Darienites
Dr. Karen Singer-Freeman

Darien Professor at Purchase College Heads up Program to get Under-represented Groups in Biomedical Sciences

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Dr. Karen Singer-Freeman of Darien is one of two professors at Purchase College heading up a campus program that aims to improve the participation of underrepresented groups in biomedical sciences. Under the direction of Singer-Freeman and Dr. Linda Bastone, the MARC U-STAR program is set up to develop the academic, social, and economic capital of underrepresented STEM students interested in pursuing careers in the biomedical sciences. The nationwide program’s name comes from “Maximizing Access to Research Careers” and “Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research.” According to a National Institute of Health Web page, “[U]nderrepresented students are individuals belonging to particular groups that have been determined by the grantee institution to be underrepresented in biomedical research.” The honors program is meant to prepare students for success by providing research opportunities, scholarships, and professional development.

Arts & Entertainment
Michelle Han's artwork DPS website 6-3-16

DHS Student Michelle Han Recognized in 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Contest

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The Darien Public Schools Art Department is proud to announce that Michelle Han has earned national recognition in the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing contest. Students winning this recognition have been identified by panels of creative professionals as the most talented young artists and writers in the nation. _______________

— an announcement on the Darien Public Schools website

_______________

Nearly 320,000 works of art and writing were submitted by students in grades 7-12 this year. This national medal places Han within the top 1 percent of all submissions. She has been invited to attend a ceremony at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 2.

Education
Frank Mugisha

Ugandan/African LGBT Rights Activist Visits Darien High School

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Students from Darien High School had the opportunity to speak with internationally recognized human rights activist Dr. Frank Mugisha. Frank Mugisha is an Ugandan activist on behalf of the rights of the LGBT community. His work has been widely recognized by the international community; in 2011 he was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and in 2014 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. ____________________

— an announcement on the Darien Public Schools website

____________________

He is currently the director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) which serves as an umbrella organization assisting LGTB rights groups around Uganda and the African continent. Dr. Mugisha’s visit was made possible as part of his inclusion in RFK Human Rights’ Speak Truth to Power curriculum, through which the life and work of human rights activists are used to help make classroom content come to life.

Education
Early Learning Program 6-3-16

Darien’s Early Learning Program Has Openings for Summer

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Summertime fun with a focus on Kindergarten Readiness! A Regular Education Teacher and a Special Education teacher will be teaching an integrated class of typically developing students and students with special needs for Darien Public Schools’ summertime Early Learning Program class. Each class is modeled after a typical kindergarten classroom with approximately twenty students per classroom. The goal of the readiness program will be to develop independence and familiarity with the Kindergarten school day. The course will promote academic readiness skills such as letter and number recognition and counting, while encouraging students to work independently, in small groups, and large groups on various pre-academic activities.

Education
Henry Hathaway Darien Auto Center Independent Study Program DHS 5-31-16

DHS Seniors in the Independent Study Program Are All Around Town

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Nearly the entire senior class at Darien High School (DHS) will not be found in the usual places — in classrooms, hallways, or in the library. Look for them on Wall Street, working on cars in a local auto shop, like Henry Hathaway at Darien Auto Center (pictured here), assisting museum staff, and even inside classrooms at some of Darien’s other schools. At last count, 326 students have branched out into the community and beyond as part of the Independent Study Program. Now in its seventh year, the program aims to match graduating seniors with a workplace experience for about five weeks. DHS teacher Francis Janosco, who co-leads the program, said it’s grown significantly over the last three years.

Education
Hindley Students 5-26-16

DHS Engineering Students Work with Elementary School Students on a Bridge Project

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How would you construct a sturdy bridge with only a piece of paper and some masking tape? That was the question put to Hindley Elementary School students recently when they had some invited guests from Darien High School. DHS students enrolled in the Independent Projects in Engineering course are visiting some elementary schools to do hands-on work connected to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The visit was coordinated by DHS Technology Education teachers Lorraine Westervelt and Jeromy Nelson as part of an outreach to elementary students. This year’s focus on civil engineering was reflected in the bridge-making project.

