Pupils explore interesting people on BiographyDay
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Eighth-grader Bangi Laki offers his best impersonation of jazz musician Louis Armstrong for fellow students during a Biography Day presentation at the Marlboro Memorial Middle School.

MARLBORO - Familiar names such as civil rights activist Rosa Parks and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, along with some less familiar names such as Maggie Lena Walker and Eleanor Ramrath Garner were represented at the Marlboro Memorial Middle School's recent Biography Day.

Biography Day was a joint project for eighth-grade students in language arts teacher Shelley Rothy's and social studies teacher Michelle Segal's classes. The students were asked to select a biography on anAmerican woman, anAfricanAmerican or a president.

After selecting a subject, the students wrote an essay on the person's background and accomplishments, along with a biographical poem and a poster to depict his or her life.

Getting really into his subject by dressing like the person he chose and even bringing a trumpet to class was Bangi Laki, 14, who selected jazz great Louis Armstrong. Bangi said he chose the musician because of the way he united people through music.

President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09) was the subject of a presentation by eighth-grader Colin Casey on Biography Day at the Marlboro Memorial Middle School.

"He (Armstrong) wouldn't play for segregated crowds so he united even the most stubborn people through music," Bangi said.

Researching one of the nation's founding fathers was Colin Casey. Colin, 13, selected Thomas Jefferson, who served as president from 1801-09. The choice of the former president was made because he did not know a lot about Jefferson, Colin said.

When asked what impressed him the most about Jefferson, Colin had a surprising answer. The young man said he was impressed with the former president's ability to persevere after his wife's death, which left him for a time in what was described as an "emotional coma."

Students moving from one presentation to the next learned about Maggie Lena Walker, who was the first African American and the first woman who founded and was president of a bank.

Danielle DiPietro, 13, found Walker's name through an online biography database. Not recognizing the name, Danielle decided to make Walker the focus for her project.

The reason behind Walker's desire to open a bank was what Danielle found most intriguing about the woman. She explained that Walker was a member of the Independent Order of St. Luke's, and wanted to help her fellow members with the opportunities to go to college and receive loans for their own homes.

Although not a tennis player herself, Katie Vicino, 13, said she chose Billie Jean King because of the former court champion's strong determination. Katie said she was surprised to learn King had started playing at such a young age and that her brother was a member of the San Francisco Giants.

Eleanor Ramrath Garner's story piqued the interest of Marla Durand, 13. Garner and her family moved to Germany at about the time the Nazi party was coming into power, Marla explained. The student said she was impressed with Garner's ability to never give up, even when only half of her family was allowed to leave Germany and return to America.

Anastasia Gregorakis, 13, chose a woman she finds inspiring to research, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. The student said she was surprised to learn that aside from being secretary of state, Rice has another dream job: being the commissioner of the National Football League.

Rothy and Segal were proud of their students and complimented the youngsters' research and creativity. Segal said the students had been rehearsing their speeches throughout the week leading up to the presentations.