‘Many’ HVA ’24-25 awards given
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Hardin Valley Academy’s top 10 students were announced during the school’s Senior Celebration May 2. From left are Macy McInturff, Connor Daniels, Sophia Burgett, Jocelyn Chang (front), Lauren Gray (back), Renata Galan Chongo (front), Sameer Nathawat (front), Lauren Johnson (back), Lucy Niebel (front) and Kaylin Mata (back), with assistant principal Amber Roberts (center back). - Tammy Cheek
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Hardin Valley Academy Teacher of the Year nominees, from left, were Kayla Webster, Laura Shands, Rebecca Furman, Tracey Davis, Logan Atwell and John Sides. Furman was named Teacher of the Year during HVA’s Senior Celebration May 2. - Tammy Cheek
Hardin Valley Academy honored its seniors and some outstanding teachers during its annual awards ceremony in HVA gymnasium Friday, May 2.
“This morning we are gathered to celebrate the many accomplishments of the Hardin Valley Academy Senior Class of 2025,” executive principal Dr. Kirk Renegar said.
“The Class of 2025 has played an incredibly significant role in continuing the Hardin Valley Academy tradition.”
Among them, Bella Buccola, Ryan Moon, Neels Schoonbee, Brock Connatser and Kendra West were named as nominees for the school’s coveted Hawk Award, for which Connatser was announced as the winner during HVA’s graduation ceremony Wednesday, May 21.
Also, the school honored its top teachers, Logan Atwell, Tracey Davis, Rebecca Furman, Laura Shands, John Sydes and Kayla Webster as nominees for Teacher of the Year, with Furman earning the title.
Another distinguished honor, the Heart of Hardin Valley Award for overcoming personal obstacles throughout the student’s four years at HVA but maintaining a positive “can-do” spirity, went to Preston Wilson, Brayan Gutierrez Rodriguez and Reese Patterson.
Meanwhile, the HVA Triple Play Award, bestowed on athletes who exceeded expectations, went to Kamryn Butcher and Austin Murphy.
This year’s HVA graduating seniors earned more than $24 million in scholarships, with many participating in academic, athletic, extracurricular and vocational competitions, as well as taking on leadership roles, attending Governor’s Schools, taking part in performing arts and contributing to society through community service; 35 participated in the Dual Enrollment Early College Pathway Experience, Renegar said.
In light of those achievements, Connatser, Renata Galan Chongo and Angela Ramiscal each earned the Honors Seal of Biliteracy award; Madison Cox received the Tim Lee peer Tutor of the Year Award; and Ava Loetz received the Unified Partner of the Year Award.
Sara Crawford, Rebecka Jones, Julian Lee, Maria Marquez Martinez, Avery Stringfield and Judy Taylor earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, while Chanel Brown, Lauren Johnson, Kaylin Mata, Sameer Nathawat, Lucy Niebel, Gyuri Park and Austin Shin received the AP Capstone diploma.
Of those, Nathawat, this year’s class salutatorian, was named a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
“Sameer is being recognized for his exceptional academic promise as demonstrated by his outstanding performance on the qualifying test commonly known as PSAT,” academy coach Ashli Beeler said. “Sameer plans to attend Cornell University.”
He also is, of course, one of top 10 students in the Class of 2025. He joins Sophia Burgett, Jocelyn Chang, Connor Daniels, Renata Galan Chongo, Lauren Gray, Lauren Johnson, Kaylin Mata, Macy McInturff and Lucy Niebel in that rank. Johnson and Mata, who both plan to attend University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and major in neuroscience, tied for the valedictorian designation. Mata also received the Hagan Scholarship.
Meanwhile the recipient of the $2,000 Evan Richey Memorial Scholarship was Josie Wade, while the $2,000 Scott Impellizeri Memorial Scholarship went to Raed Abu-Shehadeh, Connor Daniels and Audrie Schuster.
Also, Daniels and Wade received a criminal justice Scott Impellizeri scholarship so they could pursue plans in criminal justice studies.
Additionally, Ava Raganese earned the inaugural Charlie Shuster Memorial Scholarship and Brody Blair received the Bill Pittman Scholarship.
Ten seniors received Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarships and plan military careers. They are Connor Adkisson, U.S. Army; Joseph Aragon, U.S. Air National Guard; Josh Bailey and Ashlyn Smith, U.S. Army National Guard; Brock Connatser, U.S. Coast Guard Academy; Lauren Gray, University of South Carolina Air Force ROTC; Ethan Kerwin, UT Air Force ROTC; Maddison Patterson, U.S. Navy; Carter Savage, U.S. Marines; and Dax Tran, UT, Air Force ROTC.
Four students, Cannon Collette, Grady Estep, Gaetano Novello and Barron Scheetz, will be entering an apprenticeship after graduation.
Meanwhile, Antonio Dejesus, Brooklyn Johnson and Cara Sides have been accepted into Project SEARCH Program at Parkwest Hospital for the 2025-26 school year.
“These students will participate in total workplace immersion that facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration and hands-on training through worksite rotations,” Beeler said.
