The Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute recently presented its 2025 Student Achievement Awards and Distinguished Service Awards to students and school officials in the region.
During the event, New York State School Boards Association Area 5 Director William Miller and Member Relations Manager Patrick Longo also presented a Champions of Change recognition banner to Connected Community Schools. Melissa Roys and Danielle Martin, co-leaders of the Connected Community Schools initiative, accepted the award.
Longo said the Champions of Change banner is designed to recognize school efforts that are causing real change and could be emulated by other districts.
“We’re very proud of this program,” Longo said. “You’re not just bringing change to your district – you’re bringing change to other districts and BOCES.”
The O-M-H SBI Awards and Annual General Membership Meeting took place on Thursday, May 8, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. The O-M-H SBI includes 35 school districts in the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and Madison-Oneida BOCES regions.
The students and school officials were joined by their nominators, families, local board members and school officials to be honored and share their stories during the annual event. O-M-H SBI President Douglas Gustin and O-M-H SBI Coordinator for Board Training James Van Wormer welcomed guests and shared comments of congratulations during the event.
Student Achievement Awards
The Student Achievement Awards are presented to high-school juniors who have demonstrated a positive attitude, which reflects initiative, a sense of responsibility and an ability to interact with others, including peers, faculty and the community.
Recipients also have strong character values, perform academically to the best of their ability and may have overcome significant adversity while working toward their career goals.
The Student Achievement Awards were presented this year to the following students:
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES region:
· Royston Clarke, of Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and Richfield Springs Central School District
· Owen Jones, of Mount Markham Central School District
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES region:
· Isabella Barrett, of Sauquoit Valley Central School District
· Chelsy Plows, of Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and New York Mills Union Free School District
· Gianna Raspante, of Whitesboro Central School District
Madison-Oneida BOCES region:
· Chloe Liddle, of Morrisville-Eaton Central School District
· Baylin Mancini, of Canastota Central School District
· Tia Panzone, of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District
Distinguished Service Awards
The Distinguished Service Awards are presented to outstanding superintendents, Board of Education members, central office staff and others. The award seeks to recognize those who have dedicated time, continued support and strong action in the service of public education and the welfare of children and have demonstrated a positive influence in their school community and/or the state.
The Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year to the following school officials:
· Madison-Oneida BOCES Board of Education Vice President Patrick Baron
· Madison-Oneida BOCES Board of Education President and Rome City School District Board of Education Vice President Sue Carvelli
· Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District Superintendent Martha Group
· Morrisville-Eaton Central School District Board of Education President Brian Koehl
· New York Mills Union Free Central School District Business Official Lisa Stamboly
· Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mark Wixson
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2025 Student Achievement Awards were given out to local students on Thursday, May 8, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Winners, pictured from left: Isabella Barrett, of Sauquoit Valley Central School District; Chloe Liddle, of Morrisville-Eaton Central School District; Baylin Mancini, of Canastota Central School District; Chelsy Plows, of Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and New York Mills Union Free School District; Owen Jones, of Mount Markham Central School District, and Tia Panzone, of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District. Not pictured: award winners Royston Clarke, of Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and Richfield Springs Central School District, and Gianna Raspante, of Whitesboro Central School District.
Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2025 Distinguished Service Awards were given out on Thursday, May 8, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills. Winners, pictured from left, front: Madison-Oneida BOCES Board of Education President and Rome City School District Board of Education Vice President Sue Carvelli, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District Superintendent Martha Group and New York Mills Union Free Central School District Business Official Lisa Stamboly. Back: Madison-Oneida BOCES Board of Education Vice President Patrick Baron, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mark Wixson and Morrisville-Eaton Central School District Board of Education President Brian Koehl.
During the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Counties School Boards Institute 2025 Distinguished Service Awards on Thursday, May 8, at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills, the New York State School Boards Association presented a Champions of Change recognition banner to Connected Community Schools. Pictured, from left: NYSSBA Member Relations Manager Patrick Longo, NYSSBA Area 5 Director William Miller, Connected Community Schools initiative co-leader Melissa Roys, O-M-H SBI Coordinator for Board Training James Van Wormer and Connected Community Schools initiative co-leader Danielle Martin.