School board recognizes achievement

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on March 16, 2021

Unionville-Chadds Ford School Superintendent John Sanville recognized more than a dozen Unionville High School students for nationally-ranked accomplishments during the March 15 school board meeting.

Sanville preceded the recommendation by saying Monday was like the first day of school since it was the first day for all students in the district to be back in their respective classrooms instead of taking classes online at home.

Dylan Huffman, of Chadds Ford, was named to the National Honor and All-Eastern Honor Choir Ensembles.

“It was great to see students in person all at the same time,” he said. “I know that everyone enjoyed it…Some folks even enjoyed the traffic backups at the high school and the middle school today. The good old days are back.”

Sanville then said it was time to “recognize some truly exceptional accomplishments, especially when those accomplishments are on the national level.” He went on to say that students overcame the challenges of the virtual and hybrid modes of education during the past year and attained “outstanding achievements.”

Among those students recognized were 13 who were named National Merit finalists, but Sanville singled out three others.

Addison Liu, a senior at Unionville High School, was recognized for being among the top 300 scholars in the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Sanville said that’s the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school students. Addison would receive a $2,000 scholarship and UHS would get a $2,000 award for her winning project.

The talent search, Sanville said, involved more than 1,700 high school students from 45 states and 10 countries.

Sanville also announced that The National Association for Music Education named Leah Monteleone and Dylan Huffman to the National Honor and All-Eastern Honor Choir Ensembles.

“This is the highest level of following the PMEA [Pennsylvania Music Education Association] Circuit. This puts them at the very top nationally of choral performers in the United States.,” Sanville said, adding that the honor choir “consists of the top 241 high school vocalists across the nation.”

Dylan Huffman is the son of Craig Huffman, chairman of the Chadds Ford Planning Commission.

“I’m exceptionally proud of him,” Dylan’s father said. “To make nationals for singing is a tremendous achievement. Jason Throne at the high school is a great mentor and teacher.”

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.