HILLSDALE—Congratulations and job well done to several students in the Pascack Valley Regional High School District, who have been recognized for their achievements in recent weeks:
According to the district, Pascack Hills Senior Sam Schatzberg interns at Bethany Community Center, in Washington Township, greeting members and guests and guiding them through COVID-19 protocols.
Pascack Valley’s Julia Graham (grade 10) received honorable mention in this year’s national Reach Challenge, presented through the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).
Pascack Hills Senior Laura Varano was featured on the list of finalists for the New York Times Coming of Age Multimedia Contest.
Pascack Valley Senior Paige Gorman has been selected by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) to receive a 2021 Creative Writing Award.
Here’s more detail, lightly edited, via the Pascack Valley Regional High School District:
Schatzberg lends a hand
Pascack Hills senior Sam Schatzberg is interning at Bethany Community Center, a nonprofit multipurpose facility offering physical activities such as basketball and pickleball along with socio-economic classes such as financial, health, and wellness seminars. Sam’s mentor is center director Bliss Varughese.
When Sam first started his internship, Bliss gave Sam the opportunity of working at the front desk to help boost his confidence.
“My first impression of [Sam] was that he is very genuine and friendly. That came across very clear, but at the same time, he was a little shy, as well,” Bliss said. “I’m extremely outgoing, so I love that aspect where I can help people gain confidence and take pride in what they do. We put him right at the center of attention in that sense, which is the front desk, and so he excelled in it.”
Some of Sam’s internship responsibilities involve filling out COVID waivers, taking people’s temperatures, and checking clients in and out of the community center. Sam interns two hours a day Monday through Friday.
“I’ve really learned how to work in a more businesslike atmosphere,” Sam said. “I’ve really learned how to talk to people better because I used to be more lenient with what I say. Now, [the internship has] really taught me how to talk more professionally with people, and that has helped me out a lot.”
Sam said his favorite part about interning at the community center was “getting to know the people,” whether they’re clients or his fellow co-workers. Sam said he appreciates his relationship with his mentor because he has helped him during his internship.
“There are different locations to the center, so [Bliss] bounces in and out. When he’s there, he helps me out a lot. When he can’t [be at my location], I’m still in good hands, and I get a lot of help still. We’re all just really awesome with each other. It’s just an amazing environment,” Sam said.
Bliss has been a part of the internship program for the past two years, and he said Sam has been a “blessing” to the community center during the pandemic.
Sam has been able to balance his internship responsibilities with his extracurricular activities such as Camp Raspberry and sports. He is a three-sport athlete as he participates in football, basketball, and baseball.
“I just try to try to go with the flow and just balance it out the best I can,” Sam said.
After high school, Sam plans to attend Fairleigh Dickinson University. While his major is undecided, Sam looks forward to using the communication skills that he’s developed and applying them to his future.
ITEEA Reach Challenge
Pascack Valley High School was pleased to announce that Julia Graham (grade 10) received honorable mention in this year’s national Reach Challenge, presented through the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).
Julia, a student in Danielle deQuintal’s Innovation and Design class, helped design adaptive and assistive technology devices to aid Parkinson’s patients who struggle with gait and balance issues.
ITEEA’s Reach Challenge is an impactful Adaptive and Assistive Technology (AT) design-thinking project for middle school, high school, and college level STEM programs.
This innovative project shows teachers how they can guide students to use STEM skills to help overcome human challenges for social good, making a real-world difference in the lives of those around them.
New York Times Coming of Age Multimedia Contest
Hills senior and Danielle Garretson’s Honors Advanced Photography student Laura Varano submitted a photo, Stuck in Solitude, to this contest, which asked teens to document “what they have lost, but also what they have found” during the pandemic. Laura’s name is featured on the list of finalists published by the New York Times.
From the Times online: “A team of judges — both adults and teenagers — evaluated over 5,500 entries and identified these 245 finalists, all of whom we consider ‘winners.’ But this contest was different than any we have ever run. For one thing, individual excellence was not the only criteria; equally important was the broad story these pieces could tell together.”
PVHS students receive French creative writing awards
Pascack Valley High School is pleased to announce that Paige Gorman, grade 12, has been selected by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) Société Honoraire de Français (SHF) to receive a 2021 Creative Writing Award. Paige’s essay will be published in the spring edition of Élan. In presenting this honor, the selection committee noted the impressive number of submissions for this award, as well as the high caliber of the writing.
In addition to the publication of her essay, Paige received a $100 prize, a certificate of achievement, and recognition by the SHF Secretary April Anthony, and AATF Executive Director Jayne Abrate.
Another PVHS senior, Camillia Ghavami, earned an honorable mention for the essay that she submitted. Both Paige (Honors French IV) and Camillia (AP French student) are taught by Teresa DelGiudice, an instructor in the Pascack Regional World Languages Department.
