Atlantic County honors outstanding eighth- and 12th-graders

High-achieving Atlantic County eighth-graders and high school seniors recently were honored at the 2025 Atlantic County Academic Excellence Recognition Program Brunch held at Seaview Bayview Ballroom.

There were 82 eighth-graders and 36 high school seniors honored, representing every Atlantic County public school district, CharterTech High School for the Performing Arts and Atlantic Community Charter School.

Superintendent Daniel J. Dooley of the Absecon school district, who also serves as president of the Atlantic County Association of School Administrators, emceed the event.

Atlantic County Interim Executive County Superintendent of Schools Leslie White-Coursey, Atlantic County Association of School Administrators, Atlantic County government, Atlantic County Council of Education Associations, and SRI/ETTC Director Patty Weeks honored the top performers.

    NJ State Teacher of the Year Stefanie Lachenauer of the Montgomery Township School District in Somerset County addresses high-achieving Atlantic County students.
  

Emma Coia of Buena Regional High School received the 21st annual DeEdwin Hursey Scholarship Award; Keniyah Johnson of Cedar Creek High School and Leila VonSander of Oakcrest High School received the Atlantic County Association of School Administrators 19th annual Performing Arts/Educational Scholarship; and Mekayla Lewis of Oakcrest High School and Alani White of Atlantic County Institute of Technology received the Atlantic-Cape May Principals and Supervisors Association Award.

      Honorees heard remarks from New Jersey Assistant Commissioner of Education Ambrose Duckett, 2024-2025 Atlantic County Teacher of the Year Carly Broomhead of the Absecon school district, and 2024-2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year Stefanie Lachenauer of the Montgomery Township School District in Somerset County. 

Each student received a certificate of honor in addition to letters of congratulations in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement from U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, NJ Sens. Vince Polistina and Michael Testa, Assemblymen Antwan McClellan, Erik Simonsen and Don Guardian, Assemblywoman Claire S. Swift, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County Board of County Commissioners and Atlantic County Sheriff Joseph O’Donoghue. 

SEE FULL LIST OF THOSE HONORED