Student Spotlight: Gianni Jannke-DeMuzzio

Ledyard Middle School student Gianni Jannke-DeMuzzio was one of four Ledyard students who received awards in December from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. The CAPSS awards are given to students who are both outstanding scholars and make significant service contributions to their communities.

The award was presented by LMS guidance counselor Patty Pollin, who first met Gianni when he was a 6th-grader at Ledyard Center School. She had been visiting LCS with the middle school chorus and band in an effort to recruit new members. This is what she had this to say about Gianni:

"We walked into Ledyard Center School and were met by ambassador Gianni, who proceeded to set up our stage. He was running around and getting us extension cords and making sure the sound was working properly. It was so clear that an adult was not needed. 

"Academically, Gianni is on top of his game. He is self-motivated, very organized, works through frustration – thinks about a problem and then comes back to it.  He will get a 90 on a test, ask the teacher what he could have done better and the next time will go beyond that to make sure he gets everything right.

"He makes his teachers feel good about teaching.  Spanish comes naturally to him; Ms. Scibelli says that he rarely makes a mistake.  He wants to be in the dialogue and easily contributes, often with a sense of humor.

"Gianni is a member of the percussion section in the LMS Band and has taken the initiative in learning to play timpani, mallet instruments, chimes, various drums and all of the accompanying items that make up the rhythmic sounds in a percussionist’s tool box.  He also has the responsibility of playing piano in the jazz band.

"Gianni and his Robotics team from LMS recently won their regional competition in a tension-filled contest.  Gianni was at LMS at 7 a.m. and worked daily on the robot until first block started at almost 8 a.m.

"Robotics team coach Mr. Kobelski tells us that during the first round, the team discovered that the robot did not fit the field the way it was built. It was a disaster and he could see it in all of their faces. Without having had the chance to practice with it, the team rebuilt the robot in a half hour and earned the highest average of the rounds with the highest individual score. 

"In a surprise challenge, the team built a tower out of  marshmallows, gum drops, and spaghetti and theirs was the only one out of 30 teams that stood all day.

"Mr. Reilly told me that Gianni’s standard of work in algebra is amazing; and he is still supportive of his peers.  Mr. Reilly also added that during the Talent Show and musical production last year, Gianni’s work in that technical arena was like someone many years older.  His maturity and professionalism are to be admired.

"Gianni told me that Steve Jobs is someone he really admires because he changed tablet computing, personal computers, animated movies, digital music, storing everything in the cloud.

"Gianni, we can’t wait to see what your contribution is going to be."