Alumni Directory
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Wanted: Monticello High School graduates with a story
to tell
The Monticello Central School District would like to share stories of success and triumph from its graduates with students, faculty, staff and the community.
If you are a graduate of Monticello High School (any year) and would like to tell us your story, please contact Wendy Levinson at wlevinson@k12mcsd.net.
Your story may be featured on this web site, so if you have digital photos, please send them along as well. Scroll down to read about other alumni.
Reunion News - Classmates wanted
Class of 2000
The Class of 2000 is in the process of planning their reunion. To be included, please e-mail your contact information (including your full name, mailing address and phone number) to montihighreunion@gmail.com. To join the Monticello High School Class of 2000 Facebook group, CLICK HERE.
ALUMNI WANTED for Composite Photo Project
The Supportive Learning Environment (SLE) team is spearheading a
new senior gallery project designed to create a
greater connection between students and alumni. The idea was
implemented when SLE co-chair Shari Biro realized that students
who responded to a recent survey didn't feel connected to the
high school. The senior gallery is a composite of all of the
senior pictures from each year. By making this a new tradition,
beginning with the 2009 graduating class, this could start
creating a greater student/school connection. The pictures will
be hung in the high school cafeteria for all to see.
Since every high school senior needs to complete a community
service project, Shari thought it would be a neat idea to get
alumni classes involved. Each photo composite is very time
consuming and costs about $150 to complete, but is well worth
the effort.
Shari visited with all of the Participation In Government
classes this semester to explain the project to them and give
them the opportunity to do their community service here in their
school community. Many seniors have stated that they are
interested in adopting a graduated class to do the composite.
They are excited about the idea and would like to contact alumni
to get started raising the money. If they can get in touch with
15 alumni from each class, it will only cost them $10.00 a
person to complete the project for that year. The class of 2011
is looking forward to completing as many of graduation pictures
for the cafeteria wall as they can.
Any alumnus or alumna interested in either helping
support a project for their class or working with students on
such a project should contact contact Ms. Biro at 794-0128, ext. 78929 or via e-mail at
sbiro@k12mcsd.net.
Alumni News - Where are they now?
Monticello Schools Alumnus Reminds us What is Really Important
Twenty-one year-old Lee Karasik has one of those smiles that spans from ear to ear. His engaging, friendly manner and happy-to-see-you demeanor reflect the underlying nature of a person without a care in the world. Although Lee Karasik has had cerebral palsy since birth, he will not let it define who he is or put limitations on his dreams. A graduate of Monticello High School Class of 2005, Karasik has pushed beyond his disabilities to create a life for himself filled with the normalcy that many people take for granted. He works hard, is an independent thinker and is ambitious in his career to reach all of his potentials. MORE
1997 MHS Graduate Inducted into USA Honor Society
Robert J. Carnell, a paramedic for American Medical Response,
has been recognized by USA Honor Society for his talents and
achievements in healthcare. As a paramedic for American Medical
Response, Mr. Carnell is responsible for responding to emergency
calls and assessing what care is needed for patients. He
attributes his success thus far to his experience, his
co-workers and his mentors. He intends to move into management
and work with a public agency in the future.
Currently Mr. Carnell is attending Utah Valley University, where
he is enrolled in emergency management and homeland security
coursework. He is certified by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency in incident command systems and serves as an
administrative partner for the Las Vegas disaster response team.
About the USA Honor Society: the USA Honor Society is an elite
membership organization that believes all Americans deserve to
be recognized and rewarded for their talents and achievements.
USA Honor Society's prestigious online directory is comprised of
individuals from all professions, backgrounds and walks of life
who possess a unique set of skills and abilities. USA Honor
Society members gain access to a proven platform for exposure,
which ensures that their accomplishments are formally recorded
and publicly acknowledged. They may also join an exclusive
online network where they can share their experiences and
success stories with fellow members.
Class of 1961 Alumna receiving recognition as a professional artist
Bonnie Chernick Epstein's art work is included in Pulp Function,
an exhibition of contemporary works made of paper. The exhibit,
which is at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA
is scheduled to run from March 28 to June 28, 2009. Visit
http://www.michenermuseum.org/exhibits/pulp.php for more
information.
Pulp Function was curated by Lloyd Herman and organized by the
Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA where it opened in June
2007. It has travelled to venues across the country since
January 2008. The James A. Michener Art Museum is Pulp
Function's final venue.
