13th Annual William J. Sacco Awards

The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation held its 13th annual awards ceremony on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at The John Carroll School. Nearly 100 students, educators, school administrators, and foundation supporters were in attendance to enjoy the evening.

This year, the foundation honored 13 students and nine educators from 13 eligible schools and programs in Harford County. For the first time, Swan Creek had a scholarship winner recognized after being added to the eligible schools in 2023. Overall, the foundation gave out $12,250 in scholarships and grants.

Following a cocktail reception in the Learning Commons, where students and educators completed math puzzles and a math crossword, and took photos with various math props, the event moved to the gymnasium for the awards ceremony.

Susan Taylor was named the 2024 Educator of the Year out of the eight nominated. Taylor, a math teacher at Bel Air High School, joined an elite group of educators to be nominated twice, being previously nominated in 2013. She became the first in the history of the Sacco Foundation to be named the Educator of the Year twice. 

The Student of the Year was Alan Chan from C. Milton Wright (CMW) High School. Chan is on an impressive list of previous CMW student winners and a prestigious group of students from Harford County to be named Student of the Year. Chan will receive a $3,000 scholarship.

See below for the complete list of winners. Student and Educator of the Year are in bold.

MATHEMATICS STUDENTS:

• Stephen Aquilina (Aberdeen Science & Math Academy)
• Austin Robert Berger (Patterson Mill High School)
• Norman Bergin (Harford Tech High School)
• Alan Chan (C. Milton Wright High School)
• Mason Kokosinski (Joppatowne High School)
• Steven Gregory Lewis (Fallston High School)
• Amanda Nunes-Silva (Swan Creek School)
• Alison Ridley (Aberdeen High School)
• Al Jane Riska (The John Carroll School)
• David Simpson (Edgewood High School)
• An Tran (Bel Air High School)
• Nick Tran (Havre de Grace High School)

COMMUNITY AWARD:

• Layla Biggs (C. Milton Wright High School)

MIKE FRANKLIN COMPUTING AWARD:

• Jonathan Earnest (Aberdeen Science and Math Academy)
• Ethan Heckscher (Havre de Grace High School)

MATHEMATICS EDUCATORS:

• Melissa Berardelli (C. Milton Wright High School)
• Sara Brown (Patterson Mill High School)
• Carol Celozzi (Harford Tech High School)
• Kaylee Fillers (Joppatowne High School)
• Kristen Kirkpatrick (The John Carroll School)
• Robert Schnek (Havre de Grace High School)
• Karl Shivley (Edgewood High School)
• Susan Taylor (Bel Air High School)

The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation would like to thank all of their sponsors and those who support the foundation. The community support received is the reason this event and these scholarships are possible. If you would like to learn more about the foundation or find out ways you can help, click the button below.

The Community Award recognizes students who demonstrate leadership and initiative in advancing mathematics in his or her school/community. This can be done in many ways, such as actively helping other students in the classroom, founding a math club, or a dedication to tutoring and sharing knowledge. Eligible students include seniors from any high school in Harford County, MD. Each year, one student will be chosen and awarded with a $750 scholarship.

Pictured is Community Award winner, Layla Biggs, from C. Milton Wright High School.

The Mike Franklin Computing Awards were introduced to recognize and reward outstanding students and educators in the field of computer programming. The founders of The William J. Sacco Foundation were afforded opportunities by Dr. Sacco at an early age to develop computer software in the areas of healthcare and education. These opportunities spawned lifelong careers, and it is our aim to inspire youth and educators to create and follow similar opportunities through early exposure in computer programming.

Mike Franklin was an accomplished software engineer who was given his first computer programming opportunity as a teenager working on software systems used by many of the nation’s leading trauma centers. Over a 15-year career, Mike built on this opportunity to take on increasing roles and responsibilities, eventually becoming a lead software engineer on his company’s flagship products. When he passed away suddenly in August 2015, the Foundation passed a resolution to initiate a scholarship in his honor to help inspire youth to reach their full potential and recognize the educators who guide them in their endeavors.

Those eligible include seniors and educators from any high school in Harford County, MD. Each year, one student will be chosen and awarded with a $1,000 scholarship and one educator will be selected and given a $500 prize.

Pictured here is Mike Franklin Student Winner, Jonathan Earnest, from the Aberdeen Science & Math Academy.

Pictured here is Mike Franklin Educator Winner, Ethan Heckscher, from Havre de Grace High School.

The William J. Sacco Mathematics Educator Award recognizes noteworthy mathematics teachers who carry on Dr. Sacco’s legacy of creative teaching methods and passion for mentoring students. Any high school mathematics teacher from Harford County, MD is eligible for this award. Each year, one of the (up to 13) winning teachers will be chosen as Math Teacher of the Year and receive a $1,000 prize.

Pictured here are the 2024 educator winners. 

The William J. Sacco Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics recognizes students with a high aptitude in the mathematics and critical thinking fields. Eligible students include seniors from any high school in Harford County, MD. Each year, one of the (up to 13) winning students will be chosen as the Math Student of the Year and will be awarded a $3,000 scholarship.

Pictured here are the 2024 student winners.

DICORP is the parent company to a number of affiliate companies and foundations including ZPD Solutions, DICORP Equity Partners, Tribunal Technologies, The Kutcher Foundation, and the William J. Sacco Foundation. DICORP provides a number of services to keep this infrastructure running strong including finance, legal, overall management, marketing and technical.

ZPD Solutions is a full-service solutions provider, specializing in the design and development of specialized business management software and associated application development tools.

Roger Farley

We believe the bonds of our heritage bring us together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves as individuals for the common cause of promoting Italian culture and raising money for other 501c3 organizations in Maryland. Our charitable giving focuses on the areas of education, family and child services, mental health, and addiction. Our reach has grown since 2013, and we believe we can touch countless more people with our increased charity work.

We believe the bonds of our heritage bring us together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves as individuals for the common cause of promoting Italian culture and raising money for other 501c3 organizations in Maryland. Our charitable giving focuses on the areas of education, family and child services, mental health, and addiction. Our reach has grown since 2013, and we believe we can touch countless more people with our increased charity work.

The Dove Family

Pat White

Tax and accounting services that are there when you need them.

Oliver & Grimsley, LLC is a Baltimore Tier 1 listed, and Nationally listed Best Law Firm in the 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 Edition of U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” Lawyers at Oliver & Grimsley, LLC combine over 60 years of experience in corporate and business transactions, patent, copyright, trademark, licensing, internet, privacy, advertising, entertainment, corporate, entrepreneurship, investing, technology and related legal areas.