Central School District (nominated by Chanel Meyer)
Distinguished Service Awards
The Distinguished Service Awards are presented to outstanding volunteers – such as school board members – and superintendents who have dedicated time, continued support and vigorous action in the service of public education and the welfare of children. Recipients may have also demonstrated a positive influence in the greater community and in the state.
The Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year to the following school officials:
- Megan Burdick, Clinton Central School District Board of Education member (nominated by the Clinton Board of Education)
- Rich Engelbrecht, Madison-Oneida BOCES Board of Education member (nominated by the Madison-Oneida BOCES Board of Education)
- Timothy Gaffney, Oriskany Central School District superintendent (nominated by Oriskany Board of Education President Brian Judycki)
- Dr. Stephen Grimm, Clinton Central School District superintendent (nominated by Clinton Board of Education President Mary Lou Lauchert)
- Eileen Hamlin, Remsen Central School District school nurse (nominated by Remsen Superintendent Timothy Jenny)
- Suzannah Quayle, Waterville Central School District Board of Education member (nominated by the Waterville Board of Education)
- Dr. Joanne Shelmidine, New York Mills Union Free School District Board of Education member (nominated by the New York Mills Board of Education)
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2022 Student Achievement Award winners are pictured here. From left, top row: Ann Zhao, Evan Baker, Dakotah Dudgeon, Craig Arquiett and Abbriana Albro. Bottom row: Rowan Cady, Paul Hoffman, Nay Linn, Natalie Rieben and Jerome Schwendermann.
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2022 Distinguished Service Award winners are pictured here. From left, top row: Eileen Hamlin, Dr. Joanne Shelmidine, Timothy Gaffney, Dr. Stephen Grimm, Megan Burdick, Suzannah Quayle and Rich Engelbrecht.