N.B. BOE honors students
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - The Board of Education honored several students during their June 18 public meeting.

On the athletic front, Erin Dunne, a member of the North Brunswick Township High School girls lacrosse team, scored 80 goals this season, and scored at least once in all 64 games she played. With a career 247 goals, she was named the Greater Middlesex Conference Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year. She helped lead the Raiders to a Greater Middlesex Conference championship appearance for a third straight season.

Michael Curran is a starting varsity attackman for the Raiders boys lacrosse team. He had three separate games with 10 or more points this season with an average of 5.9 points per game. He scored his 100th goal on May 8. He was also fifth on the team for ground balls, with a total of 61.

His sister, Kaitlyn Curran, had her most complete season as a senior, leading the girls lacrosse team with 32 assists, and she placed second with 77 points. She scored her 100th career goal just 59 seconds into a game against East Brunswick and ranks second in career goals in the school's history, with 137. Curran scored a combined seven goals in her three GMCT championship appearances.

On the academic side, Kelsey Petrasek is involved with the DECA marketing program and has competed at several DECA competitions over the years. Last year, at the 2007 State Conference, she took first place in the Learn and Earn Event, which brought her to an international competition in Orlando, Fla. She has since been elected as the 2008-2009 New Jersey DECA Central Region vice president.

Superintendent of Schools Brian Zychowski said the Board of Education continues to honor and recognize students each month because of the importance of balancing academics, athletics and extracurricular activities in order to produce responsible, purposeful citizens.

"They represent everything we're trying to offer our students. Not only do we want them to pursue a balance … but we certainly want to give them the credit and recognition they deserve," he said.

Zychowski said that there are so many lessons learned by participating in various activities, whether it is being successful in the classroom, learning competition and teamwork, or being able to overcome and persevere. He said students must be wellrounded so they can prepare for their postsecondary school years.

"That is why school was created, to foster a love of knowledge and the wisdom of application," he said.

The next Board of Education meeting will be 7:30 p.m. July 16 at the board office on Old Georges Road.