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Bulldog SpotlightCongratulations to PCTVS' November Athlete of the Month, Sophia Gambuti of the Girls’ Soccer Team! Sophia’s versatility, leadership, and willingness to contribute to the team’s overall offense on the field have clearly led to great things this season. As quoted by Coach Kiernan, “From her center-mid (forward position), Sophia distributes the ball extremely well, she can easily score but as a great teammate she is unselfish and knows when to place her fellow teammates in excellent scoring opportunities. Sophia also takes a number of the team’s corner kicks and other set pieces, areas in which the team constantly generates good scoring attempts.” Sophia’s overall statistical information includes 9 Goals and 8 Assists. For her efforts during the course of the Month of October, Sophia was recognized by NorthJersey.com as the Female Athlete of the Week for November 1-7, 2020, a tremendous accolade and proof-positive that she is surely one of the best all-around girls soccer players in the Liberty Division and in the Big North Conference. In the classroom, Sophia embodies her role as student-athlete; she is a PCTVS student at the STEM Academy in the School of Biomedical and Life Sciences and she maintains an outstanding 4.2 GPA. The Lady Bulldogs Soccer team, Coach Kiernan and the entire PCTVS community would like to congratulate Sophia on an amazing 2020 season and for all her tremendous accomplishments! Grace Tang
Grace Tang, a senior Drafting student, hoped to push herself outside of her comfort zone by attending a larger high school with unique opportunities. Four years later, she is confident that she made the right decision. With an astounding 4.4 GPA, not only has Grace excelled academically, but she has fostered a passion for helping others through her study of American Sign Language (ASL).
While the Hawthorne native has enjoyed and succeeded in her drafting studies, her ASL coursework has inspired her to pivot from her original aspirations. After college, Grace plans to become a certified ASL interpreter and a social worker who works with the deaf and hard of hearing. “I switched gears as a result of my ASL classes. I developed an understanding of not only the language but also the deaf culture and community, and I know it is something I want to continue to be a part of,” she said. Beyond the classroom, Grace has worked hard to take her ASL skills to the next level. Sign Language Club and ASL Jam have helped her grow in her signing abilities. An active member of her church, she also uses ASL to interpret songs at worship services and to assist at deaf events. On top of the rigor of her six AP and two dual enrollment classes, Grace has made time for other extracurricular activities to round out her PCTVS experience. Her love of music led her to join the Sound Chasers acapella group, where she particularly enjoys being involved in the arrangement of the songs performed. Additionally, she has been an active member of TI@ti, promoting a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle, wellness, and mental health. While Grace has been recognized for her academic success through a National Merit Commendation, Rho Kappa Honor Society, and National Honor Society, it is her community service of which she is most proud. She is a junior leader in several ministries at her church, and she has participated in a service leadership program at the Spruce Lake Retreat in the Poconos. Grace commented on her future goals: “I just want to help as many people as I can and make a real difference in as many lives as I can.” With her heart of gold, we have no doubt that Grace will do just that! Highlights
Shahriyar Ahmed
Shahriyar Ahmed is a talented senior in the PCTI Academy of Information Technology and holds an impressive 4.4 GPA! Recently, he was awarded the distinguished National Merit Scholarship Commendation. He is positioned to graduate in the top 1% of his class and plans on taking his passion for technology to extraordinary heights in college and beyond.
Shahriyar chose to attend PCTI because of its excellent opportunity to pursue an educational path towards a STEM career. Additionally, the ability to earn college credits was appealing to the ambitious student. The decision has paid off with Shahriyar on track to graduate with 40 potential college credits. "Taking college-level classes has allowed me to push myself, to maintain a steady pace of growth, and to reach a higher level of thought," he commented. Outside of the classroom, Shahriyar is actively involved in a variety of extracurricular activities including Student Council, Robotics Club, Boys State, and Astronomy Club. He recently applied his info tech skills by developing a mobile app for FBLA which earned him 2nd place honors. As Chief Outreach Officer for FBLA and Secretary for SkillsUSA, he has been able to hone his leadership abilities, as well. Volunteerism is also important to Shahriyar, and he is committed to giving back to his community. As one of 30 local students selected, Shahriyar has found it rewarding to serve on the Paterson Youth Council. In this role, he met with a variety of Paterson’s leaders to discuss and influence decisions related to topics that impact the youth of the city. Fundraising and volunteering for events sponsored by the organization were additional components of his experience. After graduating, Shahriyar hopes to attend one of his dream schools of Stanford or MIT. He plans on majoring in Artificial Intelligence or Electrical Engineering. "Wherever I land, I really want to push the boundaries of technological innovation,” he said. When reflecting on his time at PCTI, Shahriyar thanks his teachers for helping to bolster his confidence. “My teachers always say to trust your gut. And I have started to realize how true that is. As a result, I have become more assertive and confident in my life choices, which has made me not only a happier student, but a happier person in general.” Congratulations and best of luck, Shahriyar! Highlights
Congratulations to Renee Angello and Dewan Chowdhury, April's Students of the Month. Renee Angello
Renee Angello of Wayne is an incredibly motivated and creative student in PCTI’s School of Communication Arts/Advertising Art and Design Program. She ranks in the top 3% of her class and holds an outstanding 4.3 GPA! Renee will graduate with 18 potential college credits.