Education
Middlesex Middle School wikipedia 5-25-16

Middlesex Principal Debi Boccanfuso Leaves for Job with Bridgeport Diocese

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Middlesex Middle School Principal Deborah Boccanfuso has told the school district she’s leaving her job to accept a position with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner announced Tuesday at a Board of Education meeting. Boccanfuso’s new job hasn’t been announced by the diocese. She taught at St. Joseph School in Norwalk before coming to Middlesex Middle School. “She’s built a long, successful career as a teacher, as an assistant principal and as a middle school principal,” Brenner said Wednesday.

Education
Royle School Royle Welcome 5-25-16

New Principal Approved for Royle School, Interim Principal John Grasso Departs

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Royle School’s next principal has been named by the Board of Education: Dean Ketchum, a former elementary and middle school teacher, principal and education official, will take over on July 1 from John Grasso, who was named interim principal in the summer of 2014. Here’s an announcement about Ketchum’s appointment that the school district sent out Wednesday to staff and parents:

Last evening, by a unanimous vote, the Darien Board of Education appointed Dean Ketchum as principal of Royle Elementary School, effective July 1, 2016. Mr. Ketchum graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor of arts in Classics and went on to earn both his master’s in education and administrative certificate. Mr. Ketchum began his career as an elementary teacher at Madison Elementary School in Norman, Oklahoma. After teaching first, third, fourth and fifth grades at Madison for seven years, he moved to the University of Oklahoma, where he served as senior program development specialist at the College of Continuing Education.

Education
Darien High School entrance

More than 230 Student Awards Given at Darien High School Ceremony

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At a Darien High School awards ceremony on Thursday, these awards — more than 230 of them — were given out to students in recognition of their achievements in areas such as academics, sports, music, the arts and community service:

