Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School senior, Abigail Mizgala, was named a 2019 “Teen All-Star” by the Observer-Dispatch.
Mizgala, along with only 24 other area students, was formally honored during a breakfast at Hart’s Hill Inn, in Whitestown, on May 21. They were chosen from 108 nominees representing several schools in Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego and Madison counties. 
While surrounded by family, friends, teachers and mentors, each “Teen All-Star” was introduced and presented with a trophy, certificate and $250 check. Shaun Kaleta, a 2007 “Teen All-Star” from Oriskany who is now director of communications/public relations at the Westmoreland Central School District and Whitestown town supervisor, was the guest speaker.
Mizgala, is the daughter of Jeffrey Mizgala. She finished her senior year with a 99+ GPA and was a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, SADD, Team LEAD and Yearbook Club. She also participated in the Physics Bowl and worked at the Jr./Sr. High School’s student-run Bulldog Bookstore and Bulldog Federal Credit Union.
In the fall, Mizgala will be attending RIT to major in microelectronic engineering. Her career goal is to work as an engineer for Intel.
The Observer-Dispatch has been recognizing the most talented students our area has to offer since 1992. In order to be named a “Teen All-Star,” a student must be a high school senior and nominated for the award. Like previous years, students were selected by a panel of community judges. This year’s judges were: Christopher Sagaas, director of the Utica Public Library; Steven Bulger, CEO/executive director at Kids Oneida; Freddie Hamilton, retired executive director of Child Development Support Corporation (CDSC), a community based not-for-profit social services organization in Brooklyn; and Alicia Dicks, president/CEO, The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
Congratulations, Abigail!