SOMERSET

COUNTY VOCA

TIONAL& TECHN

ICAL HIGHSCHOOL

JULY 2018• VOLUME 7, NO.9

PRINCIPAL’SCORNER

Dear Jaguar Nation,Congratulations to the graduating class of2018! Everyone at SCVTHS wishes you all thebest in the next chapter of your lives. To all our returning students and families, havea fun and safe summer break. See you inSeptember!

Sincerely,Diane M. Ziegler

JAGUAR NaTIONJAGUAR NaTION

Adeshola AdedejiNorth PlainfieldCosmetology

Alexander Alboum†

HillsboroughAuto/DieselTechnologiesDustin Alfrey

Flemington-CosmetologyRachel Ambrose

Basking Ridge-DanceJimmy Arias

Branchburg – CarpentryLauren Arnold†

Bridgewater – Theater ArtsElizabeth Atkins*Somerset – AcademyRobert Barlow*

Bridgewater – AcademyNicholas Barras*

Manville – CarpentryBrien Batori

Neshanic StationWelding

Matthew BelskieHillsborough

Auto/Diesel TechnologiesDavid Bilia

Bridgewater – MechatronicsPatrick Blood

Bridgewater – Theater ArtsElijah Bowers

SomersetAgricultural Science

Malachi BrockmanGreen Brook –Mechatronics

Brianna Broderick*Flemington – Academy

Kiara BrownGreen BrookCosmetology

Daniel CamachoManville – Auto Body

Shawn CarterBelle Mead – Auto BodyJonathan Cerqueira*South Bound Brook

CarpentryLily Chang*

Hillsborough – Academy

Catherine Chen*Warren – Academy

Kristine Chin*Hillsborough – Academy

Franklin CintronBound Brook

Integrated Technology

Alicia Clark*Bridgewater – Academy

David DabrowskiSouth Bound Brook

Carpentry

Jacob DabrowskiNeshanic Station

Carpentry

Jessica D'Agostino*Hillsborough – AcademyElizabeth Dietrich†*

Green BrookAgricultural ScienceAnthony DiFelice

Bound Brook – Auto Body

Brandon DobranskiBranchburg

Integrated Technology

Loren Donnelly†Basking RidgeTheater ArtsRiley Engel†

Branchburg – Theater Arts

Eleanor FahertyBasking Ridge – Dance

Kira FedericiBridgewater

Graphic Communications

Justyn FernandezSouth Bound BrookLaw & Public SafetyKevin FernandezSouth Bound Brook

Graphic Communications

Jose GallegosBridgewater – Auto Body

Julia Garaffa*Skillman – AcademyAlex Garcia-VelascoSouth Bound BrookIntegrated Technology

Tyler GistFranklin Park

Auto/Diesel TechnologiesCarlos GonzalezNorth Plainfield

Auto/Diesel TechnologiesGillian Gottlieb*

Hillsborough – AcademyJohn HamorHillsboroughNadia Harrell†

Somerset – Culinary ArtsNicole Haurey

South Bound BrookCosmetologyPhilip Heisler

Raritan – Culinary ArtsJulian Hernandez

Somerset – Auto BodyMadison Hill-Glover*Raritan – Academy

Kyle HishmehBridgewater

Law & Public Safety

Brian HoustonBound Brook – Auto Body

Scott HuffNeshanic Station

Auto/Diesel TechnologiesElizabeth Jaeger

Branchburg – Culinary ArtsHaley Kaiser*

South Bound BrookCosmetology

Joshua KalapatiHillsborough – Academy

Morgan KeeganMartinsville – Dance

Kate KellyNorth Plainfield

Graphic CommunicationsMatthew King†

WatchungAuto/Diesel Technologies

Madeline LeeBridgewater – DanceFarouk Marhaba*

Bridgewater – AcademySebastian MarquezSouth Bound Brook

Academy

Ann Marie Masiello*Hillsborough – Academy

Christian MelendezNorth Plainfield

Graphic CommunicationsMarissa MillerWarren – DanceTyler Minter

Hillsborough – WeldingJenna MolfettaBound Brook

Health OccupationsKatherine MurdockNeshanic StationTheater Arts

Nathalie Murillo-Jimenez*Manville – Cosmetology

Anjana Nair*Franklin Park – AcademyMatthew NatividadSomerset – Academy

Sarah NerodHillsborough –CosmetologyAlex NorzHillsborough

Agricultural Science

Andrez O'BessoHillsborough

Auto/Diesel Technologies

Edward OneskoRaritan

Electrical ConstructionJessica Paolillo

Hillsborough – DanceNikhil Patel*

Franklin Park – AcademyDavid Petersen*

SomersetLaw & Public SafetyNovena Petryk Cordi*Manville – AcademyEthan ProffittNorth Plainfield

