Get to Know Adelphi’s September 2019 Students of the Month!
Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s September 2019 Students of the Month: Mary (Lower School), Nicholas (Middle School), Susan (Upper School), Yevgen (Student-Artist) and Mark (Scholar-Athlete).
BAY RIDGE – Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s prestigious “Student of the Month” program kicked off with a special assembly inside the John Lockwood Auditorium Theatre in early October to recognize five outstanding students who demonstrated extraordinary effort during the month of September. Mary (Lower School), Nicholas (Middle School), Susan (Upper School), Yevgen (Student-Artist) and Mark (Scholar-Athlete) were each recognized in front of the entire Adelphi community and received official certificates signed by Head of School Ms. Iphigenia Romanos. They recently sat down with the Panther Press Room for an exclusive interview, during which they shared some details about themselves and their experiences at Adelphi.
Lower School Student of the Month Mary dreams of becoming an artist one day. “I love to color!” she exclaimed. “I also like to paint in different colors.” Her favorite color is pink, she said with a smile. When not creating artwork, Mary enjoys spending time on the playground. She has and idea why she was chosen for “Of the Month” honors. “I am good to others and always friendly,” she said.
Lower School faculty member Ms. Banach said, “Mary comes to school each day with open arms and a smile on her face, spreading happiness everywhere she goes. She is always friendly, considerate of her peers and ready to help anyone. Mary has worked hard to get to where she is today. I am very proud of her for receiving this award.”
Middle School Student of the Month Nicholas has made a conscious effort to grow as a student leader and to set an example for his fellow Adelphians. “I’m definitely trying harder and putting in more effort,” he said proudly. Nicholas has a wide range of interests, including athletics, robotics, computer coding and art. Nicholas said he enjoys taking on a leadership role, especially in physical education class at Adelphi. Nicholas also enjoys photography and painting on canvas, as well as the freedom that painting allows. “In art, especially on canvas, it’s easy to make a mistake, or ‘happy accident,’ and roll with it to create something great,” he said. While he was thrilled to receive the “Of the Month” honors for September, Nicholas recognizes that being among the first honorees comes with great expectations. “It feels great to be recognized so soon,” he said. “Now it’s up to me to keep it up.” His advice to his fellow Adelphians who are looking to achieve success is simple. “When you think things are going wrong, just push through it because it always works out in the end,” he said.
Homeroom teacher Ms. Foronda said, “Nicholas is a student who shows interest in all subject areas, including art, history, and even physical education. He continues to be a leader in his homeroom, and loves to be involved in the activities at Adelphi Academy. He always pushes himself forward in everything he does and shows to be compassionate yet curious through his tenacious nature. I am happy that Nicholas was chosen as September’s Middle School Student of the Month. Keep up the great work!”
Upper School Student of the Month Susan started the new school year with plenty of positivity, excitement and love for Adelphi. A returning member of the Student Advisory Board, Susan said she is looking forward to planning a number of new and exciting events throughout the year. Fresh off a summer internship at her father’s law office, Susan said she is looking forward to pursuing a career as a lawyer when she graduates. “It’s so interesting seeing my dad in the workplace,” she said. “I learned a lot. He’s my biggest fan.” Susan enjoys all types of law-related television programming, from “Judge Judy” to “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and the various “CSI” shows. She also enjoys photography and was pleased to have one of her original photographs featured in the Academy’s Annual Fall Auction of Fine Art, Cigar Night & Cocktail Reception. The bidding war that erupted when her piece was put up for auction had the entire audience cheering. “It was amazing to see people reacting to it like that,” she smiled. Susan is also a key contributor to Adelphi’s student newspaper, The Oracle. “I have a passion for writing,” she said. “I like coming up with questions to ask for interviews and adding details to my stories.” Now in her third year as a member of the staff, she is excited to assume a leadership role as part of the editing team. “I feel like I’ve earned it. I always enjoy learning the ins and outs of the trade and improving my craft,” she said. Susan is a proud Adelphian and appreciates what sets her school apart from others. “I love Adelphi. It’s very different from other schools in a positive way,” she said. “We are one big family; we look out for each other.”