Renee chose to study Advertising Art and Design at PCTI due to her lifelong passion for art. Her artwork has been featured in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards at the Montclair Art Museum, The Congressional Art Competition, the William Paterson Art Exhibition, and a Solo Art Exhibition at the Wayne Public Library! At PCTI, Renee is extremely involved in athletics and extracurricular activities. She is the captain of the Varsity Tennis Team and has been named Athlete of the Month twice! Renee has participated in SkillsUSA and New Jersey Girls State and was selected for Circle of Success and the Principal’s Honor Roll. Renee is also a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, and World Language Honor Society. Renee is extremely involved in other outside activities as well. She has participated in the All Wayne Orchestra and is a graduate of the Japanese Weekend School of New Jersey, which she attended for ten years. During her junior year at PCTI, Renee student-taught Japanese 1 with Ms. Sato. In her spare time, Renee enjoys music and has a passion for singing and playing the guitar, violin, and ukulele. She also stays active with figure skating, playing tennis, and doing yoga. Recently, Renee’s extraordinary skills were recognized by a children's author to illustrate an upcoming book. In addition, her passion for giving back to others is demonstrated through her work as an assistant teacher at Potteryworks and also completing internships at the Montclair Art Museum where she taught art to children. Renee is also very involved with philanthropy and community service. She volunteers with Jersey Cares, the Special Olympics, and TI@ti. Notably, Renee has worked with children through the International Volunteer Headquarters in Costa Rica. After graduating from PCTI, Renee will attend the Rhode Island School of Design where she plans on studying industrial or graphic design. She is eager to create innovative solutions by designing products or graphics at her dream school, which holds a top ranking for art across the nation. She is looking forward to being surrounded by other artists who share her creative drive. Renee is grateful for the opportunities at PCTI that have given her the ability to connect with peers who have different interests and future aspirations. Renee offers wise advice, saying that “Do what you love and do it with passion. As long as you are happy, keep going and don’t look back!” Congratulations to this extraordinary young lady who has continued to make PCTI very proud! We know you will excel in your future studies! Highlights
Dewan Chowdhury
Dewan Chowdhury of Paterson is a hardworking and focused student in the Academy of Information Technology’s Computer Science Program. He has attained an incredible 4.5 GPA, ranks in the top 1% of his class, and is number 3 in the class of 2020! He is also positioned to graduate from high school with 30 potential college credits.