CarpentryRebeka Quagliato†South Bound BrookHealth OccupationsAnthony Quinones

Bound BrookGraphic Communications

Sandra Raju*HillsboroughAcademy

Hannah RobertsBridgewater – DanceMatthew Roche

Branchburg – Welding

Noah RodeliusBedminster – AcademyHeather Rodriguez

ManvilleCosmetology

Brittany Rojas*South Bound BrookLaw & Public Safety

Adam RuizBridgewater

Electrical ConstructionRea Rustagi*

Hillsborough – AcademyZachary SaraiBridgewater

Electrical ConstructionAyush Shah*

Raritan – AcademyDarshan Shah*

Hillsborough – AcademySiddharth Shankar*

Hillsborough – Academy

Anish Sharma*Franklin Park – Academy

Samantha Shephard*Hillsborough

Health Occupations

Elle SmithBasking Ridge – Dance

Christine Starozytnyk†*South Bound BrookHealth Occupations

Daniel StracquadaineNorth Plainfield

Agricultural Science

Isabella SzemanBridgewater

Graphic Communications

Russell Tenzer†Martinsville

Agricultural Science

Nathaniel ThiesseBridgewater – Theater Arts

Alexis ThomasRaritan – Cosmetology

Brian Turck†*Hillsborough

Electrical Construction

Rahul Ubriani*Somerset – Academy

Andrew VanderWalHillsborough

Electrical Construction

Kristen VolpeSomerville

Graphic CommunicationsAutumn Walker

ManvilleLaw & Public Safety

Justin WalshPrinceton

Auto/Diesel TechnologiesShiyan Williams†

SomersetAgricultural ScienceJacob WirzmanHillsborough

Electrical ConstructionConor Wojenski*

SomersetLaw & Public Safety

John WolfsonFrenchtown Academy

Dominique YacheraSouth Bound Brook

CosmetologySophia YankowskiSomerville – Dance

Ramon You†Somerset

Health Occupations

Cristina Young*MartinsvilleAcademy

Nicole ZamoraBound Brook –Cosmetology

One hundred and twenty seven students received their diplomasin seventeen different vocational programs ranging from AutomotiveTechnology to the Performing Arts. The ceremony was held onThursday, June 21, 2018 at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium ofSomerset County Vocational and Technical High School located at14 Vogt Drive in Bridgewater.

Principal Diane Ziegler welcomed graduates and their guests.Diplomas and awards were presented by SuperintendentDr. Chrys Harttraft, Board of Education President William Hyncik, Jr.,Board of Education members Gregory Burchette and Gregory Lalevee,and Board Secretary Raelene Catterson.

The Career and Technical Education Valedictorian for the Classof 2018 was Cosmetology student Haley Kaiser of South Bound

Brook. The Career and Technical Education Salutatorian wasHealth Occupations student Samantha Shephard of Hillsborough.Valedictorians from the Academy for Health and Medical Scienceswere Catherine Chen of Warren, Kristine Chin of Hillsborough andJulia Garaffa of Skillman. The Academy for Health and MedicalSciences Salutatorian was Rea Rustagi of Hillsborough.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Freeholder DeputyDirector Brian D. Levine and Freeholder Patricia L. Walsh.Additionally, Somerset County Freeholder Deputy DirectorBrian D. Levine addressed the graduates on behalf of the SomersetCounty Freeholders.iFor more information, contact James Strickhart at jstrickhart@scvts.net or(908) 526-8900, x7169.