Award

Recipient

American Chemical Society Award

Daniel Pfrommer

American Field Service Award for Excellence in French

Sarah LeHan

American Field Service Award for Excellence in Spanish

Christian Ostberg

Art Department Ceramics Award

Christopher Graves

Art Department Ceramics Award

Savannah Chaput

Art Department Ceramics Award

Dillon Foley

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Mary Myers

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Claire Lincoln

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Cassandra Lopiano

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Jane Firmin

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Murphy Grady

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Jeremy Howe

Art Department Graphic Design Award

Jack Thornbury

Art Department Photography Award

Lucas Whittaker

Art Department Photography Award

Cassandra Lopiano

Art Department Photography Award

Ella Moore

Authentic Science Research Award

Sarishka Desai

Barnard College Book Award

Tianjia Du

Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award

Colin Shaughnessy

Brandeis Book Award

Samantha Wind

Brown Book Award

Candice Wang

Business Education Award

Paige Adams

CAS Student Leadership Award

Isabella Johnston

CAS Student Leadership Award

Carson Stewart

CAS/CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Sarah LeHan

CAS/CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Christian Ostberg

CIAC Award of Excellence

Daphne Budd

CIAC Award of Excellence

Baylor Stewart

Columbia Book Award

Komal Dhull

Computer Technology Achievement Award

Samuel Evans

Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Award – Art

Ella Moore

Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Award – Music

Drake Corrigan

Cornell Book Award

Andrew Benz

Current Award

Nicholas Hartunian

Dariannus Award

Sarah Garijo-Garde

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Helena Cush

1

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Thomas Kreuch

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Olivia Lew

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Robert Waters

Darien Board of Education Chairman’s Book Award

Gauri Misra

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award- Junior

Elizabeth Borecki

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award – Freshman

Chloe Sheehan

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award – Senior

Chloe Zhou

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award – Sophomore

Ari Singer-Freeman

Dartmouth College Book Award

Colin Shaughnessy

Daughters of the American Revolution

Samantha Wind

Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award

Breana Del Gatto

Debate Team Leadership and Excellence Award

Chloe Zhou

Debate Team Novice Debaters Award

Paul Hager

Delta Kappa Gamma Book Award

Maxwell Romeyn

Denison Book Award

Hannah Ferguson

DHS Technology and Engineering Award

Charles Attisani

DHS Technology and Engineering Award

Luke O’Neil

Dr. Helen Merritt Award

Molly Bell

Dr. Stewart Atkinson Valedictorian Award

Chloe Zhou

Economics Book Award

Nicholas Hartunian

Elaine Fattibene Book Award

Helen Wolf

English Department Award

Emilio Rivero

English Department Award

Katie Tsui

European History Award

Sarah LeHan

Faculty Award

Roisin Burke

Faculty Award

Savannah Chaput

Faculty Award

Cheyenne de la Rivera

Faculty Award

Colin Donovan

Faculty Award

Sarah Garijo-Garde

Faculty Award

Murphy Grady

Faculty Award

Tyler Grant

Faculty Award

Herbert Hazelton

Faculty Award

Jeffrey Hingst

Faculty Award

Olivia Hoyda

Faculty Award

Katie Jarrett

Faculty Award

Dana Kolderup

Faculty Award

Steven Kreuch

Faculty Award

Santosh Krishnan

Faculty Award

Graham Littell

Faculty Award

Sabrina McDonnell

Faculty Award

Lauren Murphy

Faculty Award

John Murray

Faculty Award

Mary Myers

Faculty Award

Hayden Nackley

Faculty Award

Christian Nickerson

Faculty Award

Michael Armstong Noonan

Faculty Award

Gavin Okun

Faculty Award

Marcus Pagliarulo

Faculty Award

Kevin Pidgeon

Faculty Award

James Schofield

Faculty Award

Jacob Smith

Faculty Award

Matthew Smith

Faculty Award

Isabelle Taylor

Faculty Award

Sophie Tsui

Faculty Award

Noah Vetter

Faculty Award

Seth von Schmidt

Faculty Award

Michael Walter

Faculty Award

Margaret Weinstock

Faculty Award

Finley Wetmore

Faculty Award

Niamani Williams-Coles

Faculty Award

Andrew Winsch

Faculty Award

Grace Wohlberg

Fairfield County Association of Secondary School Principal’s Scholar Leader Award

Alison Greene

Fairfield County Association of Secondary School Principal’s Scholar Leader Award