Dewan chose to study computer science after teaching himself how to program in middle school. Initially inspired to create computer games, Dewan quickly realized the countless applications of computer science. From his studies, he has grown increasingly confident about solving problems and achieving goals via hard work and dedication. At PCTI, Dewan is a member of the Boys’ Tennis Team, FBLA, and Book Club. He is also an inductee into the Rho Kappa Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society. In addition to serving as a class representative, Dewan participated in SkillsUSA and was selected as an American Legion Jersey Boys State Delegate. Notably, he was acknowledged as 1 of 106 Horatio Alger National Scholars from across the country! Through this prestigious scholarship, Dewan will receive $25,000 in pursuit of his bachelor’s degree and access to a wide range of services presented by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. Outside of school, Dewan participates in various data-driven research projects and competitions hosted on Kaggle. Dewan’s most recent project was a response from a call-to-action by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to use predictive machine-learning models to forecast the spread of COVID-19 and determine the factors for transmission in the United States. To further pursue his passion for mathematics, Dewan aims to compete in the Putnam Mathematics competition for undergraduates. Additionally, Dewan does freelance programming and web development projects, volunteers at the Preakness Healthcare Center and is a student SES tutor.In his spare time, Dewan enjoys reading and is an avid supporter of the New York Jets and Brooklyn Nets. After graduating from PCTI, Dewan plans on continuing his interest in mathematics by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Pure Mathematics and then a Ph.D. in Mathematical Biology or Computational Biology. He is currently committed to Rutgers University in New Brunswick but is hopeful to be accepted from the waitlist at the University of Pennsylvania or Cornell University. Ultimately, Dewan is eager to pursue a career in academia and comments that “I hope to harness my passion for mathematics and bring a quantitative approach to help solve modern medical problems.” Dewan praises PCTI and notes that “There are so many great people from diverse backgrounds with their own passions that not only inspire my own dreams but offer new perspectives on various subjects and ideas,” said Dewan. He offers advice to others and says, “I encourage all students to believe in themselves. Dream big, discover your passion and use it to solve problems. Hard work and dedication can take anyone much further, no matter where they start.” Congratulations to this remarkable and diligent student for his phenomenal accomplishments! We know you will make PCTI extremely proud in your future endeavors! Highlights
Congratulations to Michael Calixto and Connor Wang, May's Students of the Month. Valedictorian: Michael Calixto - Academy of Medical Arts
Michael Calixto, a hardworking and inspiring young man from Passaic, has earned the distinct honor of the Valedictorian of PCTI’s Class of 2020! This tenacious senior has dealt with serious medical issues for most of his life, but he has never been anything but positive and persistent in the pursuit of his dreams. Upon graduating Passaic’s Gifted and Talented Academy, Michael knew that attending PCTI would afford him opportunities like no place else, and he was eager to take advantage of every one of those opportunities.
During his time at Passaic County Technical Institute, Michael has achieved immense success thanks to his steadfast dedication to his studies and a relentless work ethic as a member of the Academy of Medical Arts. Michael has achieved an incredible GPA of 4.624 while taking on a rigorous academic workload of Honors and AP Courses. He has also been an extremely active member of the PCTI community, as he has served as a Class of 2020 representative, Parliamentarian of HOSA: Health Occupations Students of America, and a Saturday tour guide at PCTI. Michael is a member of Gifted and Talented, World Language Honor Society, and National Honor Society, and has participated in Boys State and attended the New Jersey Governor’s Schools in the Sciences. Michael has also become one of the leaders of PCTI’s Academy of Medical Arts E & E Fundraiser, raising money for organizations which provide physical and mental healthcare to those in need. Community service is very important to Michael, as he has volunteered through his youth group at St. Anthony’s of Padua church, taught woodwinds to children at Passaic’s Gifted and Talented Academy, volunteered at Eva’s Village and the Clifton Public Library. At PCTI, Michael has assisted with the “Wreaths Across America” initiative and participated in the patriotic 9/11 and veterans’ ceremonies. Michael believes he is lucky to be in a position where he’s able to help others, so he’s taken these opportunities to do just that. This extraordinary senior will be attending Brown University on a full four-year Questbridge Scholarship where he will major in Biology. Michael intends to pursue medical school where he hopes to one day become an oncologist, a field prompted by his own health hurdles and watching his mother bravely battle cancer. It is Michael’s hope to someday provide his own patients with the care and compassion that he has experienced firsthand. Michael believes that even through life’s difficulties, one can find inspiration to help others and make the world a better place. At a time when Healthcare workers are being saluted as true heroes, we celebrate this ambitious and inspiring young man as he begins his journey to one day join the frontlines in medicine. Congratulations, Michael! Your academic excellence, diligence and selflessness are inspiring to us all. We wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors! Highlights
Salutatorian: Connor Wang - Academy of Information Technology
Connor Wang is an exceptionally studious and passionate young man from PCTI’s Academy of Information Technology who has been named the Salutatorian of the class of 2020! Residing in Little Falls with his family, Connor fills his time with an array of AP courses, extracurricular activities, hobbies and volunteerism to not only better himself, but to enhance the lives of those around him.
