WEST MILFORD — On Thursday evening, June 25, 300 West Milford High School seniors will embark on their futures. Behind them will be 13 years of their educational foundation, the education that will serve as the springboard to their dreams.
Graduation is a proud moment, for those graduating as well as their parents and families. Teachers and staff members, too, share in the joy of seeing these young adults accomplish such a milestone.
Many are off to college, some locally, some to other areas of the state, country and even around the world. Students are heading to trade schools to start their careers. Some graduates will trade in their backpacks for a job or the military. Whatever the future holds, it's a new beginning for these students. The next chapter opens up and they are excited, albeit a bit nervous sometimes, to greet it.
The West Milford Messenger is introducing readers to the West Milford High School Class of 2015 top 10 students. They've achieved so much academically, but these students are also artists, musicians, athletes, volunteers. They are daughters and sons, sisters and brothers, friends. They are part of the fabric of the community in which they've grown up. They have bright futures and big plans. They've achieved the highest honors in their class and they are looking both back and forward. Continue reading as they share their thoughts about those who have helped them most along this journey.
1. Tanner Yuhas - Valedictorian
"I have had great academic success during my learning career, but I could not have achieved it by myself. My parents are the ones who had the most to do with my success and deserve all of my thanks. When I was little, it was my parents who instilled in me a love of learning, and they always encouraged me to continue trying my hardest. It was my parents who fostered my love of school, and it was that love that led me to set my own goal and meet my own standards, but it cannot go without mention that my teachers also deserve my thanks. Had they not been as involved or concerned with making the material interesting, then I may never have learned to want to go to school. So to my parents and my teachers, I offer my thanks from the bottom of my heart. Thank you."
Tanner is a true scholar athlete. He played football and ran spring track throughout his high school career, and added winter track junior and senior years. He captained both the winter and spring track teams this year and received the Bill Zester Award in football, given to the team's scholar-athlete. "Sports are very important to who I am as a person, but so is helping others." Tanner was part of the Interact Club in high school, a club dedicated to providing students with volunteer opportunities around the community. He is an AP scholar, member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. He is the president of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society. He also won the Rensselaer Medal from RPI and was awarded the Math Department Award for West Milford High School.
Tanner will attend Rutgers University-New Brunswick in the fall and be enrolled in the newly-built Honors College, majoring in biology. His interests in the field are animals and viruses. He hopes to do research and development on either or both of those topics.
2. Nicolette D’Angelo - Salutatorian
"While there are many people who have inspired me to learn more and be more, I would most like to thank my family and teachers for my academic successes. My parents taught me to keep reading and asking questions: I remember being four years old and walking around supermarkets holding a dictionary they gave me, wanting to know what each word meant, and in a way I have never stopped doing just that. My teachers, both inside and outside the classroom, have similarly empowered me to be passionately curious in all that I do. Books have given me knowledge, but they have shown me how to use it."
Nicolette was a Model United Nations debate team delegate throughout high school, serving as president of the team for two terms and winning 10 awards. She was president of the Student Council this year and served as vice president in her junior year; she also served as president of her class from 2011 to 2013 and was the student representative for the West Milford Board of Education. Nicolette acted in the spring musicals and was a member of the Honors Concert Choir and the Highland Jazz Choir. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) and Spanish Honor Society. She was also a team co-captain for the Relay for Life of the Highlands. She volunteered at the Teen Coffeehouse and for the National Eating Disorder Association. She is an award-winning poet, a National Merit Commended Scholar and an AP scholar.
Nicolette will attend Princeton University in the fall, studying public and international affairs. She hopes to go on to law school and eventually pursue a career in supranational legal mediation between the United States and foreign states.
3. Matthew Agostinelli
"For my academic success, I would like to thank my parents, as they have supported me with homework and test preparation since I began formal schooling. I would also like to thank my teachers and friends because while my parents gave encouragement at home, my teachers and friends helped greatly in the classroom."
Matthew's accomplishments include those on the field during four years in the boys soccer program, including serving as captain during his senior year, being named Most Valuable Player twice and being named to the all conference team and all county team twice. He served two years as a PAL (Peers As Leaders) member, was part of the Interact Club, volunteered for the Relay for Life for three years and worked as a travel soccer referee for Morris County. Matthew received the Science Departmental Award this spring, given to one senior each year, and the RIT Computing Award his junior year.
Matthew will attend Lafayette College in the fall, majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in either computer science, economics or math.
4. Kayleigh Bennett
"I would like to thank my parents for my academic success. They always expected excellence from me, and that created the driven person that I am today. They did not accept anything below what they knew I could do. It is easy for a parent to accept average grades; my parents always knew what I was capable of and they never wanted me to do less than that. It sounds harsh, but it was done with love. And anyway, now I'm number 4 in the class so it really paid off! Beyond that, it was the hours staying up with me, explaining physics concepts or proofreading my essays. The little things are the things that count the most."
Kayleigh is a musician. She was part of the Chamber Choir for four years, Belles Choir and was accepted into the New Jersey All State Choir for two years. She served as choir vice president and president. She was a member of All Region Jazz Choir, New Jersey Region Choir, New Jersey Area Choir, performed as a vocalist and trumpet player for the jazz band throughout high school as well as playing in the marching band all four years, serving as section leader for two years. Kayleigh performed in three musicals here and with the West Milford Players. She was part of PALS, secretary of the German Honor Society, a member of the fencing team and worked with the Yearbook Club. She taught vocal lessons to students and worked as a lifeguard. She also volunteered with Ringwood Manor, Longpond Ironworks, Van Dyke Retirement Home, Hamburg Baptist Church, St. Joseph's Church and Relay for Life.
