Update 8-8-06

All right,

The beginning.  The winner of the Booker Gibson Music Award this year was Abigail Fabro.  And the winner of the Vince Tampio Theater Award was Jenny Deckner Weinbloom.
   
    Abigail's thank you note:  Dear Awards committee.  Thank you very much for the generous award.  I greatly appreciate the wonderful gift.  With sincere gratitude and warmest thanks.
   
    Jenny's thank you note:  To the donors of the Vince Tampio Award.  Thank you so much for the generous scholarship given to me at awards night.  I know that it will serve me well as I buy books, and masks, and dancewear, and other obscure necessities this fall before commencing my theater education as NYU's Experimental Theater Wing.  I'm sorry that I didn't know Mr. Tampio; he sounds like an inspiration and someone I would enjoy knowing.  Thank you for your consideration and generosity.  Sincerely.
   
    Abigail's other accomplishments:  University of Albany Honors Scholarship, Stony Brook University Presidential Scholarship, St. John's University Scholastic Excellence Scholarship, Student Council Leadership Award, Legend Yearbook Award, Second Language Honor Society Award, PTSA Scholarship Award, National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, Tri-M National Music Society, Athletic Honor Society, and the Coach's Award for Badminton.
   
    Jenny's other accomplishments:  Hofstra University Shakespeare Festival Best Actress Award, South High School Excellence in Literature Award, and the BOCES Performing Arts Program Best Actor Award.
   
    Abigail's guidance counselor recommendation:  Abigail Fabro is an extraordinary young woman who leads by example.  She has proven her dedication to academics, extra curricular activities, and community service throughout high school.  Her strong sense of commitment and her desire to learn have worked alongside her natural academic ability to bring her much success.  I am confident that these qualities will assure the same success in all her future endeavors.
        Academically, Abby's transcript reflects high grades on Regents exams and many Advanced Placement courses.  She has proudly ranked number eleven in her class and has taken the most challenging courses available to her.  She enjoys being challenged and seeks out opportunities that will help her to reach her full potential.  Abby's teachers consistently describe her as a devoted, hard-working, and diligent student who puts forth her best work.
        Aside from academics, Abby is very active in Class Council, helping to organize numerous events and fundraisers for her class and various charities.  As both her Class Advisor and Guidance Counselor, I can say firsthand that Abby is always willing to go out of her way to help and has been a true asset to her class.  Her outstanding work ethic is also evident in her participation with Student Council and Key Club.  In addition, Abby is an athlete and is a skilled member of South's Volleyball and Badminton teams.
        I would be remiss if I did not mention that Abby is a very talented musician.  She was selected among many to participate in First District Orchestra, an orchestra consisting only of our district's most talented musicians.  In addition, she has participated in NYSMA and was selected to participate in All County Orchestra because of her high NYSMA score.
        It seems that there is a wide range to Abby's potential and natural talent.  From academics to music, she has proven that she truly stands out among the best.  Abby shows a level of initiative, perseverance, and skill that I so rarely see.  I recommend her with great enthusiasm.  She will be a rare and valuable asset to any selective institution.  Melissa Keegan, School Counselor.
   
    Jenny's guidance counselor recommendation:  It is with great pleasure and pride that I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Jenny Weinbloom.  Jenny is an exceptional young lady, who is bright, articulate, talented, and extremely mature.  She has excelled over the years in the fine arts, with a concentration in the performing arts.  She was one of the original students who piloted a performing arts program within our district and is currently the only student interning at a production company in New York City, a position she sought out on her own.  Her level of artistic ability far exceeded all the other students in the program, which led me to advise her to either find an internship or an independent study.
        Academically, Jenny has taken rigorous college preparatory classes and has enrolled in four Advanced Placement classes in her senior year.  As stated earlier, her strengths are in the fine and language arts.  Jenny's SAT scores are an accurate indication of her academic ability, with a 740 in critical reading and a 610 in math.  Her written work is outstanding, as is evident in her college essay about The Velveteen Rabbit.  Her teachers have commented that Jenny's insight and enthusiasm in their classrooms adds a new dimension to their lessons.  Jenny is intrinsically motivated and will always be an asset to any freshman class.
        In closing, Jenny has had her heart set on NYU since the time she was a freshman.  She has painstakingly researched, honed her skills, searched for opportunities to bolster her application, and networked to give her the best chance of attaining her goal.  I know in my heart that Jenny is the NYU student and not only will she flourish, but she will strengthen any class.  Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further information as I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of Jenny Weinbloom.  Patricia Antonelli, Guidance Counselor.
   
    Done.  Back next week.  Thanks again to Liz King Giordano for furnishing this information.