Schools

MHS Alumni Present Awards to 2011 Grads

Association president shares remarks from Senior Awards Night.

The Alumni Association of Morristown High School made a number of presentations at Senior Awards Night on June 9. Ed Myers, president of the association, shared his remarks with Patch:

Good evening. I’m Ed Myers and I have the privilege of serving as president of the Alumni Association of Morristown High School. Established in 1885, we are one of the oldest high school alumni associations in the State of New Jersey.

Congratulations to all of the students here on the stage who are being honored tonight. Last year’s senior class – the Class of 2010 - was described as one with great energy and spirit. However, I think that the Class of 2011 has raised the bar. I have been amazed at your accomplishments, depth of maturity and character and I am proud to have had the opportunity to meet many of you.

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We were blessed this year with more scholarships and awards than in any other year in our 126 year history–14 awards. In my role as president of the alumni association, I hear from individuals of all ages and across the globe and one theme resonates, the common bond of our MHS experience and the commitment that our alumni have for Morristown High School throughout their lives.

This commitment has led so many individuals across the globe to donate their time and the funds that make the many scholarships and awards that we are awarding tonight possible. This night may seem like it’s about receiving–the best and brightest of our graduating class receiving their much deserved recognition–yet, when you consider the sheer number of awards being presented, this night really is about giving. I want to thank all of our alumni for their generosity and devotion to MHS. The level of generosity seen here tonight is affirmation that, as alumni, we value the excellent educational experience and opportunities provided to us by Morristown High School and we thank MHS with our generosity.

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KEMPER CHAMBERS MEMORIAL AWARDS

Kemper Chambers, a member of the Class of 1947, is one of many who remained committed to MHS throughout his life. Kemper was inducted into the MHS Wall of Fame two years ago and was a steadfast friend to the Heritage Club for many years. The MHS Heritage Club is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Morristown High School and most notably, the annual Wall of Fame and Teachers’ Corner honors. Kemper Chambers enjoyed working with the members of the Heritage Club, especially when working together to place American flags on the graves of local veterans for Memorial Day.

While we mourn the loss of Kemper Chambers last December, his passing provides a true example of his love for MHS. Kemper directed that any donations made when he died be made to the MHS Heritage Club. As Kemper so enjoyed working with the Heritage Club students, it seems only fitting that these donations honor the students directly in the form of a scholarship.

I had the pleasure of working with these five seniors during the Wall of Fame and Teachers Corner selection process and I am truly impressed by them, with their wisdom, their character and humor. These five seniors received the Kemper Chambers Memorial Scholarship Awards at the Heritage Club ceremony in April, but I would like to ask each of them to come forward and accept our congratulations and an additional gift from the Alumni Association

  • Alex Bourland
  • Ian Danquah 
  • Anthony Galante 
  • Danielle Gluck 
  • Brian Levine

TRISTAN HAYES MEMORIAL AWARD

I am joined here by Sgt. Anderson of the US Marine Corps to present the Tristan Hayes Memorial Award. Sgt. Anderson is a new US Marine Corps. Recruiter assigned to Morristown High School.

Tristan Hayes was a 1967 graduate of MHS who gave his life for our country. Tristan was always fascinated with the military and he enlisted in the US Army just after graduation during the Vietnam War and served our country proudly. Just one year later, Tristan Hayes lost his life in Vietnam, just days after military operations for which he was awarded the Bronze Star for his valor.

In combat, Tristan Hayes ignored his own safety to carry many wounded comrades to safety. As a result of his unceasing determination and concern for his comrades, many lives were saved. Just days later, he lost his own life. Tristan Hayes was awarded the Bronze Star for his personal bravery and dedication which were in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and credit to himself, his unit, the US Army, and the United States of America. Tristan Hayes was honored this year on our Wall of Fame.

With no living relatives, his friends were on hand to accept the honor on his behalf. One of his childhood friends has further honored Tristan Hayes tonight with the Tristan Hayes Memorial Award, an award presented to an MHS senior who has enlisted in one of our US armed forces who has been an active member of our local community. The recipient will receive a laptop computer for use during his military training and to keep him connected with friends and family during his service.

Like Tristan Hayes, this individual has been preparing for his goal of serving our country since childhood. He is fulfilling his dream of continuing a proud family tradition of service in the United States Marine Corps and he leaves Morristown in August to begin his training. The inspiration for joining the Marines is here tonight and I would like to recognize his great-uncle, Tom Ciccone, a former Marine, World War II veteran, and a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Our recipient has been an active member of our community, volunteering with the Market Street Mission, tutoring and mentoring, while also becoming an accomplished marksmen. We are proud to honor the memory of Tristan Hayes tonight in presenting this award and we also thank the recipient for his dedication and for his service to the United States of America. Congratulations ... Paul LoCicero.

CLASS OF 1959 ALUMNI ARTS/MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS

It’s always great when our alumni give back to our community and now more than ever our alumni are turning routine reunions into events that benefit our school or community, from pre-reunion benefit events for sick classmates, to reunions that have capped a full day of work with Habitat for Humanity.

