2008-09

Congratulations to Bryan Chow, Daniel Claridge, Tyler Hardy, Sara Koste, Daniel Kwiatkowski, Michale Shanahan, Kevin Whitaker and April Zhang who are among the approximately 16,000 high school seniors nationwide to be named semifinalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. –September 2008

Photographs by several Niskayuna High School students were featured in a multimedia display that kicked off the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra's 75th anniversary season at Proctors Theater. –October 2008

Short films created by several Niskayuna High School video students including Christopher Perrella’s animated short “Didget and the WooNads” and the stop-action short, “Tom Lamanna’s Breakfast,” produced by James Belcastro, Matt Cioffi, Peter Furey, and Tom Lamanna, were featured in the third annual Electric City Film Festival. Both films were finalists in the “Open Fiction” category. –October 2008

Niskayuna students' scores on New York State exams consistently rank among the highest in the region and state. On August 11, 2008, the New York State Education Department released the School Report Cards for the 2006-07 year. View report for Niskayuna schools

Twenty-two Niskayuna High School band and choral students joined other young musicians from around the northeast for the American Music Abroad Tour during the summer. Students visited Vienna, Venice, Westendorf, Dinkelsbuhl, Passau, Dachau and Rattenberg during the tour, and stopped at many famous sites and landmarks such as the Mirabel Gardens in Salzburg, Austria. –July 2008

Birchwood Elementary School students, staff and parents were recognized for reading a total of 2,995 books over the summer. Nearly 150 students, 29 staff members and three parents participated in the school’s summer reading program. –Summer 2008

2007-08

Most Niskayuna students attend college after graduation. Of the Class of 2008, 93 percent are continuing their education at a two- or four-year college, and are accepted by many prestigious public and private colleges and universities.

Niskayuna students challenge themselves by taking a wide variety of Advanced Placement and Honors courses. In the Class of 2008, 234 students wrote 425 AP exams, and 91 percent scored 3 or higher (out of 5). The high school offers 38 Honors classes and 17 Advanced Placement courses in which students may enroll.

Niskayuna High School student Hana Omiya was one of sixty student-artists from around the country selected for the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Summer Seminar. This full scholarship program is available nationally to artistically gifted high school juniors (2007-08) in public and private schools through a National Portfolio Competition. –June 2008

Niskayuna High School video students emerge victorious in Time Warner Cable’s “How Cool Is Your School” video competition. “Nisky Spirit” created and produced by a team of students from Steve Honicki’s Studio in Video class at Niskayuna High School was selected the top video in Time Warner Cable's 2008 “How Cool is Your School? video production contest winner. Congratulations to production team members Nick Batson, Nick Collisson, Stephen Gemmiti, Paul Lyons, Christopher Murphy, Keenan Roberts and Dave Stopera. –June 2008

Hillside Elementary School partnered with Schenectady County Traffic Safety Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension to pilot a Walking School Bus program. The new program is designed to increase physical activity and promote fitness among young students. –May 2008

Student musicians from Niskayuna High School’s Jazz Ensemble had the opportunity of a lifetime when they were selected to open for Blood Sweat & Tears at Proctor’s Theater. Senior Matt Gillen (trombone); juniors Eli Grant (alto sax), Matt Barnes (guitar), Colin MacCormack (drums), and Markus Salasoo (bass); sophomores Anthony Bellino (trumpet) and Shane Porter (tenor sax) –April 2008

Iroquois Middle School eighth-grader Natalie Olsen won a regional contest called "Be Money Wise," for a poster she created that promotes the importance of managing money wisely. –April 2008

Birchwood Elementary School chorus sang during the New York State School Music Association's 2008 Music in our Schools Month celebration at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. –April 2008

Thanks to the accomplished writing of fifth-grade student, Lauren Juliana Litz, Hillside Elementary School received $1,000 for the purchase of new technology equipment. An essay written by Litz was among four winning entries selected from approximately 400 submitted to a contest sponsored by First Niagara Bank. –April 2008

Artwork by Niskayuna High School students Alicia Burnett, Lianna Mandia, Hana Omiya and Hannah Quaintance received awards in the fourth annual Utrecht National Self-Portrait contest. Only 18 pieces were selected from among hundreds of entries submitted from around the country. –March 2008

The drawings of 10 Niskayuna High School students were selected for display at the 2008 High School Juried National Drawing Exhibition sponsored by the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester.
–March 2008

For the fourth consecutive year, a five-member student team from Van Antwerp Middle School captured the regional Middle School Science Bowl held at the GE Global Research Center in Niskayuna on March 1. The team advanced to the national competition in Colorado. –March 2008

Two Niskayuna middle school students won a chance to compete in the state Geography Bee. Jackson Montryn captured first place at Iroquois Middle School; Connor Chapman was champion at Van Antwerp.
–February 2008

Niskayuna High School's Concert Chorale invited to perform at the 2007 New York State School Music Association's Winter Conference –December 2007

Three Niskayuna High School students were named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists. Less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors are named semifinalists each year in this national scholarship program. –September 2007

2006-07

Niskayuna High School's ScoresUp Web site received a "Most Well-Written" award from Genium Corp. for the fifth consecutive year. The award recognizes students in business teacher Janice Lindsay’s e-Commerce class for their excellent writing skills, style and creativity. The ScoresUp Web site is an integral component of the e-Comm Ed curriculum developed by Genium Corp. –June 2007

Five Niskayuna seventh-grade students won an opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities through the annual GE essay contest. –June 2007

Adam Evans and Rachel Nevins were selected as Niskayuna High School's recipients of the Capital Area School Development Association’s annual Scholars Recognition Award. –May 2007

Niskayuna High School seniors Spencer Booth and Brooke Knowlton were named winners of the Sports Foundation of the Capital Region’s Scholar-Athlete Award. –May 2007

