Cranford High School | Special Announcements

At the 58th annual Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, James Murphy was honored at a ceremony and luncheon. Jimmy Murphy not only did well in the County but also placed third in the state. For this accomplishment he will be receiving a special award as a Merck Scholar.
5 Cranford High School Seniors were recognized at the annual Snapple Bowl Press Conference at North Brunswick High School as nominees to the Union County Snapple Bowl XV Football and Cheerleading teams: Chad Falcon, Robert Foster, Sean Scanlon and Simon Smith for Football and Brynn Conway for Cheerleading.
The game is going to be held at East Brunswick High School, on July 17th. Kick Off is at 7:30pm. This is a great year for our school as you can see we are well represented this year! The Snapple Bowl game is an annual football game between the best of the best from both Union and Middlesex counties. The money raised from this game and corresponding events benefit two charities: the Lakewood School for Cerebral Palsey (Middlesex County) and Childrens Specialized Hospital (Union County). The teams practice in advance of the game, participate in a pep rally at their respective charity institutions and play an electric game of football!
25 of our top science students participated in the 58th annual Merck State Science Day competition . 113 schools were involved and the five Cranford teams, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Integrated Science, and Advanced Integrated Science combined for a school score putting us in 24th place. Billy Albert scored first in Union County in Physics. The Biology team of Jimmy Murphy, Colin Gates, Mackenzie Dow, Melissa Roberts, and Joy Hanke combined to capture 1st place in Union County and 9th place in the state. Jimmy Murphy not only did well in the County but also placed third in the state. For this accomplishment he will be receiving a special award as a Merck Scholar.
5 of our own Cranford High School Cheerleaders have the distinct honor to cheer for the New Jersey All-Star team at the 11th annual New York - New Jersey All Star Football Classic (formerly known as the Governor's Bowl). They are: Lyndsay Albert, Casey Albrecht, Meghan Felauer, Kaitlin Magadan, and Alicia Markuske. Along with Governor Livingston, Cranford is the only other Union County school with representation on the team, and this year marks the first year the game will be having cheerleaders!
Two CHS students, Dominique Collucci and Collen Gilligan competed at the 2008 Congressional Arts Competition at Schering-Plough Corporation in Kenilworth. Dominique, an Art Advanced student, received a Special Mention award. Collen, a Photography student, received the Viewer's Choice award.
CHS students Ryan Ruppel and Elizabeth Wolansky attended the DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. They competed in business related events against more than 14,000 students from all over the United States, Mexico, Canada and Guam. Elizabeth Wolansky was a finalist in her area of accounting. In a competition of about 80 students, Elizabeth placed in the top 20 of students where she took a written test and completed role plays. Ryan Ruppel attended the Senior Management Institute and had the opportunity to meet with executives from major American businesses as well as students from all over the United States.
Daniel Ho has been selected by UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions-Health Science Careers Program to receive the Certificate of Excellence for outstanding Pat Olson Memorial Scholarship Performance.
Ms. Nancy P. Campbell was selected as Union County Guidance Counselor of the Year for 2008. She joins the ranks of Ms. Jeanine Boyll and Mr. George Huff, who are former recipients of this honor. Ms. Campbell became a member of the Cranford High School Guidance Staff in September 2004, after having worked in college admissions for over 30 years. Ms. Campbell loves Cranford. She says, "It is a thrill to be honored by my peers but the real joy is having the support of my students".
Ryan Gerrity's entry in the 64th Annual AAA Traffic Safety Poster Program has been placed in the State competition. As a part of Mrs. Dugandzic's class, Ryan created a poster which creatively and concisely conveyed the importance of traffic safety.
Ryan Zimmerman has been selected as a finalist in the Thirteenth Annual Wallenberg Honors Program. The program was developed to draw attention to middle and high school students who emulate the behavior exhibited by Raoul Wallenberg. A Swedish diplomat, Wallenberg is credited with saving thousands of lives in Hungary near the end of World War II in the face of the Nazi Holocaust.
Congratulations to the Biology 1 team of Catherine Schwartz, Corina Lupp, Maeve Brady and Michael Ford and to the Biology 2 team of Colin Gates and James Murphy for once again winning first place in the science league competition to complete a four month sweep. James Murphy and Colin Gates tied each other and had the highest scores among all competitors. Cathy Schwartz and Corina Lupp came in first and second among all competitors in the Biology 1 exam. The Chemistry 1 team of Chris Powell and Liz Stapleton also took first place and also scored first and second among all competitors. The Chemistry 2 team of Billy Albert and Anna Autillio came in a very close second with Billy again having the highest score among all who competed. In last month's competition Billy Albert had a perfect score, a feat matched by only one other student in the state.
This year's Youth and Government Conference was another success for the Cranford High School Delegation. 28 CHS students were in attendance, and the following awards and accolades were brought home:
Having their bills successfully passed were: Yale Leber, Robbie Carter, Mallory Niro, Amy Negrin, Geeno O'Neill, and Max Dublin.

