Port Jervis students receive Kuykendall Awards

PORT JERVIS, NY — Five Port Jervis students were honored on April 14 at the 17th annual Theodore Kuykendall Community Service Award ceremony in the Port Jervis High School auditorium.

The award is given to one sixth grade student in each of the district’s elementary schools, as well as one eighth grade student in the middle school and one high school senior. Students honored excel in academics and participate in community service, volunteerism and extra-curricular activities.

Sullivan Avenue Elementary School Principal Donna Muro honored Amber Moore, who participates in Girl Scouts, Odyssey of the Mind, band and chorus. She plants flowers at Bon Secours, sends care packages to soldiers in Iraq, volunteers at a nursing home, at church and a local firehouse, shovels and rakes for her neighbors, babysits dogs and has worked at the Port Jervis Fall Foliage Festival. She aspires to be a singer.

Dylan Krekeler won at Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School. Principal Sharon Dickstein described Krekeler’s achievements, including Girl Scouts, peer tutoring, working at the school store, participating in the clean-up at the annual 4-H fair, collecting canned goods for the poor, volunteering at the haunted house at the YMCA and at Campbell Hall Nursing Home, babysitting, Christmas caroling for the elderly. participating in 4-H and in its sewing club fashion show, and serving cookies and punch at Concerts in the Garden.

Brandon Cramer was the Kuykendall Award winner for Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School. According to Principal William Montgomery, Cramer, who is a professional singer with his own released CD, sings for numerous benefits including the Doug Miller family, a local family whose husband/father was lost on September 11; St. Jude’s Hospital; numerous cancer benefits; and the Milford Valley Convalescent Home. He also sends packages to soldiers in Iraq, creates gift baskets for the needy and sings Christmas carols at the annual Christmas Parade.

Middle School Principal Thomas Bongiovi presented Elizabeth Schneider with her award. Schneider reads the morning announcements at school and helps clean the cafeteria. She is a Junior Catholic Daughter, altar server at church, peer tutor, teacher’s assistant for religious education, DARE speaker, class treasurer and a member of Odyssey of the Mind, Cooking Club, BEPT committee, chorus, band, basketball, soccer, tennis, track, cheerleading and softball. She is also the winner of other awards including All-County Band, Excellence in All Academic Areas Award and the 2002 Kuykendall Award.

Senior Molly Carboy’s achievements were described by high school Principal Arnold Spadafora. Carboy is a member of Students Against Drunk Driving, Students Against Dangerous Decisions, DECA, Honor Society, Scholastic Bowl, yearbook and volleyball. She is a volunteer in Bon Secours’ Physical Therapy Department, was named Student Athlete of the Month and OCIAA Student Athlete of the Year and is the driving force behind the After-Prom Party. She aspires to get her Ph.D. in physical therapy.

Each student was awarded a $100 savings bond and a plaque.