Connetquot Board celebrates academic and creative achievements at May 26 meeting
The Connetquot Board of Education recognized an impressive group of students during its May meeting.
Bosti Elementary School second grade teacher Mrs. Manzo and her students were honored for their success in the New York State Education Department First in Math Virtual Contest. Students Ethan Licurse, James Thomas and Teo Ozelsancak were named regional champions and earned an invitation to compete in the state finals in Albany on June 13. Their accomplishment also secured a $1,000 prize for Bosti Elementary.
Connetquot High School students were also recognized for outstanding performances at the SkillsUSA Regional Competition. Chevy Rommeney earned second place in welding, while Natalia Cook took third place in the opening and closing ceremony and John Insinga placed third in welding. The students competed against peers from across Long Island in rigorous, skills-based events.
The board additionally celebrated Connetquot High School junior Kimberly Greenwood, who earned second place statewide in the Office of Statewide Civic Engagement of the New York State Unified Court System’s annual civics essay contest.
Ninth grade students Daniel Ehlers and Abir Mahdi were recognized as 2026 regional winners of the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Contest for their project, “Microscopic Thymus Grid.” The concept explores a way to strengthen immune responses by replicating the function of the thymus. Fellow ninth grade students Timothy Todarello and Antoni Wojas also earned honorable mention for their project, “Hematoprime.” The students were guided by science research teacher John Pedersen.
The board congratulated Slocum Elementary School kindergarten student Purva Shinde, who earned first place in Northwell Health’s Erase the Stigma Art Contest.
Recognitions concluded with Ronkonkoma Middle School eighth grader and National Junior Honor Society treasurer Rebecca Mazaroski, who was recognized alongside her advisor Leslie Cassagne Pope for earning the National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award. Rebecca received this national-level honor as well as a scholarship.
