Three students — one from the elementary school, one from the middle school and one from the high school — were nominated for Student of the Month honors for the month of November. Second-grader Olivia Thayer, seventh-grader Matthew Zbikowski and sophomore Christian Nydegger were on hand to receive plaques and words of commendation from their respective administrators during the Hampton Bays Board of Education meeting at the high school library on Tuesday, Dec. 11.
Olivia is a great student and a great citizen, Hampton Bays Elementary School Principal Marc Meyer said, adding that she also excels in math and is a person who truly cares about others. According to Mr. Meyer, Olivia said that she was most excited that her sister Jessica, who was recently in a serious car accident, would be at the meeting to see her receive the Student of the Month award. Olivia wants to be either a second-grade teacher or a veterinarian when she grows up.
Christian was voted unanimously for Student of the Month honors by his social studies teachers and is a leader in the classroom, on the field and in the community, according to Hampton Bays High School Assistant Principal Anthony DeBlasio. Christian currently has a 94 cumulative weighted average and still finds time to play football, basketball and lacrosse. He's also a junior firefighter and frequent participant in the HUGS leadership program.