The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Volunteers who helped bring to life the many plays and musicals presented by the SGS/HMS Players over the past two decades were honored at the November 17 Board of Education meeting.
Leading the list of honorees was Terri Seggio, a teacher and one of the theatre company’s founders, who also served as director of the productions. Seggio is on a leave of absence this year.
The Board passed a resolution stating that the volunteers have “built a legacy that continues today for the students at both the Sampson G. Smith and Hamilton Campuses of Franklin Middle School.”
Seggio first created a program at Conerly Road School, where she was hired by then-principal and now Board of Education member Bill Grippo.
Seggio followed Grippo to Sampson G. Smith Intermediate School when he was transferred, and a theatre program was started there, as well.
“It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to teach and direct for the past 23 years,” Seggio said.
Speaking to the volunteers who showed up at the Board meeting, Seggio said, “There are no words to adequately express the gratitude and love in my heart. You are all the foundation of this program, and the village it was built on.”
“Each of you created an inviting and kind space here year after year for new parents who want to come and join us, and make the magic for the kids because like (schools Superintendent) Dr. Ravally says, it’s all about the kids, and that’s why we do it,” she said.
“You helped your children grace the stage with their presence and their beautiful talent year after year, and for this, I am forever grateful for every one of you who have done so many things for me and the children,” Seggio said.
“I tell my students every year that the greatest gift you can give anyone is to give back,” she said. “All of you are shining examples to your children, because that’s what you’ve done, you’ve shown them what community service looks like, you’ve shown them what giving with your hearts looks like, and they will grow up and they will go out and they will do the same thing.”
Speaking of the volunteers, Board president Nancy LaCorte said, “These are people who always make us want to say thank you and applaud.”
Grippo called the day he met Seggio “One of the milestones of 44 years” that he was employed by the school district.
“She gravitated to that theater and wanted to build a production company for the intermediate school at Sampson,” he said. “We came up with a logo for the school … Reach for the Stars. We had no idea when we said reach for the stars that Terri Seggio, and you, the parent community, would build a community of stars of students.”
“Terri was a beacon to this program,” Grippo said. “Terri was a role model for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of kids, that I witnessed from the first show to the end.”
“But besides working her magic with the kids, Terri was able to build you, the community,” he said. “This is a real blessing in Franklin Township.”
Aside from Seggio, the volunteers who were honored were:
- Alex Stefaniak
- Alvin Jowers
- Alyssa Chin
- Amy Rice
- Ann Marie Hill
- Anne Leong
- Annie Heimburg
- Bill Connell
- Bill Griffith
- Bill Grippo
- Brandi Evans
- Cara Holzer
- Chris Schwarz
- Clark Graham
- Claudine Gillooly
- Dana Laselva
- Diane Carter
- Dipesh Patel
- Doreen Healy
- Doug Carnaval
- Eddie Aiello
- Edwin Leong
- Emily Russoniello
- Eva M. Nagy
- Furnen Escher
- George Wade
- Jackie Erel
- Jeff Heimburg
- Jeff Maskall
- Kathy Proctor
- KC Patel
- Kevin McCarthy
- Kim Silva
- Laura Moley
- Lenise Owen
- Linda Stadler
- Nancie Bullen
- Nick DiMeglio
- Nikkii Tatum
- Noel Piercy
- Parul Patel
- Pat Shea
- Phil Seggio
- Ray Holzer
- Rebecca Parone
- Robyn DiMeglio
- Sabina Shea
- Sandra Garcia
- Scott Glassen
- Shawn Czech
- Susan McCarthy
- Suzanne Wade
- Ted Mandalakis
- Torri Kowalsky
- Tracey Donaldson
- Willie Chang
