MTHS 2nd Quarter ShopRite STARS: Laurel Donohue (Community Service), Lena Unice (Athletics), Jules Zea-Joya (Arts), Julia Grzebielucha (Academics), and Scipio Han (Leadership).
The Montville Township Public Schools Board of Education [BOE] recently honored the Montville Township High School [MTHS] ShopRite STARS for the 2nd Marking Period of the 2024-2025 school year.
MTHS ShopRite STARS are nominated by faculty members in one of five different categories. The winners are selected by an administrative committee. Photos of the honored students are displayed in the MTHS office and at Sunrise ShopRite in Parsippany. In addition, Sunrise ShopRite will generously donate $1,000 to the Class of 2025.
Assistant Principal Kenneth Nadzak introduced the outstanding MTHS students.
In the field of Academics, Julia Grzebielucha was honored.
“Julia was described by staff as a curious learner; someone who truly values gathering information in order to gain a better understanding of the world around her,” Nadzak told the BOE.
Grzebielucha is carrying a rigorous course load of four AP classes in addition to Advanced French and American Sign Language.
“It is exceedingly rare for a student to take courses in two different languages over the course of their high school career let alone a single year, but this exemplifies Julia’s passion for, and dedication to, learning,” added Nadzak.
Grzebielucha has maintained a 4.2+ GPA, is the recipient of a prestigious AP Scholar Award, and was inducted into the French Honor Society.
“Julia is also a very talented artist,” Nadzak noted. “Her painting titled ‘Self Portrait in Sunlight’ was exhibited in the Fresh Perspective Installation at the Morris Museum.”
In the fall, Grzebielucha will attend TCNJ and major in Biology.
In the field of Athletics, Lena Unice was honored.
“Lena is one of the captains on our Girls Volleyball Team and a key reason that the MTHS has enjoyed so much success over the course of the past four years,” began Nadzak. “The team won the State Sectional Championship during Lena’s sophomore and junior years, they were the Morris County Tournament winners during her sophomore and senior years and earned a Conference Title in her sophomore year. Individually, Lena has demonstrated tremendous growth, as evidenced by the fact that she earned Second Team NJAC All-Conference last year and First Team All-Conference this year.”
Unice‘s personal career stats include 103 kills, 63 blocks, 443 digs, 915 assists and 100 aces. Additionally, NJ Power Rankings identified Unice as First Team All-State and, because of her 446 assists in Group 2 play, NJAC identified her as the 10th best setter in New Jersey.
“As impressive as these statistics are,” Nadzak continued, “Lena is even more respected by peers and staff because of her kindness, leadership ability, and dedication to academics.”
Unice has maintained a 4.3 GPA, scored above a 3 on three AP Exams last year, and was a AP Scholar Award Winner in 2024.
Unice will attend the Physician Assistant Program at Seton Hall University in the fall.
In the field of the Arts, Jules Zea-Joya was honored.
“Because of an unmatched dedication and passion for music and the arts, Jules joined as many musical ensembles as time would allow,” Nadzak explained, “including Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Chamber Band, Flute Choir, Percussion Ensemble and many small groups with friends. In several of these groups, Jules was assigned leadership roles such as Woodwind Captain or Secretary of the Tri-M Music Honors Society. At the end of Sophomore Year, Jules auditioned for a prestigious program called The Cali Pathways Project that is based in Montclair State University, which is available for students who aspire to go into musical studies. After being accepted, Jules took, and still takes, weekly flute lessons at Montclair, and, this past spring, performed in a concert in the Leshowitz Recital Hall as a soloist.”
Zea-Joya was awarded the Underclassman Awards for English Language Arts and Performing Arts in her sophomore year. Zea-Joya also received both awards again in her junior year. In addition, Zea-Joya received a Foreign Language Award and an award for participation in ‘The Muse,’ where she serves as the Editor.
Zea-Joya maintains a 4.2+ GPA and has challenged herself with an increasingly rigorous schedule each year, culminating in three AP classes this year.
Zea-Joya plans to pursue a major and career in Music Education.
In the field of Community Service, Laurel Donohue was honored.
“Laurel is a dedicated, selfless, and compassionate leader who has made a significant impact on our community through her extensive involvement in service initiatives,” explained Nadzak. “Much of Laurel’s community service experience stems from her passionate involvement with her local church, St. Pius X. She is described as the ‘heart and soul of youth ministry,’ serving as an office assistant, teacher and member of the youth leadership team. Laurel organizes community service events at Saint Pius, including spending one week each summer in Appalachia serving those in need by helping to repair their homes, and creating a ‘giving tree’ to help sort gifts to children in foster care during the holiday season.”
Donohue is also a member of Key Club and the MTHS Field Hockey Team and keeps stats for the Basketball Team.
“Impressively,” Nadzak continued, “Laurel is able to manage all of this while also working two part-time jobs and maintaining a rigorous schedule.”
Donohue plans to major in political science on a pre-law track.
In the field of Leadership, Scipio Han was honored.
“Scipio is one of the most brilliant and academically accomplished students we have had at MTHS over the past decade” Nadzak said. “In addition to being an exceptionally talented student, Scipio is also a true leader in and out of the classroom. In extracurricular activities, Scipio is a leader of Science Olympiad and has overseen its recent resurgence. In addition to serving as a guide, role model and mentor to students in the club, Scipio led the team to 5th Place in the Region in the Wind Power Event. Scipio also spends time tutoring peers as the Treasurer of the National Honor Society and helps organize events for students as the Treasurer of the Spanish Honor Society. Since freshman year, Scipio has also served in student government and is the Treasurer of the Class of 2025, helping to ensure that various events for seniors, including Banquet and Prom, are organized and affordable. Another way that Scipio has been able to demonstrate his leadership skills is through TAB and the Lunar New Year Celebration, which would not have run as efficiently without him. It should be noted that Scipio’s leadership of our celebration of the Chinese New Year occurred without him being a student of our Mandarin program; he simply enjoyed teaching others about the importance of inclusivity of all backgrounds and celebrating diverse cultures. Lastly, Scipio was named the ‘Section Leader’ for Violin II last year in Chamber Orchestra and occasionally conducts in Orchestra class.”
Han plans to pursue a major in Mathematics.
The ShopRite STARS Awards are designed to recognize the most consistently active and engaged students in a school population. Students are chosen each marking period throughout the school year. Seniors are nominated for consistent and outstanding performance during their four year high school career. The MTHS ShopRite STARS have their photos displayed on a plaque in the school and also at the Parsippany Sunrise ShopRite. The first quarter MTHS ShopRite STARS were honored by the Montville Township Board of Education on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Sunrise ShopRite annually donates $1,000 to the MTHS graduating class’ senior activities.