Two students receive ‘Excellence' awards, three others compete in regional science fair

Central Valley - Monroe-Woodbury High School Principal Aldo Filippone has presented “Pursuit of Excellence” awards to cellist Madeline Huberth and high hurdler Ryan Kachmarsky for their recent accomplishments. Huberth was selected as the top cellist in the National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Orchestra. This honor places her as the number one high school cellist on the East Coast. Kachmarsky won the 55-meter hurdles at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field championships. In a prepared statement, Filippone said: “Madeline has a true passion and talent for music. Madeline has the principal cellist position in our Chamber Orchestra for the past four years. In addition, she has enhanced her love for music by pursuing extensive music courses at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division. Madeline has also participated in many youth music organizations including Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute Youth Artist Orchestra, the Cleveland Institute of Music Encore String Program, Soundfest Chamber Music Festival with the Colorado Quartet and the Academy of Music at Ramapo College. “Madeline is a dedicated student,” he added. “Throughout her high school career, she has continuously achieved high honor roll. This accomplishment has led her to become the tenth ranked student in the Class of 2007 and a member of the National Honor Society. It is indeed an honor to present the “Pursuit of Excellence” to Madeline Huberth for her outstanding efforts, dedication and commitment.” Similarly, Filippone said Kachmarsky has achieved honor roll success and is a positive role model to students in the building. “Ryan has participated for four years in indoor and outdoor track and was also a member of the soccer team for two years<’ the principal said. “Ryan holds the school junior record for hurdles by running 14.8 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. Ryan also has the fastest fully automatic timing in Monroe-Woodbury school history. Meanwhile, Filippone also recognized the accomplishments of three students from the Science Research course who competed in the Tri Region Science and Engineering Fair in Syracuse in March. Song Qu, a senior, was one of two students in the fair to receive Highest Honors, which qualified him as a finalist in the International Science and Engineering Fair. He will represent the region in a week-long international competition held in New Mexico in which nearly 1,500 students from more than 40 countries compete for more than $2 million dollars in scholarships and tuition grants. Kevin Luo, a senior, was awarded high honors at the TRSEF and advanced to the New York State Science and Engineering Fair at Columbia University where he won second place in the biochemistry category. He also was one of 12 finalists in the state and received a $30,000 scholarship to Ohio Wesleyan University. Kathleen Margillo, a senior, was awarded the TRSEF Curiosity Special Award. “Congratulations to our students for their outstanding achievement,” the principal added.