Five PHS students encouraged to 'be the change'

 

Posted: Saturday, June 9, 2012 7:00 am

Submitted by Plainville Community Schools | 0 comments

 

At the recent " Be the Change " awards ceremony, four Plainville High School students were recognized for their exemplary community service.

Senior Allesandra Caponigro is a multi-sport athlete and a long-time volunteer at the Unified Track and Field Meet. This event brings together athletes with special needs and typical peers for sport skill development and training.

For the last four years, Caponigro has assisted with timing, set-up and measurement and most importantly, interacted with the athletes, encouraging them to perform to the best of their abilities.

Coach Robin Mills writes, "Throughout those years, some of my athletes have stood out for their outstanding character and service to others. Alle is one of those athletes." For her efforts, the Petit Family Foundation awarded Caponigro $1, 000 and donated $500 to Unified Sports in her honor. Caponigro will be attending Central Connecticut State University and plans to major in business.

For junior Samantha Bradley, the inability to fit an SAT prep course into her busy academic schedule led her to investigate the possibility of offering a weekend program at Plainville High. Bradley contacted The Princeton Review, whose members agreed to offer a free SAT strategy session last February.

The success of the program led to additional sessions throughout the month of April including a free practice exam and an SAT Scores Back presentation.

"Sam was instrumental in fostering interest among her peers in SAT preparation programs at Plainville High School," Ryan Wilson, of the Princeton Review, said.

"Thanks to Sam's ambition and hard work, the relationship between Plainville and The Princeton Review will continue throughout April and beyond.

The summer and fall of 2012 will present further high education readiness options.

because Sam Bradley took it upon herself to be the change in her community." Bradley received a $100 cash award and in her honor, a $500 donation was sent to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

As runners on the PHS Cross Country team, team project winners Nicholas Giuliani and Katherine Willard realized that athletes, especially runners, tend to wear out their sneakers pretty quickly.

But those sneakers might be put to good use.

They found "Soles4Souls", a Nashville, Tenn. based charitable organization that collects and distributes new and gently used footwear to people in need all around the world.

During the month of March, Giuliani and Willard set up collection bins in all five Plainville schools as well as at the YMCA and the Church of Our Savior.

Their efforts netted them 569 pairs of shoes, boots and sneakers which they deliv- ered to the Soles4Souls warehouse in Edison N.J. Kevin Goughary, COO of Soles4Souls said, "This simple gesture can mean a world of difference to millions of people. We know from the smiles and tears of joy when we place the shoes on people's feet just how important the gift of shoes can be . You should be very proud of your effort." A $500 donation was made to Soles4Soles in honor of Giuliani and Willard.

Giuliani will be majoring in music industry at the University of New Haven and Willard will be attending George Washington University, where she will major in journalism.

Also recognized at the ceremony was Sarah Kane, recipient of the PHS Class of 1974 Alumni Scholarship, given this year in honor of Dean Esposti, Unified Arts teacher at Plainville High.

Ranked 4th in this year's graduating class, Sarah is an active member of HOPE, Advanced Information Technology, and Be the Change Student Advisory Committee. In addition, she is a four year member of the band where she is first chair clarinet, co-captain of the varsity tennis team, earning allacademic honors and is coeditor of the Yearbook. Kane has been accepted to the University of Connecticut where she plans to major in elementary education.

Since 2008, the Petit Family Foundation has awarded more than $16, 000 to community-service minded PHS students and the charitable organizations.

The PHS Class of 1974 has given $6, 500 in scholarships.

http://www.myrecordjournal.com/plainvillecitizen/schools/article_7f55154e-b0b1-11e1-b42d-001a4bcf887a.html