The York County School Division recognizes one senior from each of the division’s four high schools during the school year for their exceptional achievements in academics and community involvement for the Senior of the Month Award.
The York County School Board will recognize April’s outstanding seniors at its meeting April 27.
The YCSD Seniors of the Month for April are:
Thomas “Hunter” Embry, Bruton High School
Embry has stood out academically at Bruton High School, earning induction into numerous honor societies, including the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and Chemistry Honor Society, and compiling a 4.5 grade point average while receiving high academic honors. He has also shined as an athlete, playing on Bruton’s varsity soccer team for four years and serving as its captain as a junior and senior. In his spare time, Embry volunteers with the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club and participates in the annual Recreation Soccer Carnival, which promotes scholarship programs for travel soccer.
Cinyu Chi, Grafton High School
Chi has distinguished herself as a leader at Grafton High School, actively participating in several extracurricular activities. She is involved with the Future Business Leaders of America, Key Club, Asian Association and Concert Band. She has also achieved academic success, earning AP Scholar with Distinction honors, gaining admission to the National Honor Society and earning a 4.78 grade point average with highest academic honors. Outside of school, Chi volunteers with the YMCA’s First Tee Program which teaches youth about golf, the Peninsula Chinese School and attends the Governor’s School for Science and Technology.
Rebecca Soistmann, Tabb High School
Soistmann has shined as a musician at Tabb High School, attending YCSD’s School of the Arts and performing in school musicals since her freshman year. Most recently, she played the role of Paulette the hairdresser in the school’s production of Legally Blond. She is also a four-year member of the select Girl’s Ensemble and serves on the Virginia Theatre Association Board of Directors. Soistmann has also stood out as a student, earning induction into five honor societies, receiving AP Scholar with Distinction honors and compiling a 4.65 grade point average.
Myles Brown, York High School
Brown has excelled as an athlete at York High School, winning first place in the regional final and coming in fourth at the state finals in the triple jump. He also played on York’s junior varsity and varsity football teams and participates with the indoor and outdoor track teams. Brown has also succeed academically, being named to the honor roll. He participates in York’s Naval Junior ROTC program, where he serves as the organization’s commanding officer. He plans on attending the Virginia Military Institute in the fall.
Local School Divisions Name Teachers of the Year at Elementary, Middle and High School Levels
Williamsburg-James City County Schools and the York County School Division announced their top-three teachers of the year.
In both school divisions, each school building selects a single outstanding teacher as its teacher of the year.
The school division narrows those nominees down to one teacher per school level before naming a division teacher of the year.
The division-wide teacher of the year is then nominated for Virginia teacher of the year honors, as awarded by the Virginia Department of Education.
The 2014-2015 WJCC Teachers of the Year are:
- Wendy Lucy, reading specialist, Matthew Whaley Elementary School
- Jennifer Brooks, English, Lois S. Hornsby Middle School
- Courtney Gonzalez-Vega, earth science, Jamestown High School
The 2014-2015 YCSD Teachers of the Year are:
- Kathryn Burr, reading, Tabb Elementary School
- Andrea Mouton, math, Grafton Middle School
- Tori Ostot, English, Bruton High School
