Students honored for achievements in athletics, academics, and activities during school board meeting

Before the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) school board got down to business on the December 4 meeting, the members took a few minutes to recognize students for impressive achievements attained.

“What we’re doing differently this year is trying to celebrate students closer to their accomplishments,” said MSBSD Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani, commenting that usually the school board and administration waits until May to recognize students’ achievements.

“We want to take this opportunity to recognize excellence in academics and activities in (the) Mat-Su. Each of the students recognized has achieved a top rating in either the academic endeavors or has placed first in an Alaska Association of Student Activities (ASAA) Statewide event,” said Dr. Andrea Everett.

Among the students recognized were ASAA State Champions in

Girls Cross Country-Hailee Giacobbe, Wasilla High School;

Girls Singles Tennis- Jan Chongkavinit, Colony High School;

Swimming and Diving- Isaiah Hulien, Boys 100yd Butterfly, Colony HS; Boys 400yd Freestyle Relay, Kellan DenBleyker, Pierce McDonough, Iver Gates, Isaiah Hulien, Colony HS; and Girls 1 Meter Diving, Charlize McManus, Colony HS.

Boys ASAA State Champions in Swimming-Colony High School

Girls Volleyball-Wasilla High School

ASAA All-State Musicians, including two First Chair vocalists-Finn Gagnon, First Chair, Tenor, Colony HS; Kourtney Allen, First Chair, Soprano, Colony HS.

National Merit Scholars and Commended Students- Sean Gaul, Career and Technical HS; Aurora Ivey-Palmer High School

AP Scholars and students excelling on AP exams- Gavyn Menashe, Colony HS; Stella Rose, CTHS; Thomas Chadwick and Harriette Kost, Colony HS.

The students qualifying for scholarships will learn their outcome this spring. Dr. Everett also mentioned that there were names of students being celebrated for other AP honor achievements.

“There is power in seeing this many names. These are students being celebrated for their hard work and academic achievement,” she said.

There were an additional 762 students who achieved a score of 3, 4, or 5 on their AP exams, scores which reflect college-readiness and mastery of the challenging coursework in AP courses.

“The MSBSD salutes all of these students for their hard work and dedication to excellence in athletics, academics, and activities. Their achievements reflect MSBSD’s mission to prepare all students for success,” said Dr. Everett.