SJA News - April 19, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SJA Announces New Athletic Director

St. Johnsbury Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Troy Engle to the post of Athletic Director beginning July 1, 2023. Troy will succeed Interim Athletic Director Alan Ruggles in leading all SJA interscholastic athletics.

Troy began his coaching career in 1984 at his alma mater, Amherst College, and later coached track and field at Swarthmore, Washington University, and Kansas State University. In 1999, Troy became Occidental College’s Men’s and Women’s Head Track and Field Coach; he also led Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and was the college’s Assistant AD and athletic Department Business Manager at Occidental. During his tenure, Troy earned three West Regional NCAA DIII Coach of the Year honors. In 2008, Troy moved to West Point, NY to lead Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field and Cross Country at the United States Military Academy. At West Point, Troy coached teams to Patriot League Championships in men’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track (2008-09) and again in men’s indoor track (2009-10). Under Troy’s leadership, 24 USMA records were set between 2008 and 2014.

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SJA Dancers Perform Benefit Dances

Mrs. Hraibi's dance students have been refining their term projects for end-of-the-year performances.

Ballet II student Ella McDonough-Warnstedt '25 (above), choreographed her term project to be performed in the May 8th Dance Department Spring Open House. The dance can be viewed here.

Kaho Takahashi '25 and Selin Kilic '24 recently performed original choreography in a benefit performance for local charities. Kaho's dance can be viewed here. Selin's dance can be viewed here.

Chess Team Runners-Up at State Meet

The Chess Team finished as the runner's-up at the State Chess Tournament on Saturday. Pictured are Alex Elliott '26, Eric Chen '23, Daniyal Aryngazin, and Kanan Gasimov '24. Kanan finished second overall. Also competing were Elijah Lumbra '24, Odin Palmer '24, and Max Weber '23.

Supporting the Community

Mrs. McGarvin's C block (Top) and E block Intro to Human Services classes sponsored a toiletry item drive and bake sale on campus to support youth entering foster care. This was a community service project the students created after hearing about the needs of youth from the St. Johnsbury Department for Children and Families Resource Coordinator Jonathan Ross, and Michelle Larabee - Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Specialist. Students raised over $340 which will go towards gift certificates to support youth's social needs and collected over 700 toiletry items for youth to access when placed into emergency care.

State Champions Meet the Governor

The Boys' Cross Country team and Boys' Indoor Track team members were recognized for their state titles at the State House in Montpelier as the guest of SJA teacher and House Representative Scott Beck. In addition to being recognized during the morning session in the House, the team met Vermont Governor Phil Scott and posed for a photo. Additional photos from the event can be viewed here.

Swim Club Members Recognized

Senior Kaiya Billings started her competitive swimming career at the Academy when she was nine. She then moved to Montreal, continued her swimming career, and was recruited by the Dorval Swim Club to join the Elite team. The family moved back to Waterford, and she joined the Academy swim team again in her junior year and had a very successful year, broke all her personal best times, and was the only one on the Academy team to qualify for the Silvers Championship meet by achieving specific USA Swimming time standards.

At the Silvers Championship swim meet in February, Kaiya reached the AAAA US Swimming time standard for her 50 freestyle. This means Kaiya ranks in the top 2% of swimmers in the United States in her age group. Kaiya will attend UVM in the fall.

Senior Cameron McGregor (above, left) and ninth grader Cooper Barter (above, right) competed last month in the 2023 Destination Athlete Centennial Swim Invitational in Port Charlotte, FL. Cameron and Cooper competed in nine events over three days and qualified for finals. They both had personal best times in all nine events. Cameron, a four-year member of the Academy team, competed in the finals in the 200 breaststroke, and Cooper placed in the top 15 in the finals of four events.

Photos of the swimmers can be viewed here.

Student Fashion Show

Ms. Darling's Fashion students are busy putting the final touches on their designs in preparation for tomorrow's (April 20) Fashion Show. The show will be broadcast live on nsnsports.net at 8:00 AM and 8:40 AM during the student assemblies. The public is welcome to attend the evening event at 6:30 PM in Fuller Hall. Watch the promo video here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, April 20

Fashion Show, Fuller Hall, 6:30 PM

The morning events for students (8:00 and 8:40) will be broadcast live on NSN.

Clear River Review Launch Event, Library Fireside, 7:15 PM

Saturday, April 22

April Vacation Begins

Monday, May 1

Classes Resume

Friday, May 5

Senior Capstone Day

Everyone wins in Cup Cake Wars. In Chef Bystrzycki's Intro to Baking B Block class, Girl Scout Cookie won. There was a tie between Apple Orchard and Chocolate Rolo in the E Block class. Other flavors included Combo Attack, Black Forest, and The House of Blues. Jalapeño Corn with honey cream cheese topping and fried chicken was a hit too.

A Scholar's Bowl-style Trivia Competition was held last Wednesday evening in the library with a great turnout. The event was organized by members of the Senior Class Council.

Mrs. Smith and Mr. Brown and a group of students have touched down in Japan. Bookmark this link to see all of the photos from their trip.

We've got talent yes we do. Photos from Friday night's Talent Show can be viewed here.

Photos from Saturday's Varsity Baseball game can be viewed here.