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Chicopee Comp honors foreign language students

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE Over 50 Chicopee Comprehensive High School students were honored last week for their achievements in mastering a foreign language. Students filled the Comp gym for the 24 annual Foreign Language Awards ceremony on Wednesday.

Mayor Michael Bissonnette said the changing global economy makes learning a foreign language important.

"You're competing against kids from India, China and South America," Bissonnette said.

Learning a foreign language also can help alleviate misunderstandings that can lead to conflict, School Superintendent Richard Rege said.

"Learning about a foreign culture makes us more tolerant," Rege said.

Rege applauded the students who were challenging themselves by taking a foreign language.

"We all need to be concerned about the rigors of course work in high school. You're increasing that rigor by taking a foreign language," he said.

The students received a certificate marking their achievement and a cash reward funded by Chicopee Savings, Aldenville Credit Union, PeoplesBank and Polish National Credit Union.

Seniors who had maintained at least a B- average over four years study of a foreign language were rewarded with a $50 savings bond.

Scholarships honoring the late Comp instructor Ann Blodgett were awarded to two seniors. Sarabeth Hedge received $1,000 while Meghan Sullivan received $250. The scholarship was funded thanks to a donation by Blodgett's parents.

Lori Parzych said that making the decision between the two seniors was "very difficult."

"Both are most deserving," Parzych said.

The following is a list of all of the award winners:

Latin I: Cameron Martin

Latin II : Mahawa Sam

French I: Jerry Saintilus, Stephen Hastings, Samuel Pursey, Kyle Raymond, Timothy Carlson, Victoria Celleti, Kayla Ingram, Christopher Jayko, Samuel Laurin, Sara Mitchell

Spanish I: Kirsten Pasterczyk, Katelyn Soja, Starr Bargalla, Zeddymar Portorreal, Victoria Podsiadlo, Vyacheslav Yanyuk, Rafael Fernandez, Makiah Chumack-Perez, Karol Corporan, Christopher Alicia, Pablo Rivera, Jasmine Mack, April McLain, Kyle Roy, Nisaly Figueroa, Charles Laboy, Theresa Rackliffe

Spanish II: Jessica Brown, Kellie Dwyer, Krista Pickett, Amber Theriault, Kimberly Doug, Ella Popovichenko, Ashley Smith, Tricia Ruell, Jessica Cote, Alexa Kaeble, Tiffany Macdougall

Spanish III: Rebecca Albrecht, Joseph Aponte, Daniel Aregawi, Becka Boisseau, Katherine Masztal, Stephen Wilk, Jessica Thibodeau, Christopher Dearing

French III: Steffanie Meyer, Timothy Kolek

French II: Krista Pickett, Daniel Roberge, Elizabeth Drobnak, Molly Barone, Megan Vanasse

Savings Bonds Spanish: Alison Bach, Christopher Baldiga, Sarah Beaudoin, Randal Belisle, Daniel Benard, Stefanie Blair, Natalie Colon, Rebecca Courchesne, Brendon Gib, Sarabeth Hedge, Dominique Johnson, Kevin Joly, Katelyn Jopson, Jennifer Kalisz, Ashley Kelley, Joseph Krzystofik, Julianne LaBrecque, Tyrra Minto, Alison Montemagni, Matthew Philips, Austin Plante, Natasha Ruiz, Kelly Schindler, Jaleesa Shepard, Carly Siano, Emily Sujan, Nicole Wagner.