West Essex High School Announces ShopRite Stars Winners

West Essex High School Principal Gary Suda has announced the fourth marking period ShopRite STARS winners for the 2013-14 school year.
They are: North Caldwell junior Michael Wang for academics, North Caldwell junior Mitchell Epstein for the Arts; North Caldwell senior Matthew Thies for Athletics; Fairfield senior Greg Contaldi for Leadership and North Caldwell senior Sarah Moyer for Service to the Community. Michael, who has a 4.2 GPA, is a member of the Chinese Honor Society, English Honor Society and National Honor Society. He is also taking three AP classes this year and was one of 12 students from across the country selected to receive the Finland US Senate Youth Exchange Program, a scholarship funded by the Finnish government. Michael will spend his summer in Finland as part of the Youth for Understanding program.

Mitchell is a member of the West Essex Masquers and has performed as Nathan Detroit in "Guys & Dolls," had the title role last year in "Sweeney Todd" and was the student director of the fall play. Mitchell has also performed with the Paper Mill Playing House Broadway Show Choir and Summer Musical Conservatory. In addition, he started his own non-profit theater group "Stars in the Making."

Matthew was captain of the West Essex Knights Football and Basketball teams. He was quarterback of the team for the past two seasons, leading the team to very successful seasons. He also plays on the boys' lacrosse team. Matthew plans to play football for Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania.

Greg is Student Council President and was captain of the swim team this year. He was also an Eagle Scout and created the West Essex High School 9-11 Memorial Garden in the front of the school. Greg is also president of the High School chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America, was vice president of the group last year and president of the junior class last year. Greg is also the founder of the first West Essex High School Film Festival, a regional film festival showcasing high school student filmmakers and featuring Sopranos creator David Chase as the featured speaker. Greg plans to study film in the fall at New York University.

Sarah is a member of the National Honor Society, the Italian National Honor Society and Art National Honor Society. She is also a volunteer with the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, the Key Club, the CASA Adoption Program in Newark and the US Dream Academy, an Afterschool program in East Orange for children with at least one incarcerated parent.

Each marking period, High School Principal Gary Suda asks high school staff to nominate students for the ShopRite Stars program recognizing their accomplishments in academics, the arts, athletics, leadership and service to the community. Each student winner will have their photograph displayed in the High School main office and in the West Caldwell ShopRite. ShopRite will also make a $1,000 award towards Project Graduation.

The program was created by Mr. Ned Gladstein, the owner of ShopRite in West Caldwell in 1999 to recognize the accomplishments of West Essex High School students. The program has continued with much success.