ShopRite STARS Honored by Montville Board of Ed

Montville Township High School [MTHS] Assistant Principal, Kenneth Nadzak, presented the 2013-2014 fourth marking period ShopRite STARS to the Montville Township Board of Education [BOE] at the June 3 2014 meeting.

The five students were nominated in writing by faculty members and selected by an administrative committee.

“While our teachers positively impact the lives of students every day, students nominated as ShopRite STARS have certainly had a tremendous impact on the people who wished to recognize them,” Nadzak said before presenting the winners to the BOE.

Daniel Kats was named in the field of Academics.

Recently, featured in the Star-Ledger for his participation in a Wall Street Trading Game at Steven’s Institute of Technology, Kats is skilled in technology. 

“I first met Dan over the summer because of his work with our technology department,” recalled Nadzak, who began working at MTHS last summer. “During that first conversation, Dan was so knowledgeable and mature that I mistook him for a staff member.” 

Katz has completed nine AP classes during his four years at MTHS and maintained a 4.5 GPA.  He is also active in PAL, FBLA, Forensics, Key Club, DECA, the Boys Swim Team, and serves as the Class of 2014 Treasurer. 

In the field of the Arts, Amanda Zizack took the prize. 

“The staff members who nominated Amanda in this field identified her as being talented and self-motivated,” Nadzak noted. 

Zizack is a competitive cheerleader, who is also involved with Key Club and Relay for Life. Additionally she volunteers at an area animal shelter. 

An AP Art student, Zizack chose to compete in the Congressional Art Show sponsored by the United States House of Representatives.

Joseph Salamone received the ShopRite STARS award for Community Service.

“We would save time if I told you the list of activities that Joe isn’t involved with,” Nadzak joked.

Salamone is a volunteer at Demolay, an organization dedicated to preparing young men to be better leaders. He is also a member of REACH and the Montville Drug Awareness Council, as well as, DoSomething.Org, Relay for Life, and Make a Wish. 

An athlete, Salamone is also an entrepreneur, with several businesses in place, including a shirt business, power balance bracelet business, and garage floor epoxy company. 

Zayan Khadri received the ShopRite STARS award in the field of Athletics. Over the past four years, Khadri has been an active participant in Lacrosse, Football, and Track and Field. 

“But,” noted Nadzak, “Zayan wasn’t simply nominated for his abilities on the field.  He is also being recognized for his leadership off the field.” 

As President of the Class of 2014, Khadri is a positive role model for all. In addition, the class president is actively involved in DECA, Key Club, Pathways, and Relay for Life. He also serves as Activities Coordinator for REACH, where he has helped to organize over 75 events this year. 

The Voice of Montville, MTHS morning announcer, Shannon Chang, received the ShopRite STARS award in the field of Leadership.

“From behind the microphone, Shannon has helped recognize hundreds of other students as they won competitions, awards, or the big game,” Nadzak noted. “But she never publicizes the wonderful work she does.” 

Chang serves as the Student Activities Council President.  She is also a student leader in PAL, the Communications Chairperson in the History Club, and winner of an AP Scholar with Distinction Award. 

“Shannon once identified herself, in the context of defining the responsibilities of her position, as the bridge between administration and students,” explained Nadzak.  “But, Shannon is so much more than that. The model she sets should serve as the foundation for how every student conducts themselves.”

All five winners were presented certificates of outstanding achievement from the Montville Township Board of Education.

The ShopRite STARS program is sponsored by Parsippany ShopRite. MTHS has been involved with the program for over 10 years. The STARS awards are designed to recognize the most consistently active and engaged students in a school population. Students are chosen each marking period throughout the school year. Seniors are most often nominated for outstanding performance in their field over time. Montville’s ShopRite STARS have their photos displayed on a plaque in the school and also at the Parsippany ShopRite.  ShopRite donates $1,000 to the MTHS Project Graduation, which will be celebrating its 30th year following graduation on Thursday, June 19. The MTHS Project Graduation is sponsored by the Montville Township Drug Awareness Council and is the oldest drug and alcohol free graduation party in the state of New Jersey.