Bonnie (MHS Class of 1961) lives and works on the Upper West
Side of Manhattan. Her work has also been included in
exhibitions at the Hewitt Gallery of Art, NYC, Wayne Art Center,
Wayne, PA, the Philadelphia Art Alliance, The Main Street
Gallery, Groton, NY, The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, and The
New York State Museum, Albany, NY.
Judge Kaye's judicial legacy is assured
Story by Jeanne Sager, courtesy the
Sullivan County Democrat
NEW YORK CITY — For the last month of a 15-year tenure as Chief
Judge of the New York State Court System, Judith Kaye had one
focus. Being Chief Judge.
“I didn’t want to lose one second of it,” Kaye revealed in a
post-retirement interview with her hometown paper.
Born in Monticello in 1938, Kaye reached mandatory retirement
age for the bench in the middle of 2008.
MORE
Monticello High School Alumna Judith Kaye leaves her legacy as a judge in New York State's highest court
The following story, by John Eligon, courtesy of the New York Times, tells of the path she blazed for women in the judicial system.
Chief Judge Is Retiring, Leaving Trail of Successes for Women on the Bench
It was no secret that Gov. Mario M. Cuomo wanted a woman on the
New York State Court of Appeals. When a seat opened in 1983,
Judith S. Kaye was one of two female finalists. But the road was
not exactly rising up to meet Ms. Kaye. She had no judicial
experience, and a bar group a women’s group, in fact urged
the governor not to give her the job. The governor decided to
meet with Ms. Kaye twice. He liked what he heard.
MORE
Click here to read NY Times' archived stories about Judge
Kaye.
Monticello High School Alumna Stephanie Blythe, Class of 1987, is skyrocketing as a singing sensation and named Vocalist of the Year
From Monticello High School's humble theatre to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Stephanie Blythe has certainly come a long way. Click here to read a recent review. MORE
Alumnus featured on billboard
Monticello alumnus Michael Martin is featured on a street banner
on Broadway in downtown Manhattan.
Presently, he attends the Art Institute of NYC and is in his
third quarter. He is involved with filming, as well as
photography.
We are very proud of him and hope for his continued success.
1946 Graduate Significant to Feminist Movement
Sonia Pressman
Fuentes was born in Berlin, Germany,
and came to the United States in 1934 with her family to escape
the Holocaust. She settled in the Bronx, then Woodridge, then
Monticello.
She graduated as valedictorian from Monticello High School in
1946. According to Sonia, while at Monticello High School, she
had a number of excellent teachers, one of whom taught her
Latin. Although she already spoke German, Yiddish, Flemish and
English, she left the class with a lifelong love of language –
that which ultimately shaped her career and influenced the
direction of her life.
Read more.
Duncan inducted into Hall of Fame
On Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, Andre Duncan a Monticello High School Class of 1994 graduate was inducted into the SUNY Albany Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Monticello High School, Andre went on to SUNY Albany, where he played basketball. He is currently a teacher in NYC and is working on his Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education at Columbia University.
Medina excelling at tennis
Monticello High School alumna Gabriela Medina is excelling in her tennis game at SUNY Cortland, where she now attends. Recently, she defeated the top seed at sixth singles in the semifinals before falling to the second seed in the championship match.
Click here for the full story at the SUNY Cortland Web site.
Monticello High School alumnus Andrew
Trombley, receives prestigious grant
Monticello High School graduate Andrew
Trombley has received a grant to participate in the 2008
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. Every year, an international
youth orchestra is formed by the Orchestral Academy: After a
competitive world wide audition process, young musicians are
given the opportunity to study and perform great works from the
orchestral literature with famous conductors. The
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival is a seven week term of study
with concerts are held in Hamburg, Kiel and Lübeck. This summer
the Festival Orchestra will be giving a concert at the young,
euro, classic festival in Berlin under the baton of Heinrich
Schiff.
Andrew has also been invited to participate in the Festival
Orchestra 2008 tour. The orchestra will rehearse an extensive
program of music in Salzau, which it will then perform in eight
concerts, with St. Petersburg among the venues.
All the members of the 2008 Orchestral Academy will be invited
to take part in a tour of Germany with the Festival Orchestra in
June 2009, led by Christoph Eschenbach.
