Class of '13: Goodbye Grasso, Hello World

The gym was hot. But not as hot as this graduating class.

The Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School Class of 2013 has not only distinguished itself statewide, but nationally.

For example the graduating seniors from the electrical trade not only were top in the state on their electrical assessment, but they were first in the entire nation.

And the list of first, and tops-in, goes on and on.

“I am so very, very proud of this class,” Grasso Principal Patricia M. Feeney announced to a rousing applause. “Your challenge is to go forth with this strength of purpose.”

And Connecticut Technical High School Superintendent Dr. Nivea Torres echoed that sentiment: “I cannot tell you how impressed I am.”

Perhaps the most thunderous applause came when Class Salutatorian Catherine Gibson Nowakowski (Bio-Science and Environmental Technology) of Mystic congratulated her classmates for their choice of school.

“Instead of following everyone to public school we came here. Here, where we learned to paint everything from cars to nails,” she said. “Now let’s hit the ground running and not look back.”

And Valedictorian Connor Lee Jackson (Computer-Aided Drafting and Design) encouraged his peers to take some advice from Shakespeare.  

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves,” he told the class.

2013 ROLL OF CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing

Mr. Steven Violette, Department Head Mr. John Oliva, Instructor

Aristides AlvarezBernard John Brodnicki Robyn L. DelphCody Wayne Getchell Henry Edward Hartman Sean Fredrick Lamourine Raymond Francis McKinney Meagan Frances Mingione Drew Tim Pelland Mario-Cassiel Tedeschi Gabriel Vivas

James Lloyd Williams

Automotive Technology

Mr. John Blake, Department Head Mr. Daniel Adams, Instructor

Nathan Edward Barrett Toussaint Stephen Bradford

Joseph V. FoltzAndrew Thomas Haddon Cassondra HoltZachary R. Jalbert Mitchel C. LaFlamme Joshua D. Pedraza Zachary Van Thompson

Bio-Science & Environmental Technology

Mr. Lawrence Fritch, Department Head Mr. Christopher McVeigh, Instructor

Ashley Claire ChamberlinCorey James HorelickStephen Frederick KralAidan Thomas Metayer Catherine Gibson Nowakowski* Allison Opol

Victoria Marie Prejean* Nicole Avery Teixeira

Carpentry

Mr. Ray Stawski, Department Head Mr. Gene Chaude, Instructor

Connor DonleyStephonie Erin Metzermacher Richard NievesJosue Daniel QuilesChristian Daniel Rosario Samuel Anthony Santiago Brittany Lynn Tempesta Mackenzie Beatrice Viveiros Tashawn Tavonta WardCarl Edward Willis

Computer-Aided Drafting & Design

Mr. Thomas Allen, Department Head Mr. David Bono, Instructor

Heather AdamsKyle Lidon Augustine Kacie Nicole Brennan* Alexander B. Cooper Vernecia Geralyn Dula* Zanovia Sinclair Holston* Connor Lee Jackson* Harry JohnsonRuben H. Maradiaga Brittany McCollumSara Amy Mineau*Steven Hans Robarge Javiar G. Telfer

Culinary Arts

Chef David Miguel, Department Head Chef Paul Jones, InstructorChef Seamus Donagher, Instructor

Kaela Michelle Bemis Niko Jude BreeMichael Luciano Bucaram Tianna Michelle Edwards Carolina Garcia

Joel Vincent Garcia Tabitha L. IvoryTanessa Marie McQuillan Kendrick Montoya Robert B. Reese

Kasey Lynn RichChristopher RosarioHarvy Israel SerranoAbigail SorianoDante Montique Stewart Mayra Alejandra Vitorino Gerrit Christopher Wildenhain Brandon Williams

Electrical

Mr. John Sylvestre, Department Head Mr. Kevin Riley, Instructor

Benjamin Daniel Carter Lawrence Maurice Espinal Chase J. GilmanJoshua Michael Gomes Michael Guzallis

Jose L. Guzman Voshon Hobson-Talley James Daniel Lowney Christine Leagh Murray Mitchell James Pavao Shayli May RiveraJohn Anthony Valero Edward VelezMatise Divine Venett

Hairdressing & Barbering

Mrs. Lynn Zakowski, Department Head Mrs. Victoria Smallwood, Instructor

Megan Danielle Cooper* Alexis Marie Cormier Matthew Anthony Cruz Betsy Net Diaz

Robert Feliciano Sambolin Deborah Joanne Florez* Amaranta GarciaAmber Marie Green Matthew Peter Haskins Jeshlyanne Irizarry

Kasey LawlorHariany LopezJosuitte Marie Monserrate Guzman Naomi Lynn MuntonMary Louise MurphyElizabeth Alexandra Santana Keylis Josephina ShephardCynthia Mirella Vitorino

Hospitality & Customer Service ManagementMr. Christopher Jones, Department Head Mr. Todd Laporte, Instructor

Mr. Michael White, Instructor

Rachel Kathleen Bernier Kayla Marie Burgess Genesis CabreraAlexa Maria Chalas

Luis A. ColladoNicole Allison Greene Christopher Michael Los Casey Ann MercadoMariah Lissette Nunn Tatyanna Charisma Paige Shanell Catina Steward Cindy UrenaAmerica Guadalupe Vanegas

Information Systems Technology

Mr. Shawn Carpenter Department Head Mr. Abayomi Wilson, Instructor

John P. AhrensPaul M. BeverleyRhiannon Lynn DugasJohn FernandezFrancis P. GalleyJalen Quan LeLissa Mara MartinAryelle Jaqulynn-Pinnock Newell Kylynn Nicole Washington

Plumbing & Heating

Mr. Brian Legare, Department Head Mr. Eric Sabo, Instructor

Joshua Austin Barnett Conrad Todd Beebe Kaelin Demone Boone Grant Garee Buttermore* Taylor James Eichelberg Erica Faye Engelgau Samantha Milagros Espada Gysiah Raylee Harder Amber Louise Hickey Charles Koch

James PaganIsmael RamirezJames Ambrose Villano Bryan Michael Walenczyk Zachary Allyn Willis Jeffrey Steven Winchester

*Denotes Top Ten Scholar