The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation held its 13th annual awards ceremony on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at The John Carroll School. Nearly 100 students, educators, school administrators, and foundation supporters were in attendance to enjoy the evening.
This year, the foundation honored 13 students and nine educators from 13 eligible schools and programs in Harford County. For the first time, Swan Creek had a scholarship winner recognized after being added to the eligible schools in 2023. Overall, the foundation gave out $12,250 in scholarships and grants.
Following a cocktail reception in the Learning Commons, where students and educators completed math puzzles and a math crossword, and took photos with various math props, the event moved to the gymnasium for the awards ceremony.
Susan Taylor was named the 2024 Educator of the Year out of the eight nominated. Taylor, a math teacher at Bel Air High School, joined an elite group of educators to be nominated twice, being previously nominated in 2013. She became the first in the history of the Sacco Foundation to be named the Educator of the Year twice.
The Student of the Year was Alan Chan from C. Milton Wright (CMW) High School. Chan is on an impressive list of previous CMW student winners and a prestigious group of students from Harford County to be named Student of the Year. Chan will receive a $3,000 scholarship.
See below for the complete list of winners. Student and Educator of the Year are in bold.
MATHEMATICS STUDENTS:
- Stephen Aquilina (Aberdeen Science & Math Academy)
- Austin Robert Berger (Patterson Mill High School)
- Norman Bergin (Harford Tech High School)
- Alan Chan (C. Milton Wright High School)
- Mason Kokosinski (Joppatowne High School)
- Steven Gregory Lewis (Fallston High School)
- Amanda Nunes-Silva (Swan Creek School)
- Alison Ridley (Aberdeen High School)
- Al Jane Riska (The John Carroll School)
- David Simpson (Edgewood High School)
- An Tran (Bel Air High School)
- Nick Tran (Havre de Grace High School)
COMMUNITY AWARD:
- Layla Biggs (C. Milton Wright High School)
MIKE FRANKLIN COMPUTING AWARD:
- Jonathan Earnest (Aberdeen Science and Math Academy)
- Ethan Heckscher (Havre de Grace High School)
MATHEMATICS EDUCATORS:
- Melissa Berardelli (C. Milton Wright High School)
- Sara Brown (Patterson Mill High School)
- Carol Celozzi (Harford Tech High School)
- Kaylee Fillers (Joppatowne High School)
- Kristen Kirkpatrick (The John Carroll School)
- Robert Schnek (Havre de Grace High School)
- Karl Shivley (Edgewood High School)
- Susan Taylor (Bel Air High School)
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation would like to thank all of their sponsors and those who support the foundation. The community support received is the reason this event and these scholarships are possible.
Harrison Swartz
Director of PR/Communications and Events