On Tuesday, May 12th, members of the Petrides family and scholarship committee presented the Michael J. Petrides Student Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science in a virtual event to Rosemary O'Neill, a student at Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island.
The annual award is given to a graduating high school senior who excels in math and science. Each Staten Island high school is asked to submit a single nominee, from which the honoree and runner-up are selected. The award is named for Michael J. Petrides, a legendary Staten Island educator, who died in 1994.
An AP Scholar, Rosemary O’Neill has availed herself of the most rigorous course program available to students at Notre Dame, earning a cumulative GPA of 99.8%. She not only excels in those subjects that interests her, but is also dedicated to her own intellectual exploration in a multitude of disciplines. She is Notre Dame’s top science scholar, having excelled in four AP Science and Math classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Computer Principles, as well as AP Biology, a course normally taken by seniors where she earned the highest grade in the class and a 4 on the AP exam during her sophomore year. Additionally, Rosemary’s score on the New York State Physics Regents exam was near perfect. Her prowess goes beyond the classroom; she entered the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Video Challenge two years in a row, where she created two different science videos that scored in the top 10% and 20% of 12,000 international entries, respectively. She has also participated in the school’s Engineering Club and has developed an appreciation for the place engineering has in real world applications. Rosemary’s teachers say she often asks the “right questions,” and her natural curiosity enriches the classroom experience for all. Her love of language led her to the Notre Dame Academy Forensics Team, a chapter of the National Catholic High School Forensics League. Her commitment to her interests beyond the classroom is exemplified by her four-year career on the Notre Dame Tennis team. She has not only earned the respect of her coaches, but she has engendered a spirit of commitment and respect from her fellow athletes being named captain in her senior year.
“The Petrides Award has been given to many remarkable students over the years, and this year’s winner is no exception. I’m impressed and encouraged by all of our nominees, who are the best and brightest in our community,” noted Borough President Oddo.
Trisha Vinay from Staten Island Technical High School was named first runner up. Veronica Arciprete from St. Joseph Hill Academy High School was named second runner up.
A full list of nominees is below:
Tati Anna Robinson, Curtis High School
Olivia Legowski, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School
Sara Ventrello, Michael J. Petrides School
Thomas Mormino, Monsignor Farrell High School
Shengguang (Jaysen) Zhou, Moore Catholic High School
Lauren-Ruth Sarreal, New Dorp High School
Rosemary O’Neill, Notre Dame Academy
Thenuri Poththewela, Port Richmond High School
Veronica Arciprete, St. Joseph Hill Academy
Luke Whalen, St. Peter’s Boys High School
Xin (Cindy) Li, Staten Island Academy
Trisha Vinay, Staten Island Technical High School
Madison DeGrezia, Susan E. Wagner High School
David Remyes, Tottenville High School
The annual award is given to a graduating high school senior who excels in math and science. Each Staten Island high school is asked to submit a single nominee, from which the honoree and runner-up are selected. The award is named for Michael J. Petrides, a legendary Staten Island educator, who died in 1994.
An AP Scholar, Rosemary O’Neill has availed herself of the most rigorous course program available to students at Notre Dame, earning a cumulative GPA of 99.8%. She not only excels in those subjects that interests her, but is also dedicated to her own intellectual exploration in a multitude of disciplines. She is Notre Dame’s top science scholar, having excelled in four AP Science and Math classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Computer Principles, as well as AP Biology, a course normally taken by seniors where she earned the highest grade in the class and a 4 on the AP exam during her sophomore year. Additionally, Rosemary’s score on the New York State Physics Regents exam was near perfect. Her prowess goes beyond the classroom; she entered the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Video Challenge two years in a row, where she created two different science videos that scored in the top 10% and 20% of 12,000 international entries, respectively. She has also participated in the school’s Engineering Club and has developed an appreciation for the place engineering has in real world applications. Rosemary’s teachers say she often asks the “right questions,” and her natural curiosity enriches the classroom experience for all. Her love of language led her to the Notre Dame Academy Forensics Team, a chapter of the National Catholic High School Forensics League. Her commitment to her interests beyond the classroom is exemplified by her four-year career on the Notre Dame Tennis team. She has not only earned the respect of her coaches, but she has engendered a spirit of commitment and respect from her fellow athletes being named captain in her senior year.
“The Petrides Award has been given to many remarkable students over the years, and this year’s winner is no exception. I’m impressed and encouraged by all of our nominees, who are the best and brightest in our community,” noted Borough President Oddo.
Trisha Vinay from Staten Island Technical High School was named first runner up. Veronica Arciprete from St. Joseph Hill Academy High School was named second runner up.
A full list of nominees is below:
Tati Anna Robinson, Curtis High School
Olivia Legowski, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School
Sara Ventrello, Michael J. Petrides School
Thomas Mormino, Monsignor Farrell High School
Shengguang (Jaysen) Zhou, Moore Catholic High School
Lauren-Ruth Sarreal, New Dorp High School
Rosemary O’Neill, Notre Dame Academy
Thenuri Poththewela, Port Richmond High School
Veronica Arciprete, St. Joseph Hill Academy
Luke Whalen, St. Peter’s Boys High School
Xin (Cindy) Li, Staten Island Academy
Trisha Vinay, Staten Island Technical High School
Madison DeGrezia, Susan E. Wagner High School
David Remyes, Tottenville High School
