MANCHESTER – Teachers, administrators and staff bid goodbye to middle school students during a recently held graduation ceremony.
Manchester Middle School Principal Nancy Driber wished the students well as they set forth to become the future Class of 2025. The ceremony was held at Manchester Township High School, where the students will enter as freshmen in fall.
Driber welcomed the audience of parents, friends, and family members and introduced Jamie Popek and Daniel Sharkey to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Middle School’s 8th Grade Chorus singing the National Anthem.
Emily Johnson presented the student welcome address while Superintendent of Schools, David Trethaway, congratulated the graduates for their achievements and thanked parents and staff for their contributions to the students’ success.
Board of Education President Ken Pate spoke to the graduates wishing them well as they begin a new chapter of their time in the school system. After all the class names were called and all the certificates awarded, Ella Grote presented the student farewell address.
Driber said goodbye to the class expressing her pride in the students and wishing them all the best in high school as she dismissed the class for the final time.
Many awards were presented early on in the ceremony. They include:
Manchester Board of Education Academic Excellence Award – Emily Johnson and Ella Grote; Carrie-Anne Carter Academic Achievement Award and Character Achievement Awards – Emily Johnson, Daniel Sharkey, Ella Grote, and Anthony D’Antonio; Manchester Township Education Association Award –Jamie Popek and Anya Causer; Student of the Year Award – Brendan Spaziano and Jamie Popek; Scholar Athlete Award and Athletes of the Year – Emily Johnson, Chase Destafney, Olivia Kurth and Dante Mortellite; Christie Pearce Sportsmanship Award – Emma Edwards and William Ashton; School/Community Service Award – Jamie Popek; Ocean County Professional Guidance Assoc. Caring Award – Ethan Cardoso; Manchester PTA Arts Awards – Victoria Roberts, Olivia Skros, Jason Villegas and Jamie Popek; Drama Club Leadership Award – Joliece Reyes, Victoria Roberts, Jade Stavalo and Aronas Zajanckaukas; Administrative Unit Award – Ella Rajcok; Presidential Academic Fitness Award – Anya Causer, Angela Chan, Anthony D’Antonio, Akeelah Elsammak, Ella Grote, Emily Johnson, Jamie Popek, Ella Rajcok, Daniel Sharkey, Jadyn Wagner, Michelle Zheng and Alexandra Zsoldos; Manchester Middle School Achievement Award – Christina Garduque and Samantha Hoekl; ESL Content Area Award – Jeremy Antonio, Isabel Mogrovejo, Nelson Nuabena and Jenny Marin.
