Unionville High School students with some of the food collected during the annual food drive in November and December.
EAST MARLBOROUGH — With the holidays bearing down, things have been very busy at Unionville High School in December. From the annual food drive to a number of Indian athletes signing collegiate letters of intent, to the announcement of this year’s honorees for the Wall of Honor, it’s been a month full of news.
In November and December, UHS students contributed to the annual canned food drive that was sponsored by the school’s Social Studies Department. On Dec. 11, the students helped deliver a large truckload of canned goods to the Kennett Community Food Cupboard — which serves needy residents throughout the southern Chester County area.
While good works were going on, and number of Unionville students decided on the next step in their academic and athletic careers, signing letters of intent this month.
Some of Unionville High School’s top athletes committed this month to continue their sports in college. Seated from left to right are Courtney Smith (Harvard, Cross Country and Track), Emily Fisher ( U of Penn, Cross Country and Track), Nick Ward (VCU, Baseball), Samantha Ortiz (East Stroudsburg, Soccer) and Nicole Ortiz (Mansfield, Soccer). Also in the picture from left to right are Mark Lacianca (UHS Cross Country and Track coach), Margaret and Jay Smith, Linda Fisher, Mike Magee (UHS Baseball coach), Clare and Daniel Ward and Jeanne and Paul Ortiz.
Superstar track athlete Courtney Smith will next compete for Harvard, while teammate Emily Fisher will be running for the University of Pennsylvania. Baseball infielder Nick Ward will be taking his slick glove to Virginia Commonwealth, while Samantha Ortiz will be playing soccer at East Stroudsburg and teammate Nicole Ortiz is planning to play at Mansfield.
Also signing in December: McKayla Mawn will continue her diving career at Penn State, while Jillian Zubillaga committed to play lacrosse at Oregon. Her teammate Rachel Hughes will play at Duquesne. Tennis players Allison Lane (Bucknell), and Zaina Zaki (Connecticut) plan to continue their careers. Softball catcher Kate Mims plans to continue playing at UMass-Lowell.
Unionville athletes will continue their playing careers in college, signing letters of intent this month. Pictured from left to right are McKayla Mawn (Diving at Penn State), Jillian Zubillaga (Lacrosse at Oregon), Rachel Hughes (Lacrosse at Duquesne), Allison Lane (Tennis at Bucknell), Zaina Zaki (tennis at Connecticut) and Kate Mims (Softball at UMass-Lowell). Also pictured from left to right are Michael and Victoria Mawn, Bill Gordon (UHS Swim/Dive Coach), Tamara and Michael Zubillaga, Wendy Landry (UHS Lacrosse coach), Kevin Ryan (Travel Lacrosse Coach), Charles and Margaret Hughes, Martha and Thomas Lane, Janet Johnston (UHS Tennis Coach), Emon Zaki, Sarah and Randal Mims, Janelle Hadley (UHS Softball Coach) and UHS Principal Paula Massanari.
Finally, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District announced four recipients of the 2013-14 Wall of Honor Award, an honor to recognize Unionville High School alumni who have “attained outstanding achievements and/or made extraordinary contributions to our local and/or global communities.”
This year’s honorees are:
Helen Martin from the UHS Class of 1963. She is a long-time educator and currently a consultant to Temple University
The Ray and Mary McKay (the latter of whom is deceased) from Class of 1960 AND 1952. Both were educators and community volunteers.
Samuel Stone Wilson (deceased) from the Class of 1950. He was the longtime manager of King Ranch and a community volunteer.
Mike, you should also take out the word “late” before Ray’s name.
Note: Ray McKay, Wall of Honoree, is not deceased.
Thanks for pointing out an awkward phrasing. I’ve further clarified it.
Congratulations to all our award-winning and high achieving students, both past and present. We have quite a legacy of success here in this district, well represented by our Wall of Honor Inductees and our student athletes of today. Add to this article’s recognition the huge crop of National Merit Semifinalists (some of whom are actually among those pictured above) and you capture what has always been our district’s vision: Excellence in the classroom, Excellence in the athletic arena, and Service Beyond Self in the community.
Again, congratulations, everyone! You make all of us proud of our community this holiday season!
Vic Dupuis, UCFSD Board President