The ‘little things’ add up

The special board of education award was instituted in the 1995-1996 school year to recognize outstanding student efforts and talents. Candidates are nominated by the high schools’ professional staffs, based on criteria that includes – but is not limited to- service to school and community, classroom effort and humanitarian or heroic effort.

A committee has been established at each school to review the award nominations and to make the final selections. In addition to the celebration of excellence, the winning students are recognized each month at the regular board meeting, on the Lenape district website and on the district Youtube channel.

School Superintendent Matthew Webb offered opening remarks at the ceremony and congratulated the winners – and their parents for providing support.

“We’re not here to celebrate just your achievements,” Webb noted. “Tonight is about recognizing you for who you are, your character, your effort (and) your commitment for doing the right thing. Some might say we’re talking about the little things, but these little things add up to big things and they’re really important.

“So students, you’ve earned this recognition,” he added. “Your teachers see it every day, and tonight we’re really excited to recognize you publicly for the example you’ve set. Parents, this award is yours, too; this is an award for raising great human beings.

“Thank you parents.”

The students of the month are:

October: Ryan Dash, Lonzetta Tennyson, Alana Lafrance and Gabriel Torres

November: Gabrielle Moon, Jayden Carn, Eric Feiner and Maxwell Emerle

December: Caroline Blake, Loujain Shnewer, Zheilene Razo and Jaylen Elmore