Selected to attend this year's Conference on National Affairs in North Carolina were: Yale Leber, Matt Kabak, and Amy Negrin.

Patrick Cassidy won the award for outstanding legislation.

Carrie Bilenker was elected as Senate clerk for the 2009 conference.

Frannie Kenajian was elected Officer of the Treasury.

Shamsheer Cheema was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the 2009 conference.

Andrea Von Ellen was selected as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the governor's cabinet.

Jill Feeney was selected as Secretary of Transportation in the governor's cabinet.

Special Congratulations to David Colaco who served as this year's Youth Governor.
Michelle Cannon and Samantha Finke, both CHS juniors, have been selected to attend Girls State during the week of June 15th. Girls State offers training in the processes of self government and good citizenship as practiced in a democratic society. For more information about Girls State, click here.
Joe Diaz, Robert Poland and Jonathan Van Ostenbridge, all CHS juniors, have been selected to attend Boys State during the week of June 15th. Boys State offers training in the processes of self government and good citizenship as practiced in a democratic society. For more information about Boys State, click here.
Congratulations to Nicholas Romano, Lindsay DeLuca, Lyndsay Albert, Ryan Albert, Stephanie Alexandre, Michael Carbonell, Patrick Dolan, Nathanael Greene, Eric Knight, Nichals P. Liotrard, Brian Trotter, and Bridget Wolansky for winning in the Farleigh Dickinson Business Plan Competition. The competition encouraged individuals to generate ideas for products or services that are innovative.
Mr. Goldstein's Multimedia Publications class has recently created advertisements for businesses and sent them completed versions. Congratulations to Mike Morgese, whose advertisement will be used by Stan's Donuts in California. Also, congratulations to Gedas Pliura, whose advertisement will be used by a tour boat company called Captain Zodiac in Hawaii.
Congratulations to the Biology I Team of Cathy Schwartz, Maeve Brady, Michael Ford, and Emily Bauman and the Biology II Team of Colin Gates, James Murphy, Kelli Bruno and Kathy Van BenSchoten for coming in first place the Science League competition against 4 other area high schools. Our Chemistry I and Chemistry II teams came in a very close second place. Special mention goes to Cathy Schwartz, Colin Gates and Billy Albert for having the highest scores in their respective exams.
Ryan Zimmerman of CHS has been named one of the top runners-up in The 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in New Jersey. As as result, Ryan will receive an engraved bronze Distinguished Finalist medallion to commemorated this prestigious award. This is a great honor for Ryan, CHS and the Cranford Community. Ryan was given this honor for his work organizing an all-day, townwide volleyball tournament last year to increase awareness about cancer and to raise money for cancer research. His "Learn and Serve Marathon" drew more than 250 local residents and raised 2,600 dollars for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization and the American Cancer Society.
Congratulations to the Biology I team of Cathy Schwartz, Maeve Brady, Michael Ford and Emily Bauman ; the Biology II team of Colin Gates and James Murphy and the Chemistry II team of Billy Albert and Dan Ho for coming in first place in the Science League Competition against 4 other area High Schools. Special congratulations go to Billy Albert who scored a 100 on the Chemistry II Exam!!! Congratulations to all who competed in the event.
Congratulations to the New York Giants. Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin prevented perfection and defeated the previously undefeated Patriots 17-14 in the Super Bowl.
The 108-member Cranford High School Model UN delegation returned form the annual three-day conference with eleven individual awards. CHS students have been preparing for the conference since September, working on position papers, country and topic research, and debating and public speaking skills. The CHS delegation also attended a one-day preliminary mock session on a Sunday in November at the College of New Jersey in preparation for the Hershey conference. Over twelve hundred students from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia attended the conference, representing 190 countries. Cranford fielded the second largest delegation among the eighteen schools attending. Although communication, diplomacy, and solution-seeking are stressed, the conference has a competitive aspect in that awards are presented for outstanding participation in several categories. The Cranford High School Model UN delegation received the following awards and offices:
John Garretson '10, Frannie Kenajian '09, Shamsheer Cheema '09, and Matt Kabak '08 were elected to the Conference on National Affairs in North Carolina in July 2008.

