At the annual meeting of the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce held on June 20 at the Old Lyme Country Club, Business and Art students from Lyme-Old Lyme High School were honored and received Chamber awards and scholarships.  Prior to receiving a Chamber monetary scholarship, seniors had to prepare an application letter explaining their entrepreneurial endeavors, submit resume-like information, and include a recommendation letter from a teacher or mentor. Those graduating seniors receiving the scholarship included Amanda Marsh, Business Award (attending Fairfield University in the fall); Mason Swaney, Business Award (attending Bentley University in the fall), and Brandon Lee, Art Award (attending Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts). All spoke to the Chamber about their future plans.  In addition to the Senior awards, Juniors who had already received a Student-of-the Month award from the Chamber were honored. Those Juniors who received Chamber awards included Alex Montville, Aoife Hufford, and Ann Cote.  Those receiving the Junior award, were chosen for their excellence in business classes, each having taken more than two classes with both Business Department teachers, Mrs. Traver and Dr. Hedwall, and for their interest in pursuing a career in business.  Congratulations to all the awardees!

The Microsoft Office Certification class took the last of the certification tests and the students achieved the following certifications:
 
PowerPoint Specialist:Britney DeRoehn, Cole Hamparian, Julia Reynolds, Carson Swope, and Colleen Walsh
Word Specialist: Michael Battalino
Excel Expert: Carson Swope
The Web Design class took a brand new certification this semester and Emily Tan achieved the status of Microsoft Technology Associate by passing the Introduction to Programming Using HTML and CSS certification exam. This certification is designed for software engineers, computer programmers, web and application developers.
 
These certification exams are given worldwide to "validate technical expertise through rigorous, industry-proven, and industry-recognized exams" (Microsoft). Ninety-one percent of hiring managers consider employee certification as a criterion for hiring (Certiport). 
    Nice Work Wildcats - Congratulations to you all!

Take a look at the last broadcast ... a great segment on Summer Reading and farewell greetings! 

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH THE BOYS AND GIRLS LACROSSE TEAMS FOR THEIR SUCCESSES THIS SEASON!
Both teams competing in the shoreline finals
with the boys winning!

​WAY TO GO WILDCATS!

On Wednesday, June 6, Lyme-Old Lyme High School held the culminating event for the Encountering Survivors Program. Under the supervision of Brett Eckhart, LOLHS students welcomed Old Saybrook, Ledyard, and Waterford high schools along with WWII survivors and/or family member. Students from each school shared survivors’ stories and explained how they were impacted by participating in the program.  The program included a presentation by Ben Cooper who served as a WWII combat medic and participated in the April 1945 liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp. It was an amazing experience event.

Take a look at The Day's article that was published on June 6:
Encountering Survivors: Students share lessons of the Holocaust

Congratulations to Amanda Murphy for being honored at this month's Rotary Student of the Month celebration for her excellence in Health and Physical Education. Amanda was recognized for her unending enthusiasm and motivation in the field of PE and Health. She will be attending Quinnipiac University next year to study nursing.
                              WAY TO GO AMANDA!

Oliver Saracino created an Industrial Table Lamp from an old car grille. Photo is courtesy of Ethan Harris and was taken at High Hopes. 

On Tuesday, June 5th, the International Thespian Society chapter #5343 inducted 16 new members.  ITS is an internationally recognized honor society for actors, technicians, playwrights, and other members of the high school theater community.  Congratulations to the following new members:          

                                                         the following information provided by CAS
2018 Governor’s Scholars Honored: Twenty-two of Connecticut’s top juniors were honored at the Twenty-Second Annual Governor’s Scholars Luncheon at the Aqua Turf Club on May 24, 2018. Sponsored by Horace Mann and the Connecticut Association of Schools, the purpose of this program is to recognize academically high-achieving eleventh-grade students in schools throughout the state.
Each CAS member high school may nominate one junior in the top 5% of his/her class to enter the Governor’s Scholars competition. This year, each nominated student responded in writing to an essay prompt concerning leadership challenges and global responsibilities.  Members of the Governor’s Scholars Committee, educators throughout Connecticut, chose scholars on the basis of their response to this prompt as well as other factors, including SAT or PSAT scores. In addition to receiving a plaque, each Governor’s Scholar is offered numerous gratis academic opportunities by various colleges and universities throughout the state. Additionally, each scholar may be eligible for a University of Connecticut Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Deirdra Preis, chair of the Governor’s Scholars Committee and housemaster at Fairfield Warde High School, welcomed the scholars and their families and guests. “Scholars, you are a credit to your families, your schools, your communities, and to the state of Connecticut. We are all very proud of you,” said Deirdre. We particularly enjoy this event because we get to meet in person, the young people whose applications so deeply impressed and inspired us.”
In his opening greetings, CAS Associate Executive Director Dr. Everett Lyons stated, “Today we are continuing a 22-year tradition of honoring a select group of Connecticut’s top high school students in their junior year. The selection criteria are demanding; the competition, since almost every high school nominates a candidate, is intense; and, the process leads to the selection of an elite group designated as Governor’s Scholars.” He then introduced guest speaker Mike Foran, principal of New Britain High School Satellite Careers Academy. Mike has been serving the New Britain Public Schools for over thirty years and, in 2012, was named the National High School Principal of the Year. Mike gave an inspiring address about the power of student voice, commending the emboldened students from Parkland High School who have sparked dialogue and spurred changed across the nation.
Speaking on behalf of our event sponsor, Horace Mann, was Regional Director Joseph Ciejka. This event would not be possible without the critical support the company so generously provides.

The Business Department is proud to announce that the following students have successfully demonstrated proficiency in Personal Finance by achieving a passing score on the nationally standardized Financial Literacy Certification Test. Subjects mastered include money, budgeting, banking, credit, insurance, investing, retirement planning, and financial planning and management. The students are officially, nationally Certified Financially Literate!

The class of 2022 was welcomed at the high school on Friday. Students shared a packed day with us. They participated in a student/teacher panel; became acquainted with some upperclassmen who spent some time getting to know them,  brought them to  a class and shared lunch together; meandered through the Activity Fair to get an idea of the endless opportunities that LOLHS has to offer; and finally, conducted their first class of 2022 meeting. Candidates for class office presented their speeches and students voted for their officers.  Congratulations to the following students who were elected as the CLASS of 2022 officers:
                                              President: Frank Sablone
                               Vice President: Ellie Wells
                               Secretary: James Creagan
                               Treasurer: Brendan O'Brien
                               Historian: Elias D'Onofrio

It was a great event on Thursday night... a celebration of the class of 2018 as they prepare to step on the stage for their diplomas. Students shared an evening filled with memories which began with a wonderful slideshow produced by Anna Donato. The presentation included not only their 4 year history at LOLHS but also many of their childhood moments that they shared together. They were also treated to a letter that they wrote themselves in middle school. The room went silent when they read these letters... and there were even some tears. The finale was the distribution of yearbooks! The event ended with students hanging around the fire pit or in the dining room, eating smores and signing yearbooks. It was a wonderful evening!

Congratulations to the newly inducted National Honor Society members. Students were inducted on Wednesday evening at the scholarly and elegant ceremony followed by a reception.
                                    Well done Wildcats!