Andrew is a 2006 graduate of Monticello High School. He began
his study of the double bass under Mrs. Nancy Wegrzyn in the
Monticello Central School District. Andrew advanced his studies
in The Monticello High School Resident Artist Program with the
Weekend of Chamber Music, with his mentor Kurt Muroki. Andrew is
presently a junior at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of
Timothy Cobb, principal bassist of the Metropolitan Opera
Orchestra.
Monticello graduate becomes award-winning chef
Monticello High School alumnus Alan Lazar,
Class of 1971, has gone on to make a scrumptious name for
himself as a professional chef. Alan got the taste for fine
foods while working at the Concord Hotel during his junior and
senior years of high school.
After graduation, he continued his education and obtained his
Bachelors degree at Monmouth College in New Jersey, while
working at Lazars Kosher Meats & Poultry in South Fallsburg.
From there he began his trek south working as a manager at a
chicken farm in Maryland and then as a USDA Meat Certification
Specialist in Miami, Florida.
Presently, Alan resides in Coral Springs, Florida and is
employed as an instructor at the Johnson & Wales University in
North Miami where he teaches the techniques of meat cutting.
Alan has been very active in the American Culinary Federation,
and is currently serving as their vice president and student
chapter advisor. Some of the awards he’s received are as
follows: Albertsons Founder Day Award; Sea-pak Best of Show -
Culinary; Taste of the Nation; ACF Greater Miami Achievement
Award; Boca Latkemania - Best Latkes; Chef of the Year - Greater
Miami Chapter ACF and the Faculty Vollrath Award.
A sad loss of one of Monticello's own
Steven “Pudge” Meyer, 48, an attorney with
the Erie County DA’s office, passed away on November 17, 2007.
He was an outstanding student and 1977 graduate of Monticello
High School where he was also a standout tennis player.
Steve went on to SUNY Binghamton and attended law school at the
University of Buffalo. He is survived by his wife, Sheryl;
daughter, Gabrielle; father, Raymond of Monticello; sister,
Barbara; and brother, Danny, both of whom also graduated from
Monticello High School in the 1970’s.
“Pudge” was an active member of the Monti High Interact Club and
worked locally at the Raleigh Hotel for many years during and
after high school. He will always be remembered by those who
knew him as a loyal friend, loving husband, father, son and
brother, as well as possessing the best sense of humor and
infectious laugh.
Donations in Steve’s memory can be sent to the Make A Wish
Foundation.
Monticello High School alumnae create
historical paintings for Sullivan County Museum
The Sullivan County Museum just received a
shot in the arm from two homegrown artists. Eight towering
murals reflecting Sullivan County's history have replaced
boarded up window panes in the front and on the right side of
the former Hurleyville school building on Frances Currey
Boulevard. After months of labor, Monticello High School
graduates Laurie Kilgore and Tobi Magnetico completed the works
using watercolor paints in their artist lofts in Monticello.
Click here for the full story by Nathan Mayberg, courtesy the
TH-R.
1979 graduate dedicating her life to
fighting cancer
After losing her husband and father to cancer, Monticello High School graduate Carolyn Halbert is on a "personal mission to help others with the prevention and control of this set of diseases." Carolyn currently works as the Statistical Analysis Coordinator for the Virginia Cancer Registry. Some of her work consists of analyzing and presenting data and creating reports for researchers, legislators and community members.
Recently, she was a presenter at the North American Central Cancer Registry Association international conference where she gave a report on cancer incidence in Appalachian Virginia.
According to Carolyn, "The work of such central cancer registries has been influential in legislation and funding for the increased use of mammograms and colonoscopies to prevent and detect colon and breast cancers earlier, which of course results in better outcomes and quality of life for survivors."
Carolyn decided to change careers and enter the cancer field after spending 15 years as a Speech Language Pathologist, who specialized in voice and swallowing disorders in stroke and head injury patients.
Ten years ago, she founded the David Goy Memorial Fund, a non-profit corporation which help funds a school for literacy and self advocacy in Haiti.
Presently, Carolyn lives with her two dachshunds, one of which is a Hurricane Katrina rescue. And, she has never given up her love for music and singing. She currently sings for the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and the Richmond Symphony.
"It is good to hear about Bethel Woods and that live, performed music in the Catskills is alive and well," stated Carolyn.
Academy of Finance alumnus gives back to Monticello
At Monticello High School, teacher and Academy of Finance
founder/director Wendy Levenson and her former student, Joel
Blum, have come full circle together. Blum, Class of 2000, was
in Levenson's first Academy of Finance. Recently, he presented
Levenson with a grant of $3,000 on behalf of his employer, Citi
Smith Barney, where he is a financial adviser and guided
portfolio manager.
