Area students honored

More than a dozen local students were honored recently for their academic excellence and leadership abilities by the area’s top school administrators.

The Litchfield County Superintendents Association held its annual awards dinner to recognize outstanding students from throughout the county.

To be considered for the honor, students must exhibit academic excellence, leadership qualities and a commitment to community service, according to Hartland School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Fish.

Fish, who was one of the keynote speakers during this year’s dinner, said students are honored from all grade levels, elementary through high school.

“It’s a wonderful evening,� he said.

The association was created 25 years ago by a handful of county school district superintendents. Fish, who at that time was the head of the Region 7 School District, was one of the 10 founding members of the group.

“We wanted to do something to publicize how well our students were doing,� he said of the association’s awards dinner.

“Now it’s grown to where we have 22 school districts, and more than 300 people attended this year,� Fish said.

“And I’m the only superintendent left from 25 years ago,� he said with a laugh.

This year’s local award winners were:

• Barkhamsted School — Kyra Lefebvre

• Colebrook Consolidated School — Cady Stanton and Christian Johnson

• The Gilbert School  — Sarah Marshall and Nicholas Berger

• Hartland Elementary School — Megan Peters

• Ann Antolini School — Kathryn LeGeyt and Kiley Stotler

• Northwestern Regional Middle School — Gabrielle Nelson

• Northwestern Regional High School — Kristen Dombrowski and Destiny Winters

• Pearson Middle School — Bailey Campbell and Roger Auidi

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