The Class of 1959 is such a class and it was great news this year when they contacted me to fund an art and music scholarship. It is my pleasure to introduce Gail Sanderson Chalfant of the Class of 1959 who has joined us tonight to present these awards, the Class of 1959 Alumni Arts Scholarship and the Class of 1959 Alumni Music Scholarship

The Class of 1959 had the pleasure of celebrating our 50th reunion in 2009. Afterward, our class decided to use our remaining reunion funds to create two scholarships honoring MHS seniors.

CLASS OF 1959 ALUMNI ARTS SCHOLARSHIP

The Class of 1959 Alumni Arts Scholarship awards $1,000 to a MHS senior who is pursuing an arts degree. For those of you have not seen the annual art show here at MHS, I urge you to attend next year as the talent that we have right here at MHS is amazing. One individual’s work is particularly amazing and we expect great things from him. He is also very involved in the MHS community; president of the National Art Honor Society, co-president of the Heritage Club, cross country, tennis, and a jazz musician. We are pleased to award our music scholarship to an individual who will be attending the Rhode Island School of Design, the Class of 2011’s “Best Male Artist," Anthony Galante.

CLASS OF 1959 ALUMNI MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP

The Class of 1959 Alumni Music Scholarship awards $1,000 to a MHS senior who is pursuing a music degree. MHS and our local community has had the pleasure of enjoying her music these last four years and we are awed by the talent of this well-rounded scholar who was a gifted musician on piano and violin, a 3rd place winner of this year’s Morristown’s Got Talent, talented tennis player, swimmer, community volunteer, all while excelling academically with an amazing 5.1 GPA.

We expect great things from this individual as she leaves for Harvard to pursue a multiple major with includes music and we are pleased to award our scholarship to your valedictorian, Jenny Shih.

HARRY SHATEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

During thus year, we have lost some MHS coaches who who left lasting legacies at MHS and with alumni: John Chironna, Arnie DeGroot, and the loss last month of Harry Shatel, a 1961 MHS graduate and longtime baseball coach.

Within hours last month of the news of Harry Shatel’s death, I started getting calls and emails from alumni and friends of MHS, looking to donate funds in Harry Shatel’s memory. Each had memories of the impact that Harry Shatel had on their lives. In response to the demand and as donations flooded in, the Harry Shatel Memorial Scholarship and Award was created and the first award will be presented on Sunday to an MHS senior baseball player who best exemplifies Harry Shatel’s character ... excellence both on the ball field and in life. Achievement and success, but with humility and grace.

Update: The Harry Shatel Memorial Scholarship was presented on June 12 at the annual MHS Baseball Brunch to James Pisciotto. 

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LESLIE L. KRAUSE SCHOLARSHIPS

In early 2010, Leslie Krause of the class of 1955 made a generous donation to the Alumni Association to establish a scholarship as part of his goal of making higher education more affordable for America’s youth.

After graduating from MHS, Mr. Krause worked hard and sacrificed much to put himself through college with little financial resources. He had a successful career in aerospace engineering and worked on the Apollo and Saturn space programs. This donation is just one of many that he made to educational institutions across the United States and he hopes this serves to inspire others to make similar contributions to aid future students in pursuing higher education.

The Leslie L. Krause Scholarships are awarded to two MHS seniors, one female and one male, who have maintained a strong record of academic achievement while remaining an active member of MHS and the community. On behalf of the Alumni Association, I am pleased to present the Leslie L. Krause Scholarships of $2,000 each to two individuals who have exemplified the dedication and drive of Leslie Krause and a commitment to the importance of hard work and sacrifice in their pursuit of their undergraduate degrees and in their future endeavors.

One recipient who will be attending Lehigh University, took on MHS intent to mold a unique experience that would prepare her to meet her boundless potential. After reviewing her diverse resume of activities, academics, athletics, and volunteer service that she has built over the last four years, I have little doubt that she has succeeded. In fact, her scholarship essay should be required reading for every MHS freshman to see how she created her ideal experience by extending herself both inside and outside the walls of MHS. It is our pleasure to award a $2,000 Leslie L. Krause Scholarship to ... Danielle Gluck.

Our second recipient is an individual who has made the most of his MHS experience, excelling academically while on the varsity tennis team, marching band, and volunteering with the Key Club. He engaged in a rigorous course schedule and developed his own intense work ethic to match its intensity. He is proud of his considerable accomplishments at MHS and sees hard work, dedication, and academic excellence as the key to reaching and exceeding the goals he has set for himself. His success is certain and Vanderbilt University is lucky to have this future physician heading their way. We are proud to present a $2,000 Leslie L. Krause Scholarship to ... Adam Kaplon.

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WONG FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Robert Wong, a 1967 graduate of Morristown High School, and his wife Diana, established the annual Wong Family Scholarship to honor his parents who immigrated to the United States in the 1940’s. Through their hard work and perseverance, their four children were educated at MHS, graduated from college, and today live the American dream.

