Three students — one each from the elementary school, middle school and high school — were nominated for Student of the Month honors for December. First-grader Justin Chiliquinga, eighth-grader Antonio Kull and junior Vanesa Parra Henao were on hand to receive plaques and words of commendations from their respective principals during the Hampton Bays Board of Education meeting at the high school library on Jan. 8.

Justin was nominated for Student of the Month due to his outstanding teamwork and “tons of energy and excitement,” according to Hampton Bays Elementary School Principal Marc Meyer. Justin, who wants to be a physical education teacher at Hampton Bays when he grows up, is particularly fond of running relay races in gym class, Mr. Meyer said, adding that Justin also really enjoys the chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers at the school cafeteria.

Antonio, who arrived at the meeting fresh off the basketball court, is not only a gifted athlete — he plays forward on the junior varsity basketball team — but is also a very serious and determined student, according to Middle School Principal Dennis Schug. “He has a strong work ethic and he’s not afraid to do the work,” Mr. Schug said, adding that his teachers wish they could have a classroom full of Antonios, which prompted a laugh from the eighth-grader. Antonio, who said his post-graduate and college interests will include basketball and business, noted that his favorite subjects right now are social studies and science. He told Mr. Schug that he credits his parents for his strong work ethic.

Vanesa is a highly motivated student and a real go-getter, according to Hampton Bays High School Principal Chris Richardt. Although she is a junior, she is currently doubling up on junior- and senior-level classes in order to graduate early. The Presidential Honors student is an ESL tutor and a model of good character, Mr. Richardt said. She plans on studying either world languages or aviation science in college.