The Middle Country Central School District recently announced its April students of the month at a recent Board of Education meeting. Centereach High School senior Dante DeBonis, Newfield High School senior Ryan Bloom, Dawnwood Middle School seventh grade student Aliea Ramlal and Selden Middle School eighth grade student Ilsaa Siddiqui were all recognized for their successes and exemplary leadership skills in their individual schools.
“It brings the Board of Education and I great pride each month to honor the excellence of students throughout the District,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Roberta Gerold. “These honorees have excelled both in and out of the classroom—scoring at the top of their classes, participating in extracurricular activities and becoming active role models amongst their peers. It is a privilege to be the superintendent of a District with students that continuously make a positive impact in our Middle Country community and beyond.”
Centereach High School honoree Dante DeBonis is held in the highest regard throughout the Centereach community for his constant pursuit of excellence in all that he does. An honor student throughout the entirety of his high school career, Dante never settled at taking the easy path. He challenged himself with a rigorous course load, taking 11 Advanced Placement courses, ultimately ranking 5th in his senior class.
Dante’s academic success is matched by his wide-ranging achievements outside of the classroom. The Centereach High School senior spent all four years on the varsity fencing team—earning him All-County and All-Long Island recognitions and competing in national fencing tournaments. Next year, Dante will be attending Penn State University as a member of the Schreyer Honors College. Due to his hard work, he earned the prestigious NROTC scholarship and will be preparing for a leadership position in the United States Marine Corps throughout his collegiate career.
Ryan Bloom of Newfield High School was recognized for his academic excellence and the positive influence he has on the entire Middle Country community. With a 101.4 weighted GPA, Ryan is set to graduate with a total of 42 college credits in June. Despite his demanding academic schedule, Ryan has been an extremely active member of Newfield. Among his many extracurricular activities, Ryan is the president of the senior class, secretary of the Thespian Honor Society, co-president and editor of the Newspaper Club and a PTSA council delegate.
Ryan will be attending Northeastern University in the fall and will be studying political science. At the moment, Ryan is unsure if he will pursue a career in law or government work, but many of his teachers think he has his eye set on the White House.
Dawnwood Middle School’s April student of the month recipient, Aliea Ramlal, is a high honor roll student and a participant in various clubs including Youth for Humanity, Yearbook Club and the Multi-Media Club. Outside of school, Aliea is an active Girl Scout, a volunteer at the Middle Country Public Library and a volunteer at the Bristol Senior Community in Lake Grove. Her teachers rave about her enthusiasm, determination and ability to effectively collaborate on group projects.
Ilsaa Siddiqui is an eighth grade student at Selden Middle School and a high honor roll recipient every quarter this school year. Recognized not only as intelligent but as an extremely thoughtful and caring individual, Ilsaa is a member of National Junior Honor Society, Best Buddies and frequently gave up her lunch period to help the Pennies for Patient’s fundraiser. Her teachers all commonly identify Ilsaa as a driven young student who enjoys solving challenging questions and frequently pushes herself out of her comfort zone to achieve her goals.