Ken Yamaguchi

Fairfield University Book Award

Keenan Warble

Fairfield University School of Engineering and Sikorsky Aircraft Award

David Kristof

Gettysburg College Book award

Colin Shaughnessy

Global Art Award

Kaeleigh Morrill

Harold A. Peterson Math Award

Chloe Zhou

Harvard Club Book Award

Mila Escajadillo

John Rallo Award for Excellence in Two World Languages

Nicole Caputo

Junior Mathematics Award

Samuel Pfrommer

Kiwanis Award for

Arts

Excellence in Fine

Lucas Whittaker

Kiwanis Award for

Technolgy Education

Excellence in

Henry Hathaway

Kiwanis Award for

Technolgy Education

Excellence in

Noah Vetter

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Laine Blummer

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Drake Corrigan

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Chloe Zhou

Law and Government Award

Nicholas Hartunian

Mary McKee Award

Baylor Stewart

Math Team Award

Andrew Benz

Mt. Holyoke Book Award

Emma Lesko

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Indira Flores

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Vivienne Le

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Eden Wright

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Wen Yan Toh

Music Service Award

Mone Takeda

Neirad Editorial Award

Britton Barthold

Neirad EditorialAward

Christopher Drake

Northeast Conference Award for French

Chloe Zhou

Northeast Conference Award for Mandarin

Colin Donovan

Northeast Conference Award for Spanish

Katie Tsui

Oberlin Book Award

Paul Hager

Outstanding Musicianship Award

Dominick Wood

Paul Engemann Heart and Soul Award

Finley Wetmore

Princeton Alumni Association of Fairfield County Award

Candice Wang

Principal’s Award

Paige Adams

Principal’s Award

Jane Bredahl

Principal’s Award

Charles Carroll

Principal’s Award

Andrew Clarke

Principal’s Award

Emily Coyle

Principal’s Award

Brandon Del Gatto

Principal’s Award

Matthew Delora

Principal’s Award

Morgan Desautelle

Principal’s Award

Matthew Drake

Principal’s Award

Alyssa Findlan

Principal’s Award

Robert Foresta

Principal’s Award

Shelby Grant

Principal’s Award

Teagan Gray

Principal’s Award

Thomas Hall

Principal’s Award

Giana Kamensky

Principal’s Award

Chandler Kirby

Principal’s Award

Lindsay Kirby

Principal’s Award

William Kirby

Principal’s Award

John Kniffin

Principal’s Award

Samuel Knowlton

Principal’s Award

John McCann

Principal’s Award

Samantha Millette

Principal’s Award

Colin Minicus

Principal’s Award

Robert Osborn

Principal’s Award

Alyssa Pagliuco

Principal’s Award

Zachary Pear

Principal’s Award

Felix Rooney

Principal’s Award

Jennifer Schrenker

Principal’s Award

Oliver Smith

Principal’s Award

Caroline Sullivan

Principal’s Award

John Thacher

Principal’s Award

Christian Trifone

Ralph M. Gibbs Award

Jennifer Schrenker

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award

James Johnson

Salutatorian Award

Christian Ostberg

Salutatorian Award

Katie Tsui

Sam Hougas Memorial Award

Grace Feingold

Senior Excellence in Athletics Award

Georgia Cassidy

Senior Excellence in Athletics Award

Mark Evanchick

Senior Mathematics Award

Christian Ostberg

Smith Club Book Award

Madeleine Ostertag

Society of Women Engineers Award

William Russell

Society of Women Engineers Award

Emily Torrente

Special History and Social Science Award

Krya Balenzano

Special History and Social Science Award

Caroline Lui

St. Lawrence Book Award

Kristen Picard

St. Michael’s College Book Award

Mia Dursht

St. Michael’s College Book Award

Brendan Berrigan

Superintendent’s Citizenship Award

Michael Armstrong Noonan

Superintendent’s Citizenship Award

Jennifer Schrenker

The Alicia Sillars Depot Director’s Award

Caroline Tortorella

The Board of Education Award

Claire Borecki

The Darien Nature Center Environmental Award

Laura Schwartzman

The Depot Service Award

Matthew Alvarado

The Depot Service Award

Sean Doran

The Depot Spirit Award

Jacob Smith

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

John Thacher

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

Finley Wetmore

The Technology Club Award

Matthew Arcamone

The Technology Club Award

Thomas Kyritz

The Western Connecticut Military Officers Young American Award

Stephen Cavoli

Theatre 308 Award for Technical Theatre

Samantha Millette

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Kristen Moran

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Carson Stewart

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Breana Del Gatto

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Sofia Sheldon

Theatre 308 Service Award

Paige Adams

Theatre 308 Service Award

Drake Corrigan

Tom Ryan
Student Government Award

Breana Del Gatto

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Darien Fire Department

Molly Bell

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Fire Department

Matthew Delora

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Fire Department

David Woll

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Matthew Arcamone

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Robert Marchesi

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Liam Tracey

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Dominick Wood

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Charlotte Byrne

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Helena Cush

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Christopher Graves

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Alison Greene

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Grace Harmon

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Alexis Hills

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Megan Johnston

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Steven Kreuch

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Thomas Kyritz

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Hannah McLane

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Christian Ostberg

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Carson Stewart

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Schuyler Van den Broek

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Post 53

Robert Waters

Trinity College Alumni Award

Michael Borecki

University of Chicago Book Award

Samuel Pfrommer

University of Michigan Award

Madeleine Ostertag

University of Virginia

Award

Jefferson Book

William Russell

Vassar Book Prize Award

Samuel Pfrommer

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award

Brendan Berrigan

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award

Komal Dhull Dhull

Wellesley Club of Southern Connecticut Book Award

Kyra Balenzano

Western Civilization Book Award

Katherine Lester

William McNichol Award

Charles Attisani

World Studies Book Award

Paul Hager

Yale Award

Indira Flores

Education
Darien Public Schools

18 Darien Teachers Win $13K in Grants for Individual Professional Development

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Darien Advocates for the Education of the Gifted has awarded Barbara Harrington Grants to 18 Darien teachers. Here’s a memo from Susie Da Silva, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, which was to be presented to the Darien Board of Education Tuesday evening at the board’s meeting:

Darien Advocates for the Education of the Gifted (DAEG) has announced the award of 18 grants to Darien teachers totaling $13,219 for advanced studies, workshops, conferences and curriculum development. Thanks to the generosity of DAEG members and the Darien community, we are pleased to provide funding to enthusiastic teachers whose applications fit our criteria of further development of their teaching skills and bringing that knowledge back to the classroom, ultimately benefiting Darien students. The applications for this year reflect both independent study and collaborative efforts of Darien faculty as they pursue their interests and identify areas where they would like to gain more knowledge. Grants have been awarded this year to five high school teachers, four middle school teachers, and nine elementary teachers.

