The 2000 Pre-Teen New Jersey Scholarship & Recognition Program was held recently at the Brunswick Hilton & Towers Hotel in East Brunswick. New Jersey's best and brightest top female honor roll students, ages 7 to 12 years old, competed for over $5,000 in educational bonds, prizes, and awards, as well as for the opportunity to qualify for competition in the 2001 Pre-Teen America Nationals to be held July 3-8, 2001, at the Radisson Hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There they will have the opportunity to compete for over $25,000 in educational bonds, prizes, and awards.
The participants were evaluated in seven criteria divisions including (1) Academic Achievement (2) Volunteer Service to Church and Community (3) School Honors and Activities
(4) Development of Personal Skills and Abilities (5) General Knowledgeability
(6) Communicative Ability (7) On-Stage Expressiveness and Overall Pre-Teen Image.
The following are the state titleholders and runners-up.
2000 Pre-Teen New Jersey (Senior)
Ellen Kennedy - 12 year old daughter of John & Lauren Kennedy of Secaucus
1st Runner-Up - Sr. (Tie)
Marjorie Polunas - 12 year old daughter of Rich & Trish Polunas of Wall Township
Margaret Schmierer - 11 year old daughter of Bill & Susan Schmierer of Middletown
2nd Runner-Up - Sr.
Lipica Shah - 12 year old daughter of Dr. Pradeep & Shrabanee Shah of Clarksburg
3rd Runner-Up - Sr.(Tie)
Nicole Bryant - 11 year old daughter of James & Jeannette Bryant of Union
Jill McDonald - 12 year old daughter of Jack & Nancy McDonald of Piscataway
4th Runner Up - Sr.
Linda Chen - 12 year old daughter of Sean Chen of Princeton
2000 Pre-Teen New Jersey (Junior)
Rachael Hartline - 9 year old daughter of Carol Hartline of Hillsborough
1st Runner-Up - Jr.
Jacqueline Sun - 9 year old daughter of Dan Sun & Olivia Kao of East Brunswick
2nd Runner-Up - Jr.(tie)
Chanelle Price - 9 year old daughter of Yolanda Price of Scotch Plains
Kathleen Sun - 8 year old daughter of Dan Sun & Olivia Kao of East Brunswick
3rd Runner-Up - Jr.
Arielle Cocozza - 8 year old daughter of Rachel Cocozza of Freehold, NJ
4th Runner - Up - Jr.
Tiffany Daggett - 8 year old daughter of Gil Dagget & Sara Choe of Jersey City
Speech Winner (Tie)
Marjorie Polunas - 12 year old daughter of Rich & Trish Polunas of Wall Twp.
Lipica Shah - 12 year old daughter of Dr. Pradeep & Shrabanee Shah of Clarksburg
Talent Winner (Tie)
Chanelle Price - 9 year old daughter of Yolanda Price of Scotch Plains
Jacqueline Sun - 9 year old daughter of Dan Sun & Olivia Kao of East Brunswick