The Wong Family Scholarship is awarded annually based on performance, both inside and outside the classroom, scholastic achievement, diligence, perseverance, and consideration of others. I am pleased to present the 12th annual Wong Family Scholarship of $4,000 per year ... for up to 4 years ... totaling $16,000, to a senior who has excelled here at MHS. His diverse resume of activities, accomplishments, and service to our community portray an individual who has already achieved so much in his life and is destined for an amazing future. President of the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America, Sports Editor for the Broadcaster, WJSV, Varsity Tennis Captain, Varsity Fencing, a student liaison to the Board of Education who made real contributions to our district policy, all while excelling academically, working as a volunteer EMT, participating in a 6-week self-designed shadowing program in medicine and a premedical honors program. He has a passion for life and the pursuit of excellence combined with wisdom, a humble nature, and a concern or others. His passion and excitement for his future in medicine and the 7 year program he is attending at the University of Miami – Miller School of Medicine is fantastic. Yet, when discussing his achievements and accomplishments, he is remarkably humble and often turned the conversation to the respect and admiration that he has for his classmates and the MHS faculty. On behalf of the Wong Family, the Alumni Association of Morristown High School, and the Morris Educational Foundation, I am honored to award the Wong Family Scholarship to: Nikhil Shah.

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It is now my pleasure to award the two oldest and most prestigious scholarship awards presented annually at MHS, the Joyce Marie Heinold Award and the John Montieth Award.

THE JOYCE MARIE HEINOLD AWARD

Joyce Marie Heinold was a member of the Class of 1951 who died shortly before graduation and who is fondly remembered for her good character, academic performance, personality, and her contribution to her school, community, and family. The Joyce Heinold Award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the qualities of Joyce Heinold and the recipient of this prestigious award will find her name on a plaque here at the Heritage Stairs with over 60 individuals who have received this honor.

Had she not died so young, Joyce may well have been celebrating her 60th MHS reunion this year. This is a very fitting year to reflect on how we can all be inspired by the life of Joyce Heinold and by the words expressed in the days after her death. The Daily Record described her as “something wonderful that happened in the lives of many of us and the enjoyment that she derived from so many things has made her acquaintances better people for her influence. The MHS community was constantly amazed by the abundance of energy and zest for living that she possessed. Her sincere friendliness, her unselfish interest, her infectious sparkle and the good feeling that every person experienced when near her will be sorely missed at MHS.”

The Daily Record added, “Words are an inadequate tribute to the memory of this fun-loving conscientious girl and she will always be remembered as the best of all that is MHS.” If words were an inadequate tribute, the fact that we still honor her 60 years after her death for her character and charm surely is.

I am pleased to present the Joyce Heinold Award of $2,000 to a senior who has maintained an excellent academic record while devoting her time in service to her family, friends, and community. While a member of the National Honor Society and attaining high honors, she served with our Key Club and as a tutor, all while excelling in varsity lacrosse and tennis. High school friends of Joyce Heinold remain involved in the selection process for this scholarship and all agreed that this senior captured, in her essay, the true essence of Joyce Marie Heinold, a life of grace, dignity, and dedication to herself and others. She has left a positive impact on MHS and is sure to do the same at the University of Delaware. We are proud to award the Joyce Marie Heinold Award to: Alyssa Fried.

JOHN MONTIETH AWARD

To be remembered by your alma mater almost 100 years after your death is admirable. John Montieth was a member of the class of 1912 and is the only MHS graduate to have died serving our country during World War One.

The John Montieth Award was established in 1925 to honor the life of an individual who, after leading an exemplary life and graduating from MHS, gave his life for our country. This scholarship is awarded to an senior who has attained a high level of scholarship while demonstrating a dedication to his school, family and community. To date, the John Montieth Award remains one of the most prestigious awards presented annually at MHS and the recipient of this award will find his name alongside 85 other accomplished individuals on a plaque here at the Heritage Stairs.

On behalf of the Alumni Association, I am pleased to present the John Montieth Award of a $2,000 scholarship to an MHS senior who we feel has truly made the most of his high school career while being an individual who has the steadfast admiration of his peers and who has proven his character as a member of the National Honor Society, co-President of the Heritage Club, Future Business Leaders of America, captain of the varsity soccer team, a PGC leader and mentor, and an active hospital volunteer. As usual, when preparing my remarks for tonight, I discreetly dropped a few names when speaking to some students, teachers, and parents. The responses regarding this individual were consistent and words that anyone can be proud of. To his teachers, he is a great student, a leader, a pleasure to have in class. To parents, he is a nice kid, a gentleman. To his peers, he is always a nice guy, always smiling, someone who always treats people with kindness and respect, and just a great guy. He leaves MHS for the University of Rochester and an amazing future and the Alumni Association is honored to present the 86th John Montieth Award to: Brian Levine.

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Congratulations to each and every senior accepting an award tonight, to the Class of 2011, and best wishes for an incredible future. You are the best of all that is MHS, your accomplishment honor Morristown High School and we are proud of you. We welcome you as new members of our global MHS alumni family and we look forward to hearing of all your future successes. Thank you.


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