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Long Hill board honors robotics teams, Fiserv Future Techies, STEAM Tank inventors and fifth‑time softball champions
Summary
At its June 8 meeting the Long Hill Township Board of Education recognized student teams and staff: the Central Middle School robotics club demonstrated robots after a busy season, a Fiserv Future Techies team advanced to nationals, STEAM Tank students presented a foot‑operated 'kick lock,' and the softball team was honored for a fifth consecutive championship.
The Long Hill Township Board of Education on June 8 recognized a string of student and staff achievements, drawing a large audience to the district’s packed board room.
Superintendent Alexis opened the evening by welcoming robotics team members, Fiserv Future Techies participants, STEAM Tank finalists and the championship softball team. "This is the fullest of full houses that we've had here, for a board meeting," Alexis said, thanking families and faculty for attending.
Principal Vitarello introduced the Central Middle School robotics teams and advisor Michael Lebeskin, and students described the annual competition format and robot functions. A student presenter said the club builds robots to address a new challenge each year and detailed the competitive components — driving, teamwork and autonomous programming — that took two Long Hill teams to state qualifying rounds hosted in the district.
Students from the Fiserv Future Techies program described hands‑on exposure to VR, Arduinos, cybersecurity and financial‑technology concepts; one Long Hill team qualified for nationals. "We learned about cybersecurity and blockchain and even ran a currency app prototype," a student said, noting the program’s role in broadening students’ tech exposure.
A seventh‑grade STEAM Tank team explained their hygiene‑focused prototype, the 'kick lock,' designed to let users open and lock restroom doors with a foot action to reduce hand contact; the students said they worked with the district’s facilities manager and outside teachers to 3D‑print a prototype and install it in a Central Middle School bathroom.
The board also honored Central Middle School’s softball team and coach Hockmeyer for an historic fifth consecutive championship. Coach Hockmeyer highlighted senior pitching and defensive statistics, citing an 8th‑grade pitcher with 108 strikeouts in 12 games and a season team total of 165 runs scored against 12 runs allowed.
District principals then presented a series of staff service awards and retirements spanning five to 40 years of service. Teresa Dunn was recognized for 40 years in district service; other honorees included teachers, paraprofessionals and office staff named at the meeting.
Certificates were handed out and photos taken; the board then moved to routine business and the consent agenda.
The recognitions underscored district academic, technical and extracurricular programming and highlighted community partnerships and long tenure among staff that administrators said support student success.
