Watchung Hills student wins national STEM award; district highlights career day and club fundraising
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Summary
Student representatives at the Watchung Hills Regional High School District board meeting on June 3 reported a series of academic, extracurricular and athletic accomplishments, and administrators recapped a career day that drew about 100 community participants and generated club donations.
Student representatives at the Watchung Hills Regional High School District board meeting on June 3 reported a series of academic, extracurricular and athletic accomplishments, and administrators recapped a career day that drew about 100 community participants and generated club donations.
The student representatives reported that Jason Zhang, a junior, was awarded a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) medal, an honor historically given to one student per high school for excellence in mathematics and science. The RPI medal includes a scholarship worth $40,000 per year for medalists who enroll at RPI. The student report also noted that Watchung Hills’ physics team placed fourth and the chemistry team placed fifth in the state science league; individual awards were named for Matthew Attila (biology), Ethan Chibwe, Emily Wang and Rebecca Lubeck (chemistry). Alex Geppert, a 2023 alumnus who graduated Rutgers University at 18, is headed to the University of Wisconsin on a full scholarship for a Ph.D. program in artificial intelligence.
The board’s district administrator highlighted the May 29 career day, which she said had “approximately a 100 community participants in Gym 56” who shared career insights with 10th- and 11th-graders. The event featured local professionals and alumni across medicine, the arts, business and technology; school staff and the Watchung Hills PTO coordinated donations and volunteer support. The district credited community vendors and local businesses for catering and donated food and named several volunteer groups and school clubs that assisted.
Student-led and school clubs also reported fundraising results: the Project ALS talent show raised and will donate $2,000 to Project ALS; the Red Cross club is donating $2,500 after its fundraising this year. The board read proclamations recognizing retiring staff and board members, and administrators noted that the spring arts season and several concerts and showcases had concluded successfully.
The meeting also included quick athletic notes: the softball team was scheduled to host Bridgewater in a sectional quarterfinal on June 4 and Antonio Giuliano set a new school discus record with a throw reported as 169 feet, 6 inches and qualified for the meet of champions.
Board members and administrators thanked student representatives and volunteers and noted plans to expand internship opportunities arising from contacts made during the career day.