Haddonfield, Haddon Twp. Students Among County's Best In Class

Students who attend public schools in Haddonfield and Haddon Township are among 234 senior students countywide who were honored as the “Best of Class 2021” award recipients.

The Camden County Commissioner Board’s “Best of Class” awards honor students in seven categories: most courageous, community service, leadership, performing arts, most improved, school spirit and best overall.

“We are proud to recognize seniors from every high school in Camden County who have demonstrated pride in academic achievement and strive to improve themselves while helping others in their communities,” Camden County Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell said. “Unfortunately, we were not able to gather in-person to celebrate these incredible students, but we remain extremely excited to honor them virtually and provide other ways that they can share their accomplishments with friends, family, and our community.”

Each student will receive a Best of Class medal and certificate, which they can proudly display to signify their accomplishments.

The following students who attend Haddonfield Memorial and Haddon Township high schools were honored by county commissioners this week:

Leadership Award

Olivia Hollingsworth
Haddon Township High School
Attending University of Delaware
Favorite High School Memory: My favorite high school memory is hard to place a finger on, there are so many to cherish. Although a really great one that actually moved me to tears, was in 2019 about 3 months before the pandemic took over. We had our usual holiday concert preview with the band, orchestra, and chorus, but this time there was a special surprise. All of our teachers and some of our staff, got up on stage in all of their holiday gear and sang us Christmas/Holiday Carols and we sang along. It was a massive explosion of voices and created a serious sense of unity within the school. Looking back I am so glad I didn’t take that moment for granted.

Mehki E. Rippey
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Attending University of Virginia
Favorite High School Memory: Definitely planning a Black Lives Matter protest and seeing it come to fruition.

Community Service Award

Maizy Mennuti
Haddon Township High School
Attending DePaul University
Favorite High School Memory: My favorite memories are fun times in the classrooms talking with teachers. I love the feeling of those moments when the whole class and the teacher are laughing together. I also have fond memories of class trips, like the one to D.C. which I got to go on twice. I’m always grateful to learn and explore in new environments.

Sullivan Norton
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Attending Villanova University
Favorite High School Memory: I loved playing soccer and lacrosse. Being with my friends, working hard, striving toward a common goal, and supporting each other through the good times and the bad are memories from high school that I will cherish.

Most Improved Student

Micaela Brown
Haddon Township High School
Attending Camden County College
Favorite High School Memory: Junior year cheerleading was my favorite memory of high school. Best year hands down.

Corrina Milligan
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Performing Arts Award

Sean Bray
Haddon Township High School
Attending Rutgers University – Camden
Favorite High School Memory: Giving my opening monologue from a darkened stage at the beginning of the Drowsy Chaperone.

Katrina Edwards
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Attending Marymount Manhattan College
Favorite High School Memory: I’ve had the best four years at HMHS, but my favorite memory has to be our closing weekend of “Hello, Dolly!” Our last performances were on March 13 and 14 2020, just when the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit hard. We were able to fit in our final shows with a limited audience, mere days before the lockdown. I was so grateful to sing and dance as Dolly for two final nights, and I will never forget how electric the energy in our small auditorium was that weekend.

Most Courageous Student

Christian Gatto
Haddon Township High School
Attending Rowan University
Favorite High School Memory: Playing sports with all my friends.

Christopher Markley
Haddonfield Memorial High School

School Spirit Award

Sydney Farnham
Haddon Township High School
Attending Harvard University
Favorite High School Memory: My fondest high school memory is winning a sectional title in soccer last fall. After a hard year of ups and downs, it was special to be apart of such a driven group of girls who constantly supported one another. Many of the seniors on the team had been working towards that goal for 4 years, and it was amazing to go out on top!

Maya Feinstein
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Attending University of University
Favorite High School Memory: Winning the Hallway Decorating Competition in Junior Year! We worked so hard on our hallway, so to be recognized for our work felt amazing. I’m getting excited just thinking about it. What a rush!

Best Overall Student

Matthew Conway
Haddon Township High School
Attending Rowan University

Olivia Stoner
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Attending MIT
Favorite High School Memory: track and competing in a 4×800 relay. My relay team got 7th overall with a big PR and was one spot away from being All-Americans as an all-sophomore team!