SCVTHS CLASS OF 2018 GRADUATESRECEIVE DIPLOMAS AT COMMENCEMENT

Somerset CountyVocational & Technical High School Class of 2018 Commencement in Bridgewater, NJ on June 21, 2018

SCVTHS Class of 2018

SOMERSET COUNTYVOCATIONAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS14 Vogt Drive• P.O. Box 6350

Bridgewater, NJ 08807(908) 526-8900www.scvths.org

A US News & World Report TopRanked High School!†Member National Technical Honor Society *Member National Honor Society

On May 24, 2018, and for the fourthconsecutive year, Somerset CountyVocational & Technical High SchoolSocial Studies Instructor Ed Graf puttogether the event titled “Proud to be anAmerican Day.” Mr. Graf ’s purpose forthe yearly event is to teach students theimportance of honoring our veteransand the reasons we celebrate MemorialDay. During the day’s events, Mr. Grafcoordinated a full school assembly,which included:•Honoring the memories of fallenveterans, promoting patriotism, as wellas creating unity as a school communityand nation•A special tribute paid to U.S. NavySeal, Petty Officer Second ClassMatthew Kantor, who was recentlyKilled in Action in Afghanistan•Speakers including USMC LieutenantGeneral Toolan and American Legion New JerseyState Commander Darryl Reid•Demonstrations by the United States Armed Forces,including armored vehicles and six helicopters landingon the fields of SCVTHS•Wreaths being presented•Bagpipe and bugle player performances•A 21 gun salute performed by American LegionPost 35 out of Union, New Jersey

•Cannon volleys•Honor Guard from the SCVTHS Law & PublicSafety Program holding a “Posting the Colors”•Members of the SCVTHS Theater Arts Programperforming patriotic musical selectionsFollowing the events, a luncheon was held for all of

the attending veterans, honorees, and their families.i

For more information, contact James Strickhart atjstrickhart@scvts.net or (908) 526-8900, x7169.

Stephanie Melgar

SCVTHS HOLDS FOURTH ANNUALPROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN DAY

JAGUAR NaTIONJAGUAR NaTION

JULY 20182JAGUAR NATIONVolume 7, No. 9 • July 2018

Duane Wallace • Editor & DesignerJames Strickhart • Editorial

Sharleen Leahey • Graphic ProductionJanet Cantore -Watson • Photography

SOMERSET COUNTYVOCATIONAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

VOCATIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATIONWilliam G. Hyncik, Jr., President

Gregory Burchette Gregory LaleveeRoger A. Jinks, Executive County Superintendent

Brian D. Levine, Freeholder Liaison

ADMINISTRATIONChrys Harttraft, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Raelene M. CattersonSchool Business Administrator /Board Secretary

Diane M. Ziegler, PrincipalMaria Johnson, Director of Pupil Services

This publication was funded by theSomerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders

(l-r): SCVTHS students Aiyden Hanlein of North Plainfield, Sarah Yagualof Bound Brook and Dylan Galiszewski of North Plainfield in front of aMH-53E Sea Dragon at Proud To Be An American Day 2018.

S tephanie Melgar, a junior in the Law & Public Safety Program, has been selected as SomersetCounty Vocational & Technical High School’s Student of the Month for June 2018. Stephanie isthe daughter of Mr. Melvin Melgar and Ms. Maria Rivera of Somerset.SCVTHS Law and Public Safety Instructor Louis Violante nominated Stephanie for the

Student of the Month award because, “she is a studious person and a pleasure to have in class. Sheis helpful, hardworking and has a positive attitude.” Mr. Violante went on to add, “Stephanie ison the path for success.”Additionally, SCVTHS Instructor Lee Ann Alves nominated Stephanie saying, “She has a

strong work ethic, works extremely hard each and every day, has a positive relationship with all ofher peers and teachers and is always willing to help others.” Ms. Alves added, “I get to see her in adifferent setting; she is a very polite and respectful student, who is very dedicated to her schooling.”Stephanie has proven her academic excellence by being named a member of the Honor Roll

and Principal’s Honor Roll multiple times during her time at SCVTHS.Outside of SCVTHS, Stephanie works as a cashier at Tropical Supermarket. In her free time,

Stephanie enjoys writing, listening to music and spending time with her family and friends.Stephanie’s plans after graduating from SCVTHS include continuing her education at Rutgers

or NYU to study criminology. Because she is “always open to different things” her future planschange often, but she does know she wants to pursue a career in law enforcement.i

2STUDENT OF THE MONTH Stephanie Melgar