This Week's Student Spotlight: James Camillieri

Age: 15

School: Sophomore at Nanuet High School

James Camillieri is already quite cultured and at such a young age. He's a talented athlete, extremely smart, outstanding musician, and has experienced more this past summer traveling in Europe than most people will in a lifetime. 

James along with 45 other students his age traveled to Europe with an organization called People to People. Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, the program's goal is to provide a direct interaction between people of different countries and different cultures.

The group spent 19 days traveling four different countries; Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland.

"The People to People Organization has been sending me an invitation in the mail for the past few years, so last year I decided to go to the meeting to see what it was all about because the destinations interested me. I speak German and French."

Of the 46 students who went on the trip, 36 were from Rockland and Westchester and ten were from Montana. Spending 19 days abroad is not a cheap summer vacation.  

"It was expensive so I did fund raise. I collected and recycled a few thousand cans and bottles from neighbors and family.  I also sent letters out to businesses and I did get a little money through that and also a few generous individuals. We experienced the culture, life style, food and sights of Europe. It was really worth while."

Starting in Rome they boarded a bus that took them through the four countries ending in Paris. The group stayed in hotels, except for the home stay which James experienced in Switzerland. Along with one other fellow travellers, he stayed with a family who had a 16 year old daughter and 18 year old son.

"They were extremely generous and it was a lot of fun. We really got to see first hand what life is like for families in Switzerland. We tried some traditional cultural foods and experienced the language as well."

The trip exposed him to a range of new experiences, things that he wouldn't have done in New York. 

"We got to go to a Swiss soccer game, walk around the city, and we even got to go up in the mountains and do a high ropes course. One of the best sights was the Eiffel tower.  Two of the best experiences were when we got to walk around Venice on our own with a small group and the home stay in Switzerland."

The culinary experience was unforgettable as well.

"The best food experiences were in the home stay and on the last night in Paris when we got to try escargot which were surprisingly good. In the home stay, we got to try cheese fondue and I learned that they do not eat a lot for breakfast. By the time we left Italy we had all had enough of pasta."

Not only is James wise beyond his 15 years as he is able to truly appreciate the experiences, delicacies, people and cultures of different countries, but he is also an excellent student. As a sophomore at Nanuet High School he is enrolled in all Honors classes and is on the High Honor Roll.

He is an outstanding musician. As Nanuet High School has received much deserved credit for their music department, it is not surprising that any student who has musical talent will flourish.

James has received awards in the following:

• NYSSMA, received excellent and outstanding medals for trumpet (every year   since 5th grade)
• NYSSMA, received excellent medal for French Horn
• Intermediate All County Band (trumpet)
• Junior All County Band (trumpet)
• Senior All County Band (French Horn)

His talent doesn't stop at music, he is an up and coming track competitor. He has been running cross country and spring track since seventh grade. He's already received his Varsity letter for cross country. Freshman and and sophomore years he was on the varsity cross country team and freshman year he was on the JV track team.

He is also a Life Scout for Nanuet Boy Scouts 33. He is currently planning his Eagle Scout project.

"I just started the write-up for my Eagle project.  It is going to be a garden at Nanuet's Outdoor Education Center and will be used for students of all ages and the students at COPS barn. Hopefully it will be used for food for the horses and will also help educate students.  In addition it may be used in school lunches in the future.  I am also planning on building a sign to show the current  environmental research the students are conducting in the area."

James has volunteered his time working on other fellow scouts Eagle Projects and is also in the Leadership Exchange Network for Students (LENS). This is a school club that focuses on teaching students to become better leaders primarily through community service.  James is required to complete 20 hours of community service this year. 

Nanuet is one lucky hamlet to have this super student in its community. With two more years left of high school, James is a student to watch in track, music and academics. He continues to give back to the community with his volunteer efforts, most recently helping with the rebuild of the Highview Playground and in his Eagle Scout support and project.

Outstanding work James!