Student news: Hampton student’s monologue wins at Shakespeare contest; scholarship finalists and more

Shakespeare contest winner

Kai Suyama, a sophomore at Hampton High School, was named a winner in his division of the 2021 Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest sponsored by Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Suyama was one of 500 high school students who took part in the contest, and one of just six students in grades nine through 12 who were chosen as finalists. This was his third year participating, his second as a finalist.

His winning monologue was from “Two Gentlemen of Verona” as the character of Launce. He was entered in the upper monologue division, which comprises students from grades eight through 12, and was one of two winners in that group, along with Maddie Nolen from Upper St. Clair High School.

On Feb. 22, Suyama got the chance to record his monologue again in a live-streamed public showcase of all finalists.

“Kai dedicated many hours outside of school to prepare for this contest,” said Melissa Survinski, the enrichment facilitator at Hampton High School and Middle School.

“He worked hard to comprehend, memorize and perform this scene well,” Survinski said.

The Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest began more than 20 years ago and has featured performances by thousands of Pittsburgh-area students. The program is dedicated to instilling a love of Shakespeare and the theater in young people.

Each winner in the contest will receive a copy of “The Complete Works of Shakespeare,” and a $250 cash prize will go to the winner’s school or group.

Hampton students finalists for National Merit Scholarship

Three Hampton High School students have been selected as finalists for National Merit Scholarship awards in 2021.

Teja Chaparala, Dylan Mitchell and Aidan Sawyer are among 15,000 students across the country who are finalists for these prestigious awards. Of these, about 7,500 will be selected and announced as scholarship winners beginning in March.

Finalists are chosen from 50,000 students with the highest scores on the PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index. Students must meet several requirements to qualify as finalists, including having demonstrated high academic performance throughout their time in high school and planning to attend college full-time in the fall of 2021.

A Certificate of Merit will be presented to each student in recognition of his or her achievements.

15 from Hampton named to National Technical Honor Society

Fifteen Hampton High School students have been accepted into the National Technical Honor Society for their academic achievements in various career and technical fields.

These inductees participate in career and technical programs offered by the A.W. Beattie Career Center, which gives students hands-on, real-world experience in courses that fulfill elective credit requirements.

NTHS is one of several organizations the students can join while enrolled at the career center.

The Hampton students inducted are:

Ronald Misencik, auto collision technology; Thomas Voinchet, ad design; Brock Mattiuz, carpentry; Brandon Hilliard and Jesse Majewski, carpentry/building construction; Jonathan Tabon, networking engineering technology; Hailey Majetic, early childhood education; Jacob Holt and Anna Topper, health and nursing sciences; Mark Gibson, HVAC; Jada Ivey and Haley Penley, pastry arts; Riley Isaac and Brandi Klutts, sports medicine and rehabilitation therapy; and Liana Suski, surgical sciences.

The NTHS describes itself as an organization that “encourages higher scholastic achievement, cultivates a desire for personal excellence and helps top students find success in today’s highly competitive workplace.”

Membership includes the opportunity to apply for exclusive scholarships. The organization has given out more than $2 million in scholarships to its members since 2005.

To be eligible for induction into NTHS, students must demonstrate at least a 3.0 GPA in either their overall education or within their chosen field of study.

Aquinas ‘Geo Bee’ winner announced

Seventh grade Aquinas Academy student, Mark Bence, won the school’s Geo Bee on Jan. 29.

All Aquinas Academy fourth through eighth grade students participated in the bee.

The following students were finalists: Mark Bence (seventh grade), Elizabeth Bird (fourth grade), Sam Ennis (fifth grade), Anna Ravotti (fourth grade), Laura Greppi (eighth grade), Michael Greppi (sixth grade), Felicity Koble (seventh grade), Peter Koble (fifth grade), Brigid Mercer (sixth grade) and Alice Rothfus (eighth grade).

Sam Ennis, Mark Bence, Alice Rothfus, and Laura Greppi were repeat finalists from previous years. Both Michael Greppi and Felicity Koble were competing as finalists for their third time.

Although the National Geo Bee Contest was canceled this year, Aquinas Academy’s sixth grade geography teacher, Mike Flynn, was determined to give students an opportunity to compete at the school level this year.

Academic achievements

The following students from the North Hills were recognized for their academic achievement during the fall 2020 semester by being named to the dean’s, president’s or provost’s list at the college or university they attend:

University of Pittsburgh, Bradford: Andrew J. Bokulich and Joshua M. Palko.

Canisius College: Nadia Durante.