In the fall, Kayleigh is attending Moravian College with a double major in music education and music performance.
5. Emily Green
"While my teachers, coaches, and instructors have all helped me along the way to achieving academic success, I primarily have my parents to thank for the academic success I have attained. Both of my parents were first generation college students, and their courage to pursue higher education has inspired me to work as hard as I can in my studies. Also, without their constant support and encouragement I could not have hoped to achieve as much as I have, and for that I am eternally grateful."
Emily is involved in the wind ensemble as first chair oboe, marching band and indoor percussion. She is a member of Peers as Leaders, National Honor Society, Italian Honor Society, and Math Honor Society. She also was on the varsity fencing team. She volunteers at Macopin Middle School teaching oboe lessons once a week.
In the fall, Emily will be attending McGill University, pursuing a joint honors major of mathematics and economics with a minor in statistics, and has plans of pursuing a graduate degree in the future.
6. Rose Martus
"My academic success is the product of many different hands. The most influential people have been my teachers and my parents. Specifically the two band directors at the high school, and the math teachers I have been fortunate enough to learn with in high school. From my teachers, I have learned more than just basic subjects; I have learned how to learn. I feel that they have prepared me for college and the drastic change in my learning environment."
Rose is a musician as well. In high school, she was a member of the marching band, jazz band, pit orchestra for the school play, and played in the Music For All's Honor Band of America, which students form all across the country auditioned for; she toured Europe with American Music Abroad, and has been in area bands. She also was a member of the fencing team.
Rose will be attending Gettysburg College in the fall with a double major in music and math. Her ultimate goal is to go into flute performance. Making and engineering new models of flutes would appeal to her too.
7. Michael Galioto
"I have to thank my academic successes to my parents for pushing me to apply myself in classes and explore my interests on a deeper level. I also have to thank my sister for being a good inspiration for how to be a scholar in an academic setting. And my teachers get my thanks because they made the course material interesting and gave me the ability to grow as a person and a scholar."
Michael has performed in the West Milford Musical for four years. He served as president of the National Honor Society, secretary of the West Milford Model United Nations team and was a member of the Highland Jazz Singers. Michael is also a member of the St. Joseph’s Youth Group.
In the fall, Michael will attend Drew University to study history education and theater. He plans on teaching history and drama classes at the high school level.
8. Julia Norman
"The people I thank for my academic success are my family and friends, for supporting my desire to succeed in a way that is never recognized as much as it should be. They’re the ones who cooked me dinner while I did homework, bought me pencils when my last package ran out, and reminded me that sometimes it’s okay to get a bad grade on a test (even though I refuse to believe that one). I would like to thank my parents for providing me with a better life than I could ever imagine, my sister for being an incredible role model, and my friends for never leaving my side, even when I ditched them to do homework on a Saturday night. Your support motivates me to become the best version of myself, and without it I would never be where I am today."
Julia's activities included athletics, art and honor societies. She was a stand-out and a leader on the field hockey team, captain her senior year, named first team all county in both 2013 and 2014 as well as named MVP of her team both years, and ranked #3 in the county her senior year. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Italian Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, the Math Honor Society. She also competes in snowboarding freestyle competitions.
Julia will be studying architecture at the University of San Diego in the fall.
9. Briana Hoek
"As is to be expected, there are numerous people who all hold some responsibility for my academic successes. There are first and foremost my parents, who have taught me the meaning of hard work. I know they have and will continue to support me no matter where I end up in the world, albeit a few thousand miles away. My teachers, both here and on the other side of the ocean who instilled a love of discussion and debate, managed sway a stubborn teenage know it all, and proved that the most amazing moments to learn are often far away from the classroom. Finally, my host mother who spent hours debating politics with me and introducing me to the intricate beauty of the French language in all of its frustrating complexity."
Briana's activities in West Milford High School included the Art Honor Society and the French Honor Society. She was a member of the Model United Nations and participated in a weekly politics club. Briana spent nine months studying abroad in France during her senior year of high school and, while there, volunteered at a nursing home.
In the fall, Briana will be attending Amsterdam University College in the Netherlands, where she will spend three years getting her bachelor’s degree in the social sciences with a concentration on economics, business, French and Dutch.
10. Morgan Choma
"I would like to thank my friends and family for my academic successes, but especially my parents. My mom and dad have stood by me through everything, and have supported me in every aspect of my life. I could not be more thankful to have them in my life. I love them so much."
Morgan is a soccer player and served as captain of the girls varsity soccer team in the fall. She ran indoor track for West Milford High School as well and was an assistant coach and youth trainer of a girls youth travel soccer team. She was vice president of the Varsity Club, a member of the National Honor Society and also a volunteer at the West Milford Animal Shelter.
After graduation, Morgan will be attending The College of New Jersey with a major of health and exercise science. Her long-term goals are to attend medical school, pursue a career as a sports medicine doctor, and one day open her own practice.
Our best wishes to all of the graduates of the Class of 2015. Congratulations!