Education
DHS Graduation 2016 5-24-16

Darien High School Valedictorian, Salutarians Named for 2016 Graduation

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Darien High School has named Chloe Zhou as Class of 2016 valedictorian and Christian Ostberg and Katie Tsui the co-salutatorians. Graduation is Thursday, June 16 at 5 p.m. on the DHS Stadium Field. No tickets are needed if the ceremony is held outdoors, and seating is unlimited. According to this Darien High School Web page on the graduation ceremony:

“Gates open at 4 p.m. and seats are first-come, first-served. There will be folding chair seats on the field, as well as the entire home side bleachers.

Community Organizations
DHS logo Darien High School 5-24-16

Letter: DHS Principal Thanks Some Pillars of the Darien Community

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To the editor,

Darien High School would like to thank the many donors within the Darien community who offer generous scholarships to our graduating seniors. The scholarships were recently awarded at the Darien Community scholarship ceremony to deserving seniors enabling them to achieve their college dreams. The generosity of the Darien community means so much to the students, their families, and Darien High School. We offer our sincere thanks to the following civic organizations, groups and families:

Darien Arts Center
Darien Chamber of Commerce
Darien Community Association
Darien Education Association
Darien High School Class of 1974
Darien Junior Football League
Darien Kiwanis Club
Darien Little League
Darien Masonic Club
Darien Old Timers
Darien Police Association
Darien Rotary Club
Darien Youth Hockey Association
Noroton Fire Department and Henry Bennet Family
Post 53
Royle School and Roger Tamburro Family
Southern Fairfield County Retired Teachers’ Association
The Blue Wave Booster Club and James Girard Family
The Bruno Family The Clem Miner family
The Dana Family
The Depot
The George Nelson Family
The Ginny Wright Family
The MacMannis Family
The Meloy Family
The Myles Beringer Family
The Piedmont Associates
The Shannon Dunleavy Family
Tokeneke School and MaryLee Fisher Family

With gratitude,

Ellen L. Dunn Principal, Darien High School

Education
Dorothy Jill McCammon 5-23-16

Darien GOP Caucus Endorses McCammon & McNamara, Registrar Visi and 8 JPs

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Dorothy J. “Jill” McCammon, who is ending her term as co-chairman of the umbrella organization of town parent-teacher organizations has been nominated by Republicans to fill an uncontested seat on the Board of Education. McCammon joins board member Christa S. McNamara, who was nominated to run for re-election this year, and a Democratic candidate. Board members David Martens, a Republican, and Callie Sullivan, a Democrat, are stepping down. (McNamara was not at the caucus — she’s in Sri Lanka at a sailing event, according to caucus members.)

McNamara and McCammon, together with Republican Registrar John Visi will be on the ballot this November, together with eight candidates for justice of the peace: David Anthony Brown, Eugene F. Coyle, Janet F. Grogan, Cathy A. Hauck, Eric H. Joosten, Brian J. Rayhill, Jayme J. Stevenson, and state Rep. Terrie E. Wood. “I think that our school system is in a tremendous amount of transition, and I want to be a part of that,” McCammon said after the brief GOP Caucus in Town Hall Monday night.

Education
Health Department

Darien Public Schools Do Well in Recent Health Inspections

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All seven Darien public schools received high ratings when they were inspected by the Darien Health Department in recent weeks. At four of the seven schools, visiting inspectors found no problems whatever, and each of those schools received a perfect 100 score on the state scale. In three schools, inspectors found a single problem, but the inspection results were still excellent, and all the schools were deemed “Good” — the highest rating in the separate town ratings system. The inspections were conducted from May 4 through May 17. The most recent inspection results

In the list of health inspection results, below, information is listed by name, address, date of inspection, Darien rating, state score, inspector’s comments that led to the state rating and additional remarks on the inspection report.

Education
Cerebral Palsy DHS CCSU GoBabyGo! 5-13-16

DHS Engineering Students Customize Vehicles for Kids with Cerebral Palsy

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Five youngsters got to take home a new customized car recently courtesy of a unique collaborative between Darien High School (DHS), Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), and the organization GoBabyGo! The cars — retrofitted Toys R Us vehicles — were modified for the children, all of whom have Cerebral Palsy which affects body movement and muscle coordination. The new customized rides now serve as a tool for mobility and as a form of physical therapy. They are also meant to be fun to drive — something the youngsters got to try out on the DHS track recently with their families. “This is giving high school students the unique opportunity to learn from and connect with these amazing and strong kids, and empower them to be their best and most confident selves,” said DHS teacher Jeromy Nelson, coordinator for Technology Education.