The Academy of Finance is a symbiotic relationship among
schools, students and corporate America.
Business owners offer internships and donations and serve as
guest speakers and role models. In exchange, they get more
skilled interns, and a higher caliber of job applicants when AOF
students graduate from college.
Monticello students with an interest in business and finance get
consistent exposure to specialized business knowledge and best
practices, access to college level courses and value-added items
for their college and job resumes.
The schools get donations, like the one Blum presented, toward
the cost of tuition for college-level finance courses that
students can take while still in high school. The school also
gets a renewable resource of AOF graduates, like Blum, who keep
the cycle going.
"We couldn't have applied for this grant without a Citi group
employee," Levinson said.
The businesses, schools and students also get bragging rights;
nationwide, AOF participants are eight times more likely to have
paid summer internships and twice as likely to take college
level courses while in high school; 92 percent graduate and 80
percent go on to college, according to Blum.
- Story and photo by Melissa Rennie, reprinted courtesy of the Times Herald-Record May 09, 2007 -
Monticello graduate inducted into college Athletic Hall of Fame for basketball
In October 2006, Sheryl Ferguson Nichols, a 1994 Monticello
graduate, visited with RJK Middle School Principal Deborah Wood,
and shared her experiences since leaving high school.
At SUNY Oneonta, Ms. Nichols was inducted into the Athletic Hall
of Fame for basketball for being the first woman in the school’s
history to score 1,000 points. She still holds the record for
the most leading points (1,449) scored for both men and women.
Also, she was the assists leader, the steals leader, and in 1998
she was named Player of the Year in the SUNYAC Conference and
SUNY Oneonta Athlete of the Year when Oneonta had an NCAA bid
for the first time in the school’s history.
Sheryl is now living in Orlando, Florida, where she is a college
admissions counselor. She is married to Marcus Nichols.
Class of '86 held Bone Marrow Registration Drive to honor Erik Rosen
The Monticello High School Class of 1986 hosted a bone marrow
registration drive July 15 in conjunction with the Class of
'86's 20th reunion celebration. The drive was held in support of
classmate Erik Rosen who's battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Erik
will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant. While Erik does not
currently need a bone marrow donor, the Class of '86 organized
the registration drive to its support for Erik.
There are thousands of children and adults diagnosed each year
with diseases that call for a bone marrow transplant as a
potential cure. Only a fraction of patients are able to find
compatible donors in their families. The remaining patients turn
to the national registry to find potential matches. Joining the
registry is easier than donating blood-only a finger stick is
needed. The cost for processing each sample is $65. For more
information see
http://www.marrow.org/DONOR/abcs_of_donation.html.
Alternatively, checks can be made in the name of Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society and can be sent directly to: L&LS, Donor
Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA, 01202 or online at
www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.
The Class of '86 thanks you for your support of Erik and the thousands of others suffering from cancer.
Alumnus wins Emmy for broadcasting
Alex Cabrero, a Monticello alumnus, was awarded a national Emmy for his work as a television news reporter. Cabrero won a regional Emmy while working in Nashville, Tenn., and was entered into the national contest, where he was declared a winner. Cabrero won in the category of best local news reporter in spot news. He is now a reporter for KSL-5, the NBC News affiliate in Salt Lake City, Utah.
AlumnUS John DeGroat playing basketball at Pittsburgh
As a senior at Monticello High School, DeGroat was a 6-foot-5 low-post player and a low-level Division I prospect. But the dream of making it big is beginning to happen.
"I never imagined this would all happen," said DeGroat.
The Monticello graduate joined the University of Pittsburgh's nationally-ranked program in the 2004-05 season. DeGroat chose Pitt after being courted by such national schools as Oklahoma, St. Johns, Oregon and Gonzaga, all of which had offered scholarships. Read more.
Stephanie Blythe, Class of 1987, appears at the Metropolitan
Opera
From Monticello High School's humble theatre, where she was the
lead in "Annie Get Your Gun" in 1987, to the role of noble
Jocasta in Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex" at the Metropolitan Opera
in New York City, Stephanie Blythe has certainly come a long
way.
Read more.
Did you know? Nearly 3000 of Monticello High School's students have registered at www.classmates.com.