Top Hillside Students Honored

By Nelly Bly, Dispatch staff writer

Former superintendent Dr. Hiroko Miyakawa thought that the yearly Baccalaureate Awards Ceremony at the high school was too special to be held during the school day. So, she decided to start a new tradition and give out the awards at a special evening program. Since then, they have expanded to include entertainment from instrumental and vocal music students.

The 80th graduating class had theirs on June 10. In all, 55 awards were presented and the jazz band performed two selections, one with vocalist Joy LeBlanc who should be awarded a contract with a major recording company.

Steven and Nathalie Yafet offered a new scholarship award for the first time last year in honor of Nathalie's aunt, Regina T. Gebarski. Ms. Gebarski, we learn, was a lifelong English teacher at South Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She studied and continued to learn new things even long after she retired and was often visited by former students who were grateful for her guidance and support. Last year, this scholarship was presented to Sergio Bichao.

This year's honoree is Omar Winston, a graduate of vocal music from the High school's performing arts preparatory school. Omar plans to major in Voice but has not yet decided where he will be going to college. He is exactly the sort of student that Ms. Gebarski would have liked: hard-working, cheerful, talented and curious. The Dispatch wishes Omar and all the seniors who received awards at the Baccalaureate the best in this next stage of their lives.