Inspired by his brother who was diagnosed with severe autism, Connor became incredibly responsible and self-disciplined from a young age. His longstanding passion for science, history and linguistics launched a commitment to learning that would pave the way for outstanding academic success. From watching Discovery Channel documentaries at a young age to teaching himself German, Connor has repeatedly proven himself as an academic powerhouse in the classroom as well as a curious and self-motivated young man. During his high school career, he has earned superb scores on twelve AP exams, four of which were completely self-taught topics. Connor continues to achieve excellence and success in all aspects of his life while maintaining a quick-witted sense of humor. Holding a remarkable 4.5 GPA, Connor has demonstrated unwavering commitment to his studies and has truly capitalized on the myriad of extracurricular opportunities afforded to him at PCTI: he has earned the prestigious National Merit Scholarship, served as President of the History Club, and is involved in the National Honor Society, the World Language Honor Society, Gifted and Talented Club, Environmental Club, Asian-Pacific Heritage activities, and the boys’ fencing team. In the SeaPerch Regionals, he placed second, and his team earned first place in the Teen Summit video competition. Furthermore, Connor’s involvement with the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute TI@TI at PCTI made a lasting impact on our Salutatorian and given him numerous invaluable friendships. Connor’s relentless work ethic and motivation for success has earned this exceptional young man the honor of PCTI’s Class of 2020 Salutatorian. After graduating from PCTI, Connor plans to attend Johns Hopkins University to study Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. His goal is to earn an MD-PhD and make strides in the field of Genetic Engineering while also fostering his passion for the academic field of humanities. Congratulations, Connor! Your tremendous academic capabilities and enthusiasm for learning will greatly benefit you in your collegiate studies and beyond! Highlights
Congratulations to Rich Patel and Eidalit Ramirez, March's Students of the Month. Rich Patel
Rich Patel of Passaic is a hardworking and determined student in PCTI’s Academy of Health Sciences. Rich ranks in the top 5% of his class and will graduate from high school with an outstanding 38 potential college credits!
Rich has always had an interest in the medical field and has a passion for helping others. He is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and is currently working toward becoming an EMT. He also has achieved his First Aid and Basic Life Support Certificate. Rich is extremely involved at PCTI and participates in a wide array of extracurricular activities. In addition to being an active member of LEAP and ERASE, Rich is a member of the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society and also serves as President of HOSA. Additionally, he participated in New Jersey Boys State during the summer of 2019 and is Battalion Commander in NJROTC. Outside of the classroom, Rich volunteers at Hackensack Meridian Health in the radiation department where he assists with the transportation of patients. Through this role, Rich is able to learn more about the medical profession he seeks to work in one day. After graduating from high school, Rich hopes to continue his studies at college on a pre-med track and eventually attend medical school. He aspires to become a doctor and continue to help people and save lives. Rich notes his favorite quote by Pramukh Swami Maharaj: “In the joy of others lies our own”, which highlights Rich’s passion for helping others achieve healthy and productive lives. Rich advises others to “keep trying your best and trust the process.” He praises PCTI for the many opportunities it provides students and enjoys how “people from different backgrounds can collaborate and gain new insight.” Congratulations, Rich! Best of luck in your future studies! Highlights
Eidalit Ramirez
Eidalit Ramirez of Passaic is a kindhearted and responsible student in PCTI’s School of Business Careers – Global Management program. Eidalit has attained an incredible 4.3 GPA and ranks in the top 3% of her class. She is positioned to graduate from PCTI with 4 college credits!
At PCTI, Eidalit participates in the Yearbook Club, National History Club and the Junior Achievement High School Heroes Program, in which she teaches elementary school students about business. She also serves as a Reporter and Chief Outreach Officer of FBLA and participates in PCTI’s Breakfast with Santa activity. In recognition of her academic excellence, Eidalit has been named an honoree in the Freshman Foundation of Success and Circle of Success. She has also consistently achieved the Principal’s Honor Roll since her freshman year at PCTI. Additionally, Eidalit serves as a co-op secretary in the Admissions office at PCTI. She communicates with students and parents and is responsible for filing, answering phone calls and editing reports. Through this role, she has honed her communication skills and organizational responsibilities, which will greatly benefit her in her future endeavors. Eidalit also works as a waitress at Don Lalo Restaurant in Passaic, a role which she has held for almost two years. After graduating from PCTI, Eidalit will attend Montclair State University and begin a dual degree five-year program in which she will attain her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in accounting with a minor in business. Afterwards, she plans to continue her love of business as she aspires to open her own accounting firm! Eidalit reflects fondly on her time at PCTI, noting that her high school experiences have “made me much more confident with what I want to do in the future, as it has solidified my decision to pursue my accounting degree.” She also acknowledges the support that PCTI offers students and praises “the guidance from administration and counselors who will help you find your place in the school.” Congratulations, Eidalit! Keep up the amazing work and best of luck in the future! Highlights
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