IN Sewickley Area Spring 2014 | Page 41

Rachael Houser received the Best Actress award and, subsequently, participated in the fifth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City. “For their dedication to the art of teaching, and for their service to our students, we congratulate Lou Valenzi and Matt Boice on receiving this, the 14th annual Quaker Valley Award for Excellence,” Mr. Floro said. Previous Quaker Valley Award for Excellence recipients include the following: • QVHS Advanced Placement • Dan Pellis, 2006 Teachers, 2013 • Rita Hoepp, 2005 • Rose Ann Bergandy, 2012 • Jeff Andrews, 2004 • Mike Haboush, 2011 • Joan Leja, 2003 • David Noyes, 2010 • Christine Burgh, 2002 • Adrienne Floro, 2009 • Gene Klein, 2001 • Betsey Wilson, 2008 • Stephen Moxie, 2007 QV siblings earn President’s Volunteer Service Award T wo Quaker Valley High School students were recently recognized for their exemplary volunteer service. Siblings Guillaume Shippee, a junior, and Tzarina Shippee, a sophomore, earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country. Throughout the last 12 months, Guillaume and Tzarina each volunteered more than 100 hours at the Sewickley Public Library of the Quaker Valley School District. According to its website, “the President’s Volunteer Service Award program is a great way to thank and honor those who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.” The President’s Volunteer Service Award is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service and is administered by the Points of Light Institute. The Award is given to individuals, families and groups that have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and civic participation over the course of a 12-month period. Sewickley Area | Spring 2014 | icmags.com 39 QUAK E R VAL L E Y SC HOOL DI STRI C T N E WS N E WS T he Quaker Valley School Board recognized secondary music teachers Matthew Boice and Lou Valenzi with its 2013 Award for Excellence. Established in 2001, the Quaker Valley Award for Excellence is presented annually to a teacher or teachers to recognize distinguished service to students. Mr. Boice serves as the choir teacher at Quaker Valley High School and Mr. Valenzi is the middle school chorus teacher. Both teachers were recognized by members of the school board. Each received an engraved glass to commemorate the honor. For nine consecutive years, the NAMM Foundation has recognized Quaker Valley as one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education. Mr. Boice and Mr. Valenzi were commended for their commitment to Quaker Valley’s music program. “With 26 combined years of experience teaching in the Quaker Valley School District, Mr. Boice and Mr. Valenzi have each honed their curricular and co-curricular programs; yet understand that combined, they have created a synergistic environment that produces excellent singers, and quality musical productions,” Gianni Floro, school board member and , chair of the community relations/intergovernmental affairs committee, said. The 2012-13 school year was filled with regional and national honors. Recent graduate Rebecca Silverstein was selected to participate in the National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Honors Choir. Quaker Valley seniors Joseph Daval and Nicholas Medich were selected to the 2013 National Association for Music Education All-National Honors Choir. In addition, under the direction of Mr. Valenzi and Mr. Boice, the spring musical – “Anything Goes” – earned eight nominations in the 23rd annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. Recent graduate, Sewickley Area Sewickley Area Sewickley Area Sewickley Area Sewickley Area Sewickley Area Sewickley Area Sewickley Area Boice and Valenzi honored with Award for Excellence