Montville Marvels Shine in Meeting

One of the best parts of any Board of Education meeting is the presentation of the Montville Marvels recognition awards, which note exceptional work and effort throughout the school system.

This month, Jacob Callaghan, Kevin Doherty and Michael Kurasz were presented as Montville Marvels for their work raising awarness about - and money to fight - breast cancer.

The three students from the Leonard J. Tyl Middle School each has a family member or relative touched by breast cancer. They held a large bake sale at Backus Hospital, got sponsors, sold T-shirts and bracelets, and raised more than $3,000 to fight breast cancer.

As Principal M.J. Dix said, they raised awareness, as well, putting their hearts and souls into a cause that was close to them.

Dix also awarded Montville Marvels certificates to Mary Byron and Stacey Pryor, nurses at Tyl, for their quick action when a teacher had a medical issue recently, and for the work they do day in and day out. In the last month, Dix said, they saw 899 students, made more than 400 phone calls to parents, and more than 100 to teachers.

Palmer Academy Principal Shelia Reagan said that Justin Edwards, who was not present at the meeting, had earned a Marvels certificate for his work mentoring another student at Palmer, and also awarded certificates to Jessica Lilienthal, Burke Reagan, Eileen Richmond, Amy Richter, David Rowley and Debra Spera, for being guest readers for the "Hunger Games" project at the school.

Montville High School Principal Chad Ellis gave a Marvels award to Kellie Brennan, the most active student government president the school has had recently. Ellis said that Brennan shows exceptional leadership in her role in student government, and also as a citizen of the school, always working to improve MHS.

He also awarded a Marvels certificate to Debbie Ingoglia, career center monitor. She helps students decide where to go to college, and helps them find ways to pay for college. She has a handle on all the scholarships that are available, and the best ways to win them. Ingoglia is the school's webmaster, and an expert in the Naviance computer system.

Here on the Montville Patch, Ingoglia is a regular and steady blogger, who posts tons of information about scholarships, college preparation and related events, and posts events and announcements to help Montville kids get ahead.