Although she came in fourth in grade point average in the 2003-2004 Secaucus High School graduating class, Gina Sallustio shined during the end-of-the-year academic and sports awards ceremonies that took place over two nights in late June.
Sallustio received perhaps the single most important distinction when Schools Superintendent Constantino Scerbo presented her with the prestigious Citizenship Award.
“This is the highlight of the awards night,” Scerbo said. ”Every year this prestigious award is presented to a member of the senior class who is selected by the faculty of Secaucus High School. The decision is made by the faculty and administrators vote only in the case of a tie. This award is for outstanding performance in the areas of service, leadership and character. The person is selected on his or her ability to show concern, courtesy and respect for others. This year’s award winner personifies the spirit and philosophy of the citizenship award beyond a doubt.”
Sallustio has been described by members of the faculty as exceptionally talented, highly motivated, conscientiousness, and trustworthy. Although a member of four honor societies, Sallustio received the award because of “personal attributes and intelligence,” which administrators and teachers claim assures her future success.
Scerbo said she has given an immense amount of time to Secaucus High School, a participant or officer of seven co-curricular and seven extra curricular activities. She has amassed 13 A pluses, 14 As, seven A minuses, three B pluses and one B. This includes five Advanced Placement courses, eight honors courses and five years of a foreign language.
In addition to serving the community as a volunteer and performing fundraising for numerous charitable organizations, this remarkable student has earned 10 varsity letters for involvement in athletics.
“Dedication, stamina, and ambition describe our Citizenship Award winner this year,” Scerbo said.
Along with a host of honors issued from classes she attended and programs she had been involved in, Sallustio also received the most student accolades, including Who’s Who among American High School students, the American Character and Citizenship Award, The United States Achievement Award, Outstanding Service Award, Italian Heritage Award, Paper Mill Best Supporting Actress nomination, Girls’ State Elected Councilwoman and Girls’ State Assemblywoman.
“This young woman of unlimited potential lights up the room with her personality and is usually a leader in the most positive sense, whether in the classroom or on a sport field or stage, or just lending a helping hand,” Scerbo said. “This young woman does not go unnoticed. Her enthusiasm is infectious as is her smile.”
She graduates with a grade point average of 4.0 and will be pursuing a nursing career at Ramapo College in September on a full academic scholarship.
Other distinctions she received include: the Hudson County School Boards scholarship, Foreign Language Club scholarship, Secaucus Band Parents Association scholarship, Kiwanis Scholarship, Paul Amico scholarship, Choral Award, World Language Department Award, and New Jersey Scholar Athlete Award.
Class of distinction
This year’s class came away with numerous other scholarships and sports letters for their participation in various programs during four years of high school. Recognized during the end-of-the-year ceremonies were:
Scott Coar, Valedictorian; Ralph M Guma Sr. Memorial scholarship, Business Department Award and the U.S. Marines Scholastic Excellence Award.
Robert Bovino, Salutatorian; English Department Award, Mathematics Department Award, New Jersey Scholar Athlete Award, and two letters for tennis.
Islam Abdelaziz, Foreign Language Club scholarship and Clarendon Past Presidents Memorial scholarship.
Adam Abdelhamed, Physical Education Award and he received three letters for wrestling and one for tennis.
Heather Aciz, Secaucus Education Association scholarship, three letters for volleyball, four letters for basketball, one letter for softball, and three letters for outdoor track & field.
Michael Addeo, Comcast Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship, Steven Strobert Foundation scholarship, Certified Public Accountants scholarship, Business Department Award, Outstanding New Jersey Scholar Athlete scholarship, and one letter for football, two letters for basketball and one for baseball. Marzio Alcano received two letters for tennis.
Moona Ali, Kiwanis scholarship and a PBA George Rennie scholarship.
Lauren Antonucci received four letters for fall cheerleading and three letters for winter cheerleading.
Shella Marie Atchazo received a letter for bowling.
Chase Austern received two letters for football.
Sean Bailey received three letters for cross county, one letter for basketball, and one letter for outdoor track & field.
Holly Bann, Patriot Booster Club – the President’s Award scholarship, Patrick Walker Memorial scholarship, Hudson County Track Coaches’ Alfred J. Bundies scholarship, Family & Consumer Science Award, U.S Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete scholarship, and one letter for soccer, three for cross country, four for indoor track, and field and four for outdoor track and field.
Mauricio Becerra received one letter for soccer.
Jared Branda received two letters for football.
Heather Citro received one letter for four cheerleading and four for winter cheerleading.
Pasquale Cocucci, Paul Amico scholarship, US Marines Distinguished Athlete Award, two letters for football and one for outdoor track and field.
Anthony Connotillo was honored for service as a football manager.
Shawn Collins, PTSA scholarship, Patriot Booster Club – the President’s Award scholarship, two letters for football, and three for basketball.
Megan Cummins, Secaucus Band Parents Association scholarship and received two letters for marching band.
Madeline Del Rio, PTSA scholarship and a Kiwanis scholarship.
Patricia Donovan received two letters for cross country, one letter for winter cheerleading and one for outdoor track and field.
Ryan Dorman, Kelly Cocucci Memorial scholarship.
Ilan Etin served as football manager for one year and earned a letter in tennis.
Darwin Fajardo received a letter for basketball.
Beau Fitzgibbons received three letters for football and one for baseball.
Ashley Flora, PBA George Rennie scholarship, Catholic Daughters of the Americas scholarship, two letters for volleyball, one letter for winter cheerleading, three letters for softball, and one letter for outdoor track and field.
Lindsey Flora, PBA George Rennie scholarship, Physical Education Award, two letters for volleyball, one letter for winter cheerleading, two letters for softball and two for outdoor track and field.
Danielle Franks received a letter for bowling.
Andrea Gerbasio, K&S Community Service Award, Clarendon PTA Alumni scholarship, Patriot Booster Club – President’s Award scholarship, PBA George Rennie scholarship, Steven Strobert Foundation scholarship, four letters for fall cheerleading and three for winter cheerleading.
Nancy Giambona, Huber Street PTA Grace Rouse Memorial scholarship.
Danna Gregorio, PBA George Rennie scholarship.
Jessica Heitmann, Frank Verdiramo Jr. scholarship.
Melissa Hensle, The Amirsaleh Foundation scholarship.
James Korycinski, Clarendon PTA Sophie Kohler Memorial scholarship, Patriot Booster Club – President’s Award scholarship, PBA George Rennie scholarship, Steven Strobert Foundation scholarship and the Secaucus Public Education Foundation scholarship.
Kartik Kothari, Secaucus Hudson Lodge No. 72 scholarship and Secaucus Rotary scholarship Science department Award.
George Krieger, Fine Arts award.
Nicholas Mastro, K&S Joseph Robert Bator Memorial scholarship, Hubert Street PTA Past President Darlene Kirby scholarship and Graphic Technology Award.
Amy Matuscsak, PBA George Rennie scholarship.
Matthew Meyer, The Garden State Concert Band – George M. Holley Memorial scholarship, Secaucus Band Parents Association scholarship, Music Director’s Award and the US Marines Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence.
Saurin Patel, Hudson County School Boards scholarship.
Jeslyn Pena, Hudson County Council of PTAs scholarship.
Christie Pirro, Secaucus Band Parents Association scholarship, Patriot Booster Club – President’s Award scholarship, PBA George Rennie scholarship and a Steven Strobert Foundation scholarship.
Hugo Russell, PBA George Rennie scholarship.
Alex Smith-Constantine, Secaucus Education Association scholarship and the US Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete scholarship.