Ben Striano Named NHS Student Of The Month By Newtown Rotary

Ben Striano, a sophomore at Newtown High School, was named Student of the Month by the Newtown Rotary Club for his excellence in science and for overcoming a very difficult year. Ben was introduced at the meeting by Newtown High School teacher Carol Braumgarten. 

In April 2002, Ben underwent the first of three leg surgeries requiring him to be home-schooled for the forth quarter of his freshman year. Ben loved baseball and since the family moved to Newtown in 1996 he played on Little League teams, winning the championship three times with teams coached by Ray Craven and John Modzelewski, and making all-stars four times. His surgeries prevented him from playing his favorite game.

Ben returned to school as a sophomore in September 2002 but was preoccupied with the impending surgery and was a “C” student. The final operation took place the day before Christmas 2002. With the operation over Ben turned over a new leaf and ended up receiving an “A” for the third quarter. Mrs Van Duesen, his science teacher, who nominated Ben for this award, felt that a student as hardworking as Ben should receive this honor from the Rotary Club.

Ben has returned to most of the activities he loves. He was one of the founding members of Newtown High School’s Paintball Club and loves skiing, golf, and mountain biking.

Ben was recently elected president of the local chapter of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization having served in two other board positions since joining three years ago. He is also well-known for his sense of humor. When asked about his favorite subjects he quipped, “math and lunch.” Not much is known about his lunch but he just scored a perfect 100 in Mr Sullivan’s honors math class.

 When the school’s principal office called the family to notify the family of the award they described Ben as “being an all-around great guy.”