On June 11, Ellenville celebrated its talented students at the District's first-ever Arts Banquet. The evening honored student achievements in music, fine arts, and media and graphic arts, showcasing the depth and breadth of artistic excellence in our school community. Families were welcomed for dinner in the Senior High School cafeteria, followed by an awards ceremony in the Junior/Senior High School auditorium, where outstanding students in Grades 10-12 were recognized for their exceptional talent in the visual and performing arts.
The evening featured presentations from our dedicated educators from the Jr/Sr High School. Music teachers Christina Schoonmaker and Laurie Worden presented the Music Awards; Art teachers Rowan Kunz, Amanda Reis, and Jonathan Villegas presented the Fine Arts Awards; and Art teacher Tim Lukaszewski presented the Media & Graphic Arts Awards.
This inaugural event was organized by the Board of Education's Arts Committee. Led by Chairperson Jody Little, the committee is committed to nurturing and expanding access to the arts in our schools. As they shared in their message: "We believe that the arts are not just an essential component of a well-rounded education; they are a vital avenue for student expression, innovation, and connection. We recognize the profound impact that the arts have on academic achievement and personal development."
These students have enriched our school community through their work in band, chorus, fine arts, and media arts, with achievements that have earned recognition from local showcases to state and national levels. Their accomplishments reflect both their dedication and the support of our exceptional arts educators.
As the Arts Committee expressed in their message to the community: "To our students, thank you for sharing your gifts with us. You make our community brighter and more beautiful. To our teachers, thank you for helping our students discover the power of their voices and visions. And to our families and community members, thank you for standing beside us in support of the arts."
Thank you to everyone who made this celebration possible.
Music Award Recipients: Aidan Blauvelt, Caige Burns, Isaac Calderon, Riley Dechon, Lyla Denman, Ayannah Dumornay, Maddox Ghisolfi, Jack Henry, Joshua LaVerdure, Lane McQuillan, Madison Noval, Braelyn Peavey, Elijah Robinson, Danna Velazquez
Fine Arts Award Recipients: Kayla Barbieri, Meadow Concepcion, Emma Dechon, Luvian Escalante, Hailey Gough, Hannah Horl, Alexander Hull, Alena Kasumaj, Josalyn Kehlenbeck, Khadija Mayo, Caylee Rodriguez, Kayla Santiago, Alexandra Senkbeil, Veda Stewart
Media & Graphic Arts Award Recipients: Caitlynn Brousseau, Landen Cruz, Melanie Gordon, Jack Henry, Gabe Julca, Kiara Nabinger, Devin Oquendo, Eva Orfanos, Eli Pickel, Ernesto Santamaria