High school students throughout southwestern New York were recognized as students of the year in JCC's College Connections program at the close of the 2011-2012 academic year.

JCC honored the students, who were chosen by their schools, during a special reception in June. In selecting the students of the year, schools were asked to consider College Connections participants who had embraced the challenges of completing college level work while in high school and demonstrated resourcefulness, integrity, and dedication.

College Connections, JCC’s concurrent enrollment program with regional high schools, is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. JCC partners with over 40 high schools and BOCES centers within JCC’s service area to offer nearly 60 different college courses.

Recipients included: Allegany-Limestone Central School – Kaylee McRae, junior, and Kyle Trietley, senior; Bolivar-Richburg Central School – Morgan Taylor and Kirsten Ratzel, seniors; Brocton Central School – Ryan Mancuso, junior, and Casey Miller, senior; Cassadaga Valley Central School – Brita Howe, junior, and Jonathan Greeley, senior; Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School – Amy Pritchard, senior; Chautauqua Lake Central School – Mary Schmitz, junior, and Rebecca Silliman, senior; Clymer Central School – Kaeli Einink, senior; Cuba-Rushford Central School – Nicole Lindberg, senior; Dunkirk High School – Lucas Julian, junior, and Krystal Lebron, senior; Ellicottville Central School – Caitlin Toth, junior, and Elizabeth Havers, senior; Falconer Central School – Brandon Norris, junior, and Gabriela Garver, senior; Forestville Central School – Amanda O’Connor, senior; Fredonia Central School – Nicholas Hart, junior, and Jessica Niro, senior; Frewsburg Central School – Chloe Richard, junior, and Julia Torres, senior; Gowanda Central School – Taylor Kickbush, junior, and Sarah Miller, senior; Hinsdale Central School – Melinda Drabant, senior; Jamestown High School – Zachary Eklum, junior, and Qian Ru Liu, senior; Maple Grove High School – Henry Kestner, junior, and Katelyn Benson, senior; Olean High School – Sydney Zuckerman, junior, and Cortney Zeigler, senior; Panama Central School – Rachael Kosinski, junior, and Dylan Stow, senior; Pine Valley Central School – Jacob Kohler, senior; Pioneer Central School – Amy Drzewiecki, junior; Portville Central School – Clay Johnson, junior, and Megan Kent, senior; Randolph Central School – Marah Maycock, senior; Salamanca High School – Jill Magara, junior, and Benjamin Haas, senior; Sherman Central School – Ryan Eliason, senior; Silver Creek Central School – Morgan Grose, senior; Southwestern High School – Veronica Schuver, junior, and Caitlin Brown, senior; West Valley Central School – Megan Hebdon, junior, and Chelsea Dashnaw, senior; and Westfield Academy & Central School – Kristin Grohol, junior, and Alec Freyn, senior.

For additional information on College Connections, call program coordinator Maria Kindberg at 716.338.1143.
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