District News

High school students selected for separate honors 

 

March, 2011

 

Canajoharie High School seniors Grant Jones and Cassie White, along with freshman Ruben McFarlane were recently recognized for their accomplishments.

In early March, Grant won third place in the New York State-Upper Hudson Valley Regional History Bee in Saratoga Springs. The competition is a part of the National History Bee. With his strong performance, Grant qualified for the national competition in Washington, D.C. on April 17.

The game was set-up similar to Jeopardy, but with contestants in individual rooms.

Grant said he was excited to participate.

“I wanted to see how I could do," he said. "I had never done something like that. I thought I did pretty well.”

Also in early March, Cassie was selected to attend the annual Pen in Hand conference, a writing conference in Little Falls. At the conference, 60 students from around the state including Canajoharie students Veronica O'Brien and Stephanie Terwilliger, worked with other student writers and published authors in various workshops. To win a spot, students were required to submit a poem or short story.

Cassie, who also led a workshop, said she enjoyed the experience. “I like writing and I made a lot of friends there from years before," she said.

"The workshop I lead was called 'A picture is worth a 1000 words.' I took a photo and the kids had 30 minutes to write about it."

Meanwhile, Ruben travels to New York City on March 21 for a one-day intensive workshop with the New York City Opera. Ruben, whose played the viola for about six years, saw the opportunity listed in the Empire State Youth Orchestra newsletter. He sent in an audition piece to the NYC Opera and was selected.

According to NYC Opera website, the program "provides advanced high school instrumentalists with the experience of playing operatic repertoire with City Opera singers, performing in the David H. Koch Theater and collaborating with professional musicians and members of the orchestra."

Ruben said the workshop gives him a great opportunity to perform in a pit orchestra.

"Very few people can say they’ve been to Lincoln Center and played there. I’m excited beyond belief," he said.

"This will give me a good opportunity to see if I can do something with operas and plays. If I can’t get into an orchestra when I get older, this might be a good back-up plan.”