Niskayuna High School student Elizabeth Moran was selected Outstanding Youth of the Year for Schenectady County by the Capital District YMCA. –May 2007

Niskayuna High School choral groups and symphonic band rated superior at North American Music Festival –April 2007

Sixteen high school students had artwork selected the 2007 High School Juried National Drawing Exhibition sponsored by the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester. Congratulations to Nathaniel Carlson and Ian Decelli whose work both received awards. – March 2007

Allison Tepper competed in the national Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C. after winning the state title. -March 2007

Niskayuna High School senior Leo Brown was selected the winner of the Lois Lyman Concerto Competition. –March 2007

The artwork of 18 Niskayuna student-artists was selected for the 2007 High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition at the Dietel Gallery at the Emma Willard School in Troy. –March 2007

Van Antwerp National Middle School Science Bowl team captured regional title, advancing to the national competition in June, marking the third year in a row VA sent a team to the national competition.
–March 2007

Twenty-one Latin students visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy. This is the second such cultural trip sponsored by the Latin department. –February 2007

Iroquois MathCounts team placed seventh of 25 teams in regional competition. –February 2007

The 2006 edition of the Middle Ground, an anthology of literature and art written and created by middle school students, received a ranking of Excellent from the National Conference of Teachers of English (NCTE) in its annual Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines. –January 2007
 
VA students pilot new pod casting studio for daily morning news program. –January 2007

Four Niskayuna High School students, Buddy Baglow, Ben Golub, Emma Ladouceur and Jennifer Lefsyk were selected from among hundreds of area students to perform with the Empire State Youth Orchestra during the annual “Melodies of Christmas” at Proctor’s Theatre. –December 2006

Four VA middle school students had their writings published. Short stories by seventh-graders Ashleigh Holmes and Talia Salenger appeared in the junior high edition of High School Writer, while poems written last year by current eighth-graders Shannan Costello and Dan DeCotis were published in Teen Ink. –Fall 2006/Winter 2007

Niskayuna students selected to the New York State Band Director's Association State Honors Bands: Anthony Bellino, trumpet and Kendra Lamb, French horn for high school honor band. –December 2006

Niskayuna High School students selected as All-State Music Students and who performed at NYSSMA State Conference in Rochester include: Leo Brown (Symphony Orchestra); Sean Douglas (Symphonic Band); Kelsey Lamb (Wind Ensemble); and Emma Ladouceur (Chorus). Accepted as alternates: Matthew Connolly, Alexander Goldberg and Kendra Lamb.
-December 2006

Abigail Zimmermann-Niefield (French horn) was selected to the New York State Band Director's Association State Honors Bands for the middle school level. –December 2006

Thirty-six NHS music students were selected to participate in the NYSSMA Zone 7 Area All-State Music Festival held at Saratoga Springs High School. -November 2006

Erin Sherman received a 2006 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award, which honors students for excellent writing.
–October 2006

Birchwood Elementary fifth-grader Meghan Wagner won the Times Union Regional Halloween Writing contest. –October 2006

Seven high school students were named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists. Less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors are named semifinalists each year in this national scholarship program.
–September 2006

Niskayuna High School student Beth Halayko visited Thailand as part of an International exchange program, Partnership for Youth (P4Y) in Building Disaster-Resilient Communities, to investigate ways in which teens can assist their communities with disaster preparedness and advocate for public policy changes. She was one of 23 high schools from across the United States to participate in the program. –Summer 2006

Fifteen Niskayuna High School choral students joined 125 other young vocalists from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and North Carolina for the American Music Abroad Red Tour performing seven concerts during a 16-day European tour that took them to Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France. -August 2006

Boys’ indoor track and field won the Class B title. –2006/07

Boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams received the Sportsmanship award for the Suburban Scholastic Council. –2006/07

Nine of 11 falls sports teams and 8 of 10 winter sports teams were named Scholar Athlete teams with 80 athletes earning 90 or above GPAs. –2006/07

Five students received Academic All-American Status for Swimming, while one Niskayuna swimmer received Swimming All-American status.
–2006/07

2005-06

Niskayuna High School senior Shannon Archer was among five outstanding high school students recognized for their potential as business leaders during the Capital District Business Review’s 40 Under Forty awards. -May 2006

Eleven students and four alternates from Niskayuna's Speech and Debate Team qualified to compete in the New York State Forensic League Championship at Albany High School. -May 2006

Niskayuna High School's Science Olympiad Team A competed in the state championship at West Point Military Academy and finished 7th of 45 schools, earning medals in "Designer Genes," "Disease Detectives," "Forensic Science," "Geocaching" and "Practical Problem Solving." -March 2006

Niskayuna’s Model UN (United Nations) Club students continue to win awards at conferences Melissa Wu for best delegate at conference in Montreal -- November 2005; Caitlin Bast, Denise Xong and Josh Xiong at conference hosted by Columbia University -January 2006
 
Niskayuna had eight winners in the National French contest. –2006

Ten Niskayuna High school Latin students received gold medals on the National Latin Test. –2006

The Warrior, high school newspaper, earned a gold medal in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association evaluation process. -2006

Ten Niskayuna High School students received special recognition for their distinguished performance on the AATG National German exam.
–2006

The Boys’ varsity lacrosse team finished second in the New York State Championship game at Cornell. -June 2006

Two Van Antwerp seventh-graders and three Iroquois students were selected winners in the annual GE ELFUN Society essay contest. –May 2006

VA Middle School Science Bowl 2005-06 team wins regional title and places 5th nationally. –Spring 2006

Hillside Elementary chorus won a gold medal at the New York State School Music Association; one of several gold and silver medals earned throughout the past several years. –Spring 2006

 

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