Homeroom teacher Mr. DeCrescenzo said, “Susan always participates, inside and outside of the classroom. She has a calming effect on all of the students around her, and while she knows when it is time to learn and to be serious, she still has a way of being humorous while being professional. I am proud of Susan for being chosen for the Upper School student of the month.”
September 2019 Students of the Month were recognized at a special assembly held in their honor.
Student-Artist of the Month Yevgen was elated to learn that he had been selected for the prestigious honor. “It feels very good. I’m so proud of myself,” he said. The talented artist said he enjoys painting with acrylic or oil paints and prefers to work on canvas. “It’s harder to erase on canvas, but the artwork looks much better,” he said. One of his works, a colorful piece he titled “Blondie,” was featured in Adelphi’s Annual Fall Auction of Fine Art, Cigar Night & Cocktail Reception and garnered a number of high bids from the audience. “It’s a good feeling when someone connects to my art,” he smiled. “It was a big surprise.” Yevgen said the secret to his artistic success is positivity. “My experiences and memories inspire me. I keep it positive. We don’t have to be negative in art to make something special,” he said. Though he plans to pursue a career in dentistry, Yevgen said he will continue to pursue his creative interests. He especially loves photography and fashion. His advice to fellow artists is simple. “Express yourself, experiment and show your talent,” he said. “Also, nothing gets done in one day, so take your time!”
Art Instructor Ms. Fregara noted, “Yevgen’s use of colors reflects his vibrant personality. He has a unique way of connecting to people through his artwork and he is able to capture the world around him through his creativity. I was especially proud of his Pop Art summer assignment that was inspired by artist Roy Litchenstein; Yevgen named his piece ‘Blondie.’ He is a dedicated artist who I know will continue to create artwork throughout the years to come.”
Scholar-Athlete of the Month Mark is quickly becoming a master of taekwondo, having already earned a white belt after passing his first test. “I broke the board!” he exclaimed. Mark enjoys studying various striking techniques, but said he prefers kicking to punching. He enjoys riding the W train and hopes to become a subway train conductor when he grows up. He also loves new cars, particularly the BMW X-7, which he said he plans to own one day. Mark enjoys being active and remains dedicated to his craft. “I like going to taekwondo so I can become a champion of martial arts!” he smiled.
Lower School faculty member Ms. Kohler said, “Mark is a very active young man who enjoys showing his classmates his taekwondo forms and teaching them how to count in Korean. He is always eager to participate in gym activities and to show off his dance moves. Mark is a very happy young man, always smiling and laughing. I am very proud of him for receiving ‘Athlete of the Month’ honors!”
Congratulations once again to Adelphi’s outstanding “Students of the Month” for September: Mary, Nicholas, Susan, Yevgen and Mark!
As the oldest private, independent, continuing, coeducational, college-preparatory day school in the borough and one of the oldest in the nation, Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, “the little school of big dreams” has been “effectively preparing young people for college, career, and life, one day at a time” for over 150 years. Founded in 1863 and located in the historic Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, Adelphi enrolls students from two years of age through twelfth grade. A strong emphasis is placed on small class size, individualized attention, self-expression, critical thinking and challenging hands-on learning through Adelphi’s founding philosophy and dedication to the education of the “total child.” Adelphi students excel within a small, intimate, safe, caring, nurturing, and secure environment through Adelphi’s core values and founding principles of pride, tradition, spirit, and excellence. The student-teacher ratio is 8 to 1 and Adelphi is a New York State Regents Exempt Program with a 100% college application, acceptance and attendance rate. A founding member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, Adelphi receives its charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and has been a member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools since 1928. Ms. Iphigenia Romanos serves as Head of School.
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Photo courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn