Orange-Ulster BOCES honors students for Arts and Humanities Achievement

On Thursday, April 13, 2023, Orange-Ulster BOCES hosted the 2023 Humanities Honoree Awards Ceremony and Breakfast. Thirty-four high school students who have distinguished themselves in the arts and humanities were recognized. This event celebrates seniors and juniors who have stood out amongst their peers by showing an impressive dedication, skill, and commitment to the arts and humanities.

Each high school and the BOCES nominated two students to be the recipients of this award. The honorees and their guests enjoyed a special breakfast held at the Country Club at Otterkill to celebrate the students’ outstanding accomplishments in the fine arts, performing arts, and the humanities.

The keynote speaker for the event was local architect, artist, and sculptor Amy Lewis Sweetman, founder of Agrisculpture. The mission of Agrisculpture is to create metal sculpture, informed by nature and farm equipment, to restore the Earth by foraging abandoned agricultural machinery as media and to teach environmental awareness. Ms. Sweetman urged the Humanities Honoree awardees to “Never give up - always give back, and see all ‘problems’ as design opportunities!”

2023 OU BOCES Humanities Honoree Awardees:

• Kira Iovine and Antonio Nieves (Chester Academy)
• Madeline D’Arco and James Gibbons (Cornwall HS)
• Grace Donnelly and Chima Oparaji (George F. Baker HS)
• Colin Ahearn and Lauren Carroll (Goshen HS)
• Grace Lindberg and Jeremy Stoll (James I. O'Neill HS)
• Julia Bevacqua and Joshua Gonzalez (Marguerite A. Flood HS)
• Olivia Goodenough and Autumn Pitkin (Marlboro HS)
• Ava Cain and Juliana Speckenbach (Middletown HS)
• Amber Rosado and Nathan Samse (Minisink Valley HS)
• James Dawson and Eryn Sammut (Monroe-Woodbury HS)
• Manuel Tejeda and Angelina Vuong (Newburgh Free Academy)
• Kate Fowler and Kiera Masci (Pine Bush HS)
• Coral Garcia and Ariana Merchan-Espada (Port Jervis HS)
• Camila Fuentes and Morghan Mahoney (S.S. Seward Institute)
• Sierra DeVito and Emilee Hogan (Valley Central HS)
• Adella Kurosz and Lionel Wolfe (Warwick Valley HS)
• Grace Gorczynski and Hailey Leonard (Washingtonville HS)