What's Going on at
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School?

National Merit Scholars and National Honor Society Inductees Announced

According to an announcement by Ms. Karen McDermott, Supervisor of Counseling in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools, a large number of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School students have been recognized recently for outstanding scholastic achievements, both in national testing and at the high school.

Ms. McDermott reported that nineteen seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2006 National Merit Scholarship Program. The SPFHS students recognized in the competition include F.Bi, M.Bonacum, E.Bourchtein, K.Brass, D.Bugg, C.Chou, N.Dalal, C.DiProspero, A.Doliber, A. Gibson, D.Ginsberg, J.Greenspan, S.Halpern, G.Herzberg, M.Kelly, R.Palejwala, A.Rosi, K.Van Haasteren, and K.Wong. Over 1.3 million students participated in the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT®. About 34,000 students nationally received Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise as demonstrated by their scores on the qualifying examination.

In addition, senior C.Ahiabor was recognized as a Scholar in the 2006 National Achievement® Scholarship Program, an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition of outstanding Black American high school students. Ms. McDermott also announced that D.Ginsberg has been identified as a Scholar in the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program, a program that provides national recognition of the exceptional academic achievements of Hispanic high school seniors and identifies them to post secondary institutions. Approximately 3,300 students received this designation out of the 124,000 self-identified students nationwide who sought consideration in the program.

Ms. Maureen Basta, advisor of the National Honor Society at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, also announced that thirty-three students were inducted recently into the school's NHS chapter in an evening ceremony held at the school. The new National Honor Society members, selected by a Faculty Council for meeting high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character, include L.Adams, C.Albanese-DeMair, J.Alfano, A.Baier, C.Baines, C.Berger, L.Bloom, S.Boffa, M.Bonacum, A.Brown, A.Castillo, D.Chaves, G.Darwin, K.DeMair, L.Devlin, M.Finkel, D.Fung, B.Fusillo, J.Gaglioti, D.Ginsberg, A.Goldberg, B.Larkin, J.Lopez, K.Mandala, S.Marr, D.Patel, C.Pflaum, A.Selim, L.Siegal, L.Spirko, S.Tanguy, L.Weissbrod, and C.Zimmerman.

Dr. Kenneth Culver, co-founder of "Foundation for Peace" and an Executive Director in Oncology at Novartis, delivered the keynote address at the induction ceremony. Other participants in the ceremony included SPFHS Principal David Heisey, Assistant Principal Ed Braun, and a student jazz ensemble comprised of Jonathan DiFiore, Peter Robinson, and Stephen Voelker.

"The Scotch Plains-Fanwood schools and community seek to honor excellence in all phases of student life," stated Ms. Basta, "and recognizing student accomplishments through National Honor Society membership is a very important way to do that. These newly inducted students will now be expected to continue upholding the standards they have set as both students and members of the community."

The National Honor Society, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for high school students. Chapters exist in more than 60 percent of the nation's high schools.


SPFHS Inaugurates "Distinguised Alumni Hall of Fame"

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School inaugurated the school's long-awaited "Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame" in its first annual induction ceremony on Tuesday, November 15. The SPFHS "Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame" was established to recognize outstanding graduates of the high school who have excelled in the fields of art, business, education, literature, medicine, military, athletics, law, and science, or have contributed to the betterment of the community or society.

The individuals selected as charter members of the new Hall of Fame include:
Carol Bellamy, a 1959 graduate of the high school, was appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1995 and was re-appointed in 1999. Prior to her UNICEF appointment, Ms. Bellamy served as the Director of the Peace Corps beginning in 1993. She served five years in the New York State Senate. In 1978, she was the first women to be named President of the New York City Council.

Donald T. DiFrancesco is a 1962 graduate of SPFHS. He was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly in 1976 and moved to the State Senate in 1979. He served as the Senate President for 10 years and was the Acting Governor of New Jersey for 11 months.

Renaldo Nehemiah, a 1977 SPFHS graduate, set four world records in 1979 as a hurdler and is considered by many to be the best hurdler of all time. He was the first person to break the 13-second barrier in the 110-meter hurdles. Mr. Nehemiah joined the San Francisco 49ers pro football team as a wide receiver in 1982 and played in the NFL for five years. He was on the 1984 Super Bowl Champion team.

Jean Burgdorff, a 40's graduate of SPFHS, was a co-founder of Burgdorff Realtors in 1958. Her company has evolved into a major force in the New Jersey real estate market, providing outstanding service to its customers. Bergdorff Realtors has grown into a 700-agent company with 16 offices throughout Northern and Central New Jersey.

Linda Stender, a 1969 SPFHS grad, served as a Union County Freeholder from 1994-2002 and was Mayor of Fanwood from 1992-95, having served on the Fanwood Borough Council from 1988-90. Ms. Stender has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002.

Nominations for 2006 Hall of Fame inductees will be opened in the near future,
with further details to be published on this website.


SPFHS Grad Key Player in Pennsylvania "Intelligent Design" Case

Witold "Vic" Walczak, SPFHS Class of 1979, is a major participant in the Dover, Pennsylvania, court case centered on the issue of teaching "intelligent design" in school science classes.


For more information about Mr. Walczak and this important issue, check out the following links:

Information about Mr. Walczak
The Case
Issue Summary

 
Congratulations to Our Students of the Month" for 2005-06!

December:

Robert Dawson

November:

David Ginsberg

October:

Lauren Weissbrod

September:

Neil Dalal

A student at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School who receives this honor is selected by members of the faculty and needs to exhibit most of the following characteristics:

  • exhibits school spirit
  • participates/excels in extra-curricular activities
  • respects teachers, peers, and staff
  • is involved in the community, volunteer work, or service activities
  • demonstrates high academic achievement
  • exhibits significant improvement (academic, behavioral, athletic)
  • has overcome personal or academic obstacle
  • creates a positive presence in school/ kindness to others
  • has no suspendable offenses during the academic year


SPFHS Reunions Planned

..

Class of 1996

Dear Class of 1996,
"Just for You" event planners are starting to plan your 10 year reunion and we need your help finding your classmates. Please contact plannerforyou@aol.com with your current address, and any other classmates you are in contact with. We'd like to make this happen, so let's start now!

Thank you,
Jean Lawrence and Jessica Ferrer

..

Class of 1971

Class of 1976

Class of 1988

Reunions Unlimited Inc. has been asked to organize a reunion for your SPFHS graduating classes in the year 2006 and needs help in locating as many classmates as possible.

If you can help with current addresses, or you'd like specific information about your class reunion, please call Reunions Unlimited at (732) 617-1000 or check their website at www.reunions-unlimited.com



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