It was billed as a “Shining a spotlight on excellence” event, and several students within the Escalon Unified School District were highlighted on Friday night, April 24.
Covering multiple grade levels, the Board of Trustees’ new Student Excellence in Values Awards were presented in five different areas.
The Performing Arts Center on the Escalon High School campus was packed, as family members and friends came to support the honored students. Administrators from the district school sites were on hand, along with District Superintendent Ricardo Chavez, Assistant Superintendent Mak Vos, and board members Kate Powell, president; Martha Coelho, vice president; and Nick Caton, trustee.
“This was actually born as a complementary awards ceremony for our Hall of Fame and so what we wanted to do is create something for our students, where the board could honor the students for their values and really what they represent throughout the district,” explained Superintendent Chavez. “We have awards ceremonies throughout our school sites, academics, athletics, but we wanted this to be different so the plan is the board will continue to do this every year to come and we just want to honor our students in a different and special way.”
Selected students were honored in the areas of Focus, Collaboration, Relationships, Celebrations and Accountability.
The Focus category, presented by board member Kate Powell, recognized students who demonstrate strong concentration, persistence and a commitment to learning. Honorees were Emiliano Moyotl Mojica, Collegeville, fifth grade; Antonio Brunetti, Dent Elementary, fifth grade; Francisco Ruiz III, Farmington, fourth grade; Madilyn Silva, Van Allen, fifth grade; Ethan Alexander, Gateway Charter Academy, sophomore; Mia Melendez, El Portal Middle School, eighth grade; Ayana Cocio, Escalon High School, senior; Serenity Green, Vista High School, junior.
Collaboration honorees were announced by board member Martha Coelho and highlighted students who work effectively and respectfully with others. Those honored were Charlotte Neslon, fourth grade, Collegeville; Illiyanah Lora, second grade, Dent; Lucy Weber, fourth grade, Farmington; Daniella Graves, second grade, Van Allen; Grace O’Brien, Gateway, sophomore; Zander Alvarado, seventh grade, El Portal; Taylor Bruns, senior, Escalon High; Hoss Jensen, junior, Vista High.
Assistant District Superintendent Mark Vos presented the Relationships value award, recognizing students who build positive, respectful relationships within the school community.
Receiving that honor were David Pacas Padilla, kindergarten, Collegeville; Emmