THE GOLDEN GIRLS

Five RHS scholar /athletes were awarded the Athletic Gold Key Award

(June, 2008) At the June Athletic Awards ceremony five RHS Scholar/Athletes, Kelly Miloski, Jackie Zilnicki, Julie Dougherty, Ashley Bell and Heather Riley, were awarded the Gold Key Award, one of the highest honors a high school student can win in his/her high school athletic career.

This prestigious NYSPHSAA Award is presented to athletes who have (at the end of their high school careers) accumulated at least fifty-two points for participation in varsity and junior varsity sports, intramurals and leadership activities (i.e., 5 points for a Varsity sport, 4 points for a JV sport, etc.).

A short overview of the athletic/academic/leadership career of each of these students is as follows:

KELLY MILOSKI – participated in field hockey, winter track, spring track and softball. She excelled academically as well as athletically and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Honor Society and on the Principal’s High Honor Roll closing out her senior year with all A’s. Kelly plans to attend SUNY – Cortland, major in elementary education and play intramural field hockey in college.

JACKIE ZILNICKI - participated in field hockey, basketball and softball all four years of high school. She was also the Captain for those three varsity sports. Jackie excels academically as well as athletically and is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Foreign Language Honor Society and is on the Honor Roll. She plans to attend Western Connecticut State University and will play basketball in college.

JULIE DOUGHERTY – participated in field hockey, winter track, and softball. She made the Empire State Team as an alternate for field hockey and as a senior was named All-County Honorable Mention in field hockey. She was named All-League for her pitching in softball. Julie excelled academically as well as athletically and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Honor Society and is on the Principal’s High Honor Roll. Julie plans to attend Marywood University, major in elementary education and play field hockey in college.

ASHLEY BELL - participated in field hockey, track, and basketball. She was All-State in track and recently qualified in the 100 and 200 meters and ran the anchor leg on the winning 4 x 100 relay team at the state qualifiers. She was chosen as the News Review’s female athlete of the year. Ashley excels academically as well as athletically and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Honor Society and is on the Principal’s High Honor Roll. Ashley was one of five local high school students to be awarded $1,000 each in a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Lab. The BNL “Women in Science Award” recognizes high school women who show a strong interest in and aptitude for science. Ashley plans to attend Southern Connecticut University and major in math with a minor in physics. She received an athletic scholarship to run on the track team at Southern Connecticut.

HEATHER RILEY - participated in winter track, spring track, and soccer. She is an award-winning pole vaulter and track star, a varsity soccer player, President of Leo’s Club and Secretary of Student Government. She also gives blood as often as permitted. Heather plans to attend the College of St. Rose in Albany next year on a partial athletic scholarship in track. She wants to become an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher.