ACHIEVEMENTS

ACHIEVEMENTS

If you know of any achievements by CHS students (in sports, academics, arts, etc.), please send the details to webmaster@chscougarboosters.org.

2006/7

Congratulations to Columbia's heavyweight wrestler, named as the Star Ledger's Essex County Wrestler of the Year. March 30 Star-Ledger article. (March 2007)

Eleven CHS students have have made the New Jersey Music Educators' Association All-State Choirs for the 2007-2008 School Year. (March 2007)

AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS BY BOYS AND GIRLS FENCING:

	Boys Fencing: STATE CHAMPIONS
	Girls Fencing: Second Place in State Finals. Girls team 2nd place finish in NJSIAA/Bollinger Team tournament was their first loss in 72 matches. The senior girls' last loss was the first meet of their freshmen year!
	Congratulations to a CHS fencer who won the girls state individual foil title. CHS also placed 4th and 6th in women's epee, and 9th in women's sabre. CHS men placed 2nd and 15th in state individual title in men's epee, 5th and 18th in men's foil, and 9th in men's sabre.
	Columbia Boys Fencing was named Team of the Year by the Star Ledger. March 27, 2007 Star-Ledger article
	CHS boy fencers were named to the First Team All State in Epee ("he led his school to the team tournament, state title and the championship at Cetrullo while he earned as silver medal at the state individual"), Second Team (foil and sabre) and Third Team (epee).
	A CHS foil fencer who was a member of the National Cadet team last winter was named State Girls Fencer of the Year, capping a career at CHS that saw her team only lose two times in 4 years. She finished the campaign with a 77 1/2 - 2 1/2 record while leading Columbia to overall titles at the Santelli A Tournament and at the District Championships." Another March 27, 2007 Star-Ledger article
	CHS girl fencers were also named to First Team in Epee ("District 3 champion helped her school to epee title at Santelli, squad states and District 3 tournaments") Second Team All State in Sabre and Third Team in Epee.

A CHS Girls Indoor Track Athlete was named to the All State Second Team in high jump. (March 2007)

Congratulations to the CHS Girls Indoor Track which was named Essex County Team of the Year, and to coach Felecia Blake, named Essex County Coach of the Year. A CHS runner was lauded as "tops in the nation" for her win in the pentathalon, No 5 in State History, at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships at the New York Armory. March 28, 2007 Star-Ledger article (March 2007)

3 CHS players were named to Worrall Community Newspapers All-Area Girls' Basketball Team and earned All-Iron Hills Conference honors. Coach Johanna Wright was named Coach of the Year. According to the News-Record, the team's success this year included "14 wins, a huge county tournament win at East Orange Campus and a first-round state tournament victory against Union." (March 2007)

Two CHS wrestlers earned All-Iron Hills Conference honors, and an additional wrestler was named to Worrall Community Newspaper's All-Area Wrestling Team. CHS's senior heavyweight was named Worrall Community Newspaper's Wrestler of the Year, as he won the Essex County, District 10, and Regional 3 Tournament Titles and advanced to the quarterfinal round in the state tournament in Atlantic City. (March 2007)

Congratulations to a CHS senior who won the pentathalon at the National Scholastic Indoor Championship at the New York Armory. Her scores were the fifth highest in New Jersey history. (March 2007)

Columbia High School’s Women’s Ensemble and Excelsior Singers recently performed in a sold-out, gala benefit in support of the music programs at Columbia. The event, “For the Love of Music,” was sponsored by the Columbia High School Music Parents’ Association and included a wide array of performances by community members who perform on Broadway. Mr. Matthew Russell, Columbia’s vocal director, led the two singing groups and also served as accompanist to many of the Broadway stars. The event was a huge success. (February 2007)

Two freshmen CHS music students have been selected as members of the 2006-07 All North Jersey Junior Region Band. (February 2007)

Thirteen Columbia High School students who are part of the South Orange Maplewood Mentor Program, under the direction of Sergeant Michael Morrison, have been recognized by the Board of Education for volunteering their time to work as ushers at the new South Orange Performing Arts Center. (February 2007)

New Jersey's High Education Student Assistance Authority announced that 30 Columbia students were named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars and will receive scholarships if they attend colleges located in New Jersey. (January 2007)

Members of the Columbia High School Student Council attended the State Student Council Convention at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, where they were listed as an Honor School. Members of the Council presented two workshops about initiatives the Student Council originated at Columbia including “Columbia Student Service” and “Student Appreciation.” More than 1,000 students attended the Convention. (January 2007)

Nine Columbia High School students qualified to compete in the 2007 US Fencing Association Junior Olympics to be held in Denver. (January 2007)

The Boys CHS Fencing team captured the overall Cetrulo title. This is only the second time in history that the Columbia boys have captured this prestigious title. The saber team captured the silver medal while the epee and foil teams captured bronze medals. This effort combined to put them ahead of 43 teams in the state. The format of this tournament is truly a team event and the teamwork and hard work of our fencers paid off in a big way. (January 2007)

The Girls Fencing team captured their third consecutive overall Santelli title at Voorhees High School. In addition, they captured the gold medal in epee and silvers in foil and saber. (January 2007)

The Columbia Girls Track team was lauded by the Star Ledger for its "dominating victory" in the Essex County Relays on January 18, racking up 21 more points than its next closest rival. Columbia won the 1600 meter relay, the sprint medley and the team high jump. (January 2007)

Five CHS students have been selected as members of the North Jersey Area Honor Bands. Two were chosen as members of the North Jersey Area Band Wind Ensemble, the most prestigious of the two Area Band groups, and three were selected to the Symphoni9c Band. This is the second year that CHS students were accepted into the North Jersey Area Bands. (December 2006)

A Columbia junior was named to the Cornell University Summer College Director's Honors List. She attended a program at Cornell last summer and did exceptionally well in the college-level courses she took during the program. (December 2006)

According to the most recent College Board’s Advanced Placement Report to the Nation, Columbia High School has one of the strongest math and science programs in New Jersey. CHS has been invited to apply for the Siemen’s Advanced Placement High School Award, an invitation extended to no more than 15 schools per state with the highest participation and performance in AP courses in math, science and technology. This honor was announced soon after Columbia received word that a total of 90 current CHS students and 2006 CHS graduates have received Advanced Placement Scholar Awards, the highest number in the school’s recent history. Students receive these awards based on the number of AP courses completed and the high scores received on AP exams taken at the end of the course.

	Two 2006 CHS graduates received National AP Scholar Awards, the top grades given, by earning an AP exam grade of at least 4 (out of 5) on all exams taken with eight or more exams.
	29 students qualified as AP Scholars with Distinction by earning an average of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and a grade of at least 3 on 5 or more exams.
	24 students qualified as AP Scholars with Honor by earning an average of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and a grade of at least 3 on 4 or more exams.
	37 students qualified as AP Scholars by completing three or more AP exams with a grade of at least 3. (November 2006)

The CHS Marching Band won first place in a recent Division C competition against bands from Westwood, Nutley and Butler. The CHS Band also won awards for Best Music and Best Percussion. (November 2006)

Five CHS students were accepted into two of the most highly competitive music groups in the state, All State Orchestra and All State Chorus. CHS students perform in All State Orchestra on traps and violin. CHS is represented in All State Chorus at soprano 2, tenor 1 and baritone 2. (November 2006)

Two CHS students were recipients of the 2006 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards in Writing. (November 2006)

CHS 2003 graduate Christian Sahner was one of 32 American students awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Sahner is currently a senior at Princeton University, majoring in art and archeology. Interviewed by the local paper, Sahner stated that his years at Columbia prepared him well. He said teachers set the bar high and made learning exciting, Exposed to medieval history and Latin in high school, he said he had a good sense of what he wanted to study by the time he got to Princeton. “Columbia really gave me a terrific preparation for this,” said Sahner, an art and archaeology major. After graduation, the Rhodes Scholar program affords him the opportunity to attend the University of Oxford in England, where he will be enrolled in a two year graduate program majoring in Byzantine studies. Sahner is the second CHS graduate to earn a Rhodes Scholarship in just 10 years. Carla Peterson, CHS ’95, received hers as a student at Howard University in 1999. (Fall 2006)

CHS students were named to Worrall Newspapers All Area Teams this fall in Cross Country (2 boys, 3 girls); Volleyball (2 juniors and 2 seniors); Boys’ Soccer (3 defenders, 4 midfielders, 2 forwards); and Football (at quarterback, fullback, cornerback and safety). (Fall 2006)

The New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance has chosen Columbia High School to receive the 2007 Exemplary High School Physical Program Award, which makes Columbia’s physical education program the top in the state. This honor is given to programs that are considered the best in the state. Only 10 high school programs have received this award over the past 19 years. Kudos to Ms. Judy LoBianco, supervisor of health, physical education and nursing, and her entire staff! (Fall 2006)

The Columbia High School boys’ soccer team’s tradition of excellence continued in the Fall 2006 season. Blessed with a talented group of players, the Cougars fashioned an outstanding 17-3-2 record that included sharing the Iron Hills Conference-Iron Division regular-season championship with Seton Hall Prep. A CHS player was named All-Essex sophomore of the year and several CHS players were also named to second and third All-Essex teams. (Fall 2006)

For the second straight year, the CHS Marching Band took first place in its category (based on size of band) at the Randolph High School Band Festival, "Under the Stars"! Drum line took the award for best percussion, and the band took the award for "best music"! (October 2006)

	Two Columbia High School students were named semifinalists in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program, based on their scores on the PSAT test taken in their junior year. New Jersey's cut-off to become a semifinalist is higher than most other states. Fewer than one-third of all New Jersey public and private schools had any Merit Scholar semifinalists at all.
	18 Columbia seniors were awarded Letters of Commendation based on their high PSAT scores and exceptional academic promise.
	The National Achievement Scholarship Program, part of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, announced that two CHS seniors were among 3000 outstanding black students who are being referred to U.S. colleges and universities.
	The National Hispanic Recognition Program announced that one Columbia student was named a Hispanic Scholar Finalist and one student received an Honorable Mention, based on high PSAT scores and high GPAs. Only 4700 students have been recognized as Hispanic Scholar or Honorable Mention Finalists. (October 2006)

2005/6

The Columbia High School Special Dance Company was one of only three groups selected to perform in “Dance Jam” at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The other two groups were private dance companies. (May 2006)

Five Columbia High School juniors were accepted into the prestigious New Jersey Governor’s School, a tuition-free program allowing students to spend two weeks this coming summer at New Jersey universities, studying in specialized areas. They were accepted to the science program at Drew University, the public issues program at Monmouth University, theater at the College of New Jersey and the video program at the College of New Jersey.

The Unity Club of Maplewood and the Village Club of South Orange presented awards to sixteen Columbia High School seniors who performed outstanding volunteer services in and around the community. The students were honored at the 17th annual awards breakfast sponsored by the two community organizations.

Members of the Columbia High School Track Team entered the Nike Indoor Nationals in Landover, Maryland with impressive results. Student-Athletes who finished in the top 6 places were crowned All-Americans. A CHS sophomore placed 5th in the nation in high jump, giving her National All-American status. Other CHS top competitors include:
• Shuttle Hurdle Relay Team- 8th in the nation
• Pentathlon - 9th in the nation

2 Columbia High School students received the Seton Hall University’s New Jersey High School 2006 Japanese Language Study Award from the Japanese program at Seton Hall.

Eight Columbia High School students have been selected to participate in The College of New Jersey High School Honors Band Day. These chosen students will spend the day at the college with music students from around the state, participate in master classes and rehearse in one of three separate bands. The day’s activities will culminate in a gala concert the same evening with performances from each of the three ensembles.

The United States Fencing Association has selected a Columbia High School junior to represent the United States at the 2006 World Under-17 Championships in women’s foil fencing, one of only five students from New Jersey. The Championships will be held in South Korea. She is ranked third in the Cadet standings in the United States after winning gold and bronze medals in national competitions and placing 9th in an international Cadet competition in Budapest, Hungary.

For the first time, three Columbia High School Chess Teams entered the State Championships and all three placed in the top ten. At least one Columbia team has been in the top 10 for four consecutive years. The Varsity Team competed against 18 other teams and placed third, the Junior Varsity Team placed ninth and the Junior High School Team, made up of ninth graders, placed second. Mr. Roy Eismann, Columbia High School mathematics teacher, is the coach.

The Columbia Chess Teams also entered the New York City Team and Individual Chess Championships at the New Yorker Hotel. The competition is open to all chess players and some of the best players on the East Coast vie for the top spots. One of the Columbia Varsity Teams placed seventh, the Junior Varsity Team placed fifth and the Novice Team placed seventh. In the JV individual competition one CHS student placed 12th and another placed 18th. In the individual Novice section, one of our students placed 18th.

The Columbia Teams competed in the Essex County Chess League and placed first for the seventh time.

Update on Woman's Indoor Track:

A CHS high jumper was named to the All State Second Team as well as the First Team All Group 4 and All Essex First Team. Lauded as All Essex "Jumper of the Year", she won the Eastern States and Essex County titles in High Jump.

A CHS shot putter was named to the All State Second Team as well as the Second Team All Group 4 and All Essex First Team. Lauded as All Essex "Thrower of the Year", she won the shot put at the state Group 4 meet and the Essex County Championship.

A CHS athlete was named the All Essex Distance Runner of the year for her performances in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter runs at the Essex County Championships. She was named to the First All Essex Team.

CHS girls indoor track athletes were also named to both the third team all Group 4 and second team All Essex in High Jump, as well as the third team All Essex in the 200.

The Columbia High School Girls' Fencing Team ended a fabulous season, winning 11 out of 13 possible titles, one more than last year and 2001. The team won first place in all three weapons and overall crown at the Santelli Tournament, won foil, sabre and overall at the District 3 Tournament, and won Foil and epee titles at the State Tournament.

The Columbia High School Honors Wind Ensemble received a "Gold" rating at the 2006 Region 1 Concert Band Festival held on Tuesday, March 21st at Roxbury High School. A Columbia senior received the award for "Outstanding Soloist" for his horn solo.

The boys basketball team completed a very successful season - losing only 3 games during the season. The team was the winner of the Hackensack Holiday Tournament, ranked 13th in the State and 4th in the County. The team lost to Bloomfield Tech in the finals of the Essex County Tournament and lost in the second round of the state playoffs. Three CHS players were selected to the All-Area basketball team of Worrall Community Newspapers, and Coach Jerry Hill shared Coach of the Year honors.

Four members of the wrestling team won their weight classes at the District 10 wrestling championship.

A Columbia High School junior has been invited to attend the American String Teachers Association National Conference in Kansas City, where he will be demonstrating the five-string electric violin with Martha Mooke, an internationally known violinist and composer.

A CHS senior was invited to compete in the 2006 New Jersey Boy’s State Gymnastics Championship. He will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall and will be a member of the school’s gymnastics team.

The Columbia High School Boys Fencing Team placed third in the state championships.

Individual members of the Columbia High School track teams have been very successful in the following recent championships and qualifying events:

NJ State Group IV Championships
NJ State Championships
Qualified for Indoor Track & Field Nationals

Columbia cruises to championship
Thursday, March 02, 2006
BY BILL VERIGAN
For the Star-Ledger

Columbia continued to dominate what has become the most intense girls fencing rivalry in recent seasons by defeating Bernards, 19-8, for the NJSIAA/Bollinger team state tournament title last night in Rockaway. For the third straight season, Columbia, No. 1 in The Star-Ledger Top 10, finished first while No. 2 Bernards settled for second place.

This time, it was not close. The senior-laden team from Maplewood clinched its 53rd consecutive dual match in less than two rounds, a remarkable feat against a team that was previously unbeaten.

Two members of the Columbia High School Mathematics Team placed third and received Honorable Mention in a statewide competition sponsored by the Association of Math Teachers of New Jersey. In the winter Iron Hills Math League competition, the CHS Math Team placed second, competing against 15 other schools.

The Columbia High School girls’ track team shared the Essex County Relays team title with East Orange Campus team at Seton Hall University. The girls’ team also placed fourth at the NJSIAA Group 4 Relays in Princeton.

A number of Columbia High School students were accepted into highly competitive state music groups. They include ten students accepted to Region I Chorus, 2 students accepted to Region I Orchestra and a percussionist accepted to Region I Symphonic Band.

The Columbia Boys’ Fencing Team, ranked by the Star-Ledger as third in the state, has a 3-2 record and came in eighth in the statewide, all-boys Cetrulo Tournament.

Columbia Girls fencing swept to titles in all three weapons at the recent Santelli Girls Tournament to repeat as the overall tournament champion. The Team placed first in all three weapons, foil, saber and epee, taking the championship for the second straight year and the sixth time in eight years. The girls team also set a state record for consecutive dual-meet victories with its recent 37th straight win.

The CHS Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Club was featured in an article in Matters Magazine written by a CHS student. You can read the entire article here.

The Columbia High School Chess Team took many of the top awards at the New Jersey State Grade-level Championships held at Brookdale College. The ninth- and tenth-grade teams took first place and the twelfth-grade team took second place. Individual awards won were first place - twelfth grade; fifth place - tenth grade; and third place - ninth grade. This is the second consecutive year that our first place senior was undefeated.

The Columbia High School Moot Court Teams took first and third place at the Princeton University Criminal Investigation Tournament.

Two Columbia High School students senior were chosen as members of the North Jersey Area Band Wind Ensemble. These students were selected after auditioning with more than 350 students from over 30 high schools representing Passaic, Morris, Sussex, and Essex counties.

Once selected, these students prepare and perform a concert under the direction of a guest conductor who is selected by the NJ Area Band member directors. The students are members of the Columbia High School Band program.

Congratulations to the 4 athletes named to the All-Essex County teams for Girls' Cross Country and Field Hockey.

More Soccer Achievements:

	5 boys were named to Star-Ledger All Essex soccer teams. Columbia, which ranked in the State's top 20 team list, was named Essex Team of the Year, and a freshman (varsity) player was named Essex Freshman of the Year.
	A goalie, 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 forwards have been named to the Worrall Community Newspapers All-Area Boys' Soccer Team.
	A senior defender was selected to play in the prestigious Senior All Star Game at the College of New Jersey.
	CHS head soccer coach and coaching legend Gene Chyzowych was named Coach of the Year.

Four CHS students are members of the select All State Chorus, an organization of 345 of New Jersey's best high school singers. The Chorus recently performed at the New Jersey Education Association's annual convention in Atlantic City and NJPAC's Prudential Hall.

CHS students reap academic honors: Five Columbia High School students have been named semifinalists in the 2006 National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 16,000 Semifinalists were selected across the nation out of the 1.3 million juniors who entered. Students attained Semifinalist status by scoring exceptionally high on the 2004 Preliminary SAT (PSAT), taken at the beginning of their junior year.

Having five students achieve semi-finalist status is a remarkable accomplishment both for the students and for CHS. New Jersey’s cut-off to become a Semifinalist is higher than most other states in the country. Only 31 percent of New Jersey's approximately 500 public and private high schools had any Merit Scholar Semifinalists at all, and only 19 percent of these schools had five or more Semifinalists.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation additionally awarded Letters of Commendation to 18 Columbia seniors who were recognized for their high scores on the PSAT and their exceptional academic promise.

A Columbia High School senior was selected as a Semifinalist in the 42nd annual academic competition for Black American high school students based on her high PSAT score and top academic standing. Only 46 of the approximately 500 public and private high schools in New Jersey had any Achievement Semifinalists.

Two Columbia High School students were named Hispanic Scholar Finalists. To qualify, the students needed a top score on the PSAT and a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Three Columbia High School senior varsity football players have been named 2005 Iron Hills All-Conference, and two Columbia High School senior varsity football players have been named 2005 All-Area.

Congratulations to the Columbia Boys' varsity soccer team on winning the Iron Hills Conference, Iron Division championship. This is the school's 25th conference title! Columbia's successful soccer season included a string of 18 straight victories.

Congratulations to the 78 current CHS students and recent graduates who have received Advanced Placement (AP) awards from the national College Board. Three students were awarded National AP Scholar awards, 26 students AP Scholar with Distinction, and 18 students AP Scholar with Honor for their outstanding performance on at least 4 AP exams. Also, 34 students were named AP scholars for outstanding performance on at least 3 exams.

Two CHS seniors received one of the three top awards for Public Service Announcements submitted to the Kean University Purple Violet Film Festival.

A CHS junior was selected as one of the winners in the 2005 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards in writing.

Four members of the CHS Girls' Tennis Team have been named as members of Worrall Community Newspapers 2005 All-Area Girls' Tennis Team.

October 2005: At the Randolph High School Marching Band Competition, "Under the Stars," held on October 15, 2005, Columbia High School's Cougar Marching Band won first place in their Group C category! They not only won first place, they also swept all of the top awards for Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, and Best Music!

Read about the Cougar Boosters' support for ACHIEVE tutoring.