Jill Feeney '09, and Frannie Kenajian '09 were elected to the Youth Secretariat for the 2009 Hershey conference.

Shamsheer Cheema '09 was elected Vice Chair of the General Assembly for the 2009 Hershey conference.

Megan Papandrea '09 was elected Vice Chair of the International Criminal Court for the 2009 Hershey conference.

Max Lasky '08 was awarded Premier Delegate in the General Assembly.

Lisa Kessler '09 was awarded Arab League committee Best First Year Delegate.

Carrie Bilenker '11 was awarded Legal Committee Best First Year Delegate.
Congratulations to the Cranford DECA Regional Winners. In the Sports Marketing Team Event, Patrick Cassidy and Spencer Merman. In the Travel and Tourism Team Event, Cathleen Marin and Katherine Sweeney. In the Accounting Event, Elizabeth Wolansky, Samantha Sutera, Bridget Wolansky, and Alicia Mitchell. In the Business Services Marketing Event, Connor Koellner and Brendon McCloskey. In the Food Marketing Services Event, Erin McCloskey and Ryan Ruppel. Retail Merchandising Services, Katherine Ambruster and Stephanie Welch. In the Sports and Entertainment Marketing Event, Daniel Rodrequez.
Congratulations to the Biology I, Biology II, and Chemistry II Teams for coming in first place in the Science League Competition against 4 other area high schools. Special congratulations goes to: Cathy Schwartz, Michael Ford, Emily Baumann and Maeve Brady who finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th among all competitors in the Biology I test, and to James Murphy and Colin Gates who scored 1st and 2nd among all competitors in the Biology II exam and to Billy Albert and Laura Roberts whose combined scores gave our Chemistry II team the victory. Congratulations to all who competed.
A CHS Student, Michael Ozolnieks, was selected by the Art Educators of New Jersey to represent our state during celebrations of Youth Art Month 2008. His design will be reproduced onto buttons created for those who attend the New Jersey Youth Art Month exhibit in the Trenton State House during the month of March.
Thank you to everyone who helped with our Toys for Tots fund-raiser . This years cutting board sale helped to purchase $1000 worth of toys! Thanks to all who purchased a cutting board (sold out in 20 min.) and to all who have donated toys. Remember if you didn't get here in time, there will be more next year.
4 CHS Students who participated in The Aquatic Ecology Research Project with Rider University and conducted/analyzed samples at the Hamilton/Trenton Marsh in October have been selected as special award members for their research papers. They are Anna Autilio (Class '10), Anthony Deczinski (Class of '10), Emily Starace (Class Of '09), and Alyssa Frediani (Class of '08).
Under the direction of Mr. Rafaniello , 5 CHS students have been invited to represent CHS at the All-Eastern ACDA Convention on February 13-16. The students are Genna Becker, Dan Clavin, Kishan Shah, Justin Rupp, and Gregory Shapiro.
Hats On Day was a major success in its first year raising 771 dollars. The money collected will be donated to The Foundation for Children With Cancer. The event was apart of the CHS fund-raising month dedicated to children battling cancer.
The Student Government is assisting Mrs. Narus in the collection of items to send to soldiers for the holidays. The collection will continue until November 16th.
Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox on winning the world series.
Congratulations to CHS Students performing in honors choirs throughout the school year. Daniel Clavin, Catrina Coffey, Justin Rupp, and Gregory Shapiro perform in the All-State Mixed Chorus . Emily Egan and Alyssa Kempinski perform in the All-State Women's Chorus. Genna Becker, Daniel Clavin, Justin Rupp, Kishan Shah, and Gregory Shapiro perform in the All-Eastern Honor Choir.
The Cranford High School's Quilting Club was recently featured in a magazine on sale in Barnes and Noble.
Cranford High School Senior Ryan Zimmerman has been selected by WDHA FM and WMTR AM as one of their "Kids Who Rock." This program recognizes 20 students from NJ who have done exceptional things. Ryan has been selected as a representative of CHS for the collective work done on behalf of Breast Cancer research and the Susan G. Koman Fund, particularly the volleyball marathon he organized last year.