Citizen photo submitted by David Marchesseault

North Haven High School Assistant Principal Andrew Pettola (far left) and North Haven Rotary Club President Nick Casella (far right) flank Kevin, Elaine, Lisa, and Thomas Novinsky. Kevin and Lisa, fraternal twins and NHHS juniors, were recognized by the Rotary Club as the November and December NHHS students of the month.

The two latest recipients of the North Haven Rotary Club’s students of the month award know each other quite well – they are fraternal twins.

Lisa and Kevin Novinsky, juniors at North Haven High School, were selected by the teaching staff for November and December honors. They were feted this past week with their parents, Thomas and Elaine, at the Rotary Club’s new headquarters, the Breakfast Nook of Washington Avenue.

In opening her acceptance speech, Lisa said, “It is such an honor to be presented with this award.” Then she told a humorous story of her inadvertent “missing in action” status when the administration attempted to notify her of the coveted recognition. It seems that she had been scheduled to pursue her first “love,” working on the painting of a landscape for the Scholastic Art Competition, and no one could find her.

As a second year co-editor of the yearbook, Lisa fulfills her interest in art and design through such projects as the cover layout for the fall booklet for the town’s Adult Education programs, as well as the cover for the program published for the school’s winter concerts. She also came in second in the logo contest sponsored by the Friends of the North Haven Library. In keeping with the theme of the Arts, she added that she hopes to pursue a career in Culinary Arts with a major in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Lisa’s other accomplishments include her appointment as a Project Adventure facilitator last year and participating in People-to-People and SCC Student Leadership Conferences. Additionally, she received the 2007 Scholar Leader Award from the Connecticut Association of Schools. Her personal interests include performing community service at the Children’s Library, packaging meals at the town’s Food Pantry, coaching the youth volleyball clinic, and volunteering at her church.

In another amusing twist, Lisa told the audience that she had received the high school’s prestigious recognition as a Super CAPT Scholar last year only one week after suffering a mild concussion. Consequently, she’ll actually get a brief break during the upcoming midterm exams. She closed her address by offering thanks to a number of people, not the least of whom were her parents who she said were “my constant support system” and her brother, described by her as “the best competition I’ve ever had.”

When Kevin finally got the opportunity to stand before the assembly of Rotarians, he knew his twin was a tough act to follow. He opened, “Like you, I am also someone who is active in our community.” He immediately gained his listeners’ attention as he described his own impressive record of community service, including providing assistance to the local Rotary Club’s support of the Kids for Kids dance competition for charity, which is held at the high school each April.

Declaring that each of his volunteer experiences “have made me a better person and more aware of the community,” Kevin spelled out several experiences of which he was proud. Some of his volunteerism included work at Clintonville Manor, participation in the Summer Reading Program at the town library, backstage work in support of the productions by the North Haven Drama Co-op, and umpiring baseball games for the Max Sinoway Little League.

He too had received the CAS Scholar Leader Award, among other awards, for his leadership abilities, but he explained that his personal career focus is in the field of music, especially as it relates to a college education in music technology. He said he held ranking positions in many clubs, including vice president of the Computer Club and sports editor of the yearbook.

Kevin added that he had been working with Rotarian Debbie Volain on the musical productions for both the middle school and high school since he was in the sixth grade. He proudly added that he is the assistant stage manager, along with Tom Sullivan, a student who was recognized by the Rotary Club last year for the same award. In his closing remarks, Kevin had many people to thank, and recognized everyone who had helped him throughout his young life, whose actions he said “have helped mold me as the student and the person I have become today.”

Beaming with pride as he introduced each of the twins, NHHS assistant principal Andrew Pettola said that both were honor students who belonged to a group called Future Problem Solvers, and that the siblings had actually both participated in activities only mentioned by one or the other in their presentations.

“Lisa and Kevin were chosen to be Rotary Students of the Month because they exemplify all the best qualities of North Haven students,” Pettola said. Describing the staff’s decision to support their nominations as simply “overwhelming,” Pettola added, “They embody the values and principles that we teach every day, and they exhibit leadership, excellent academics, and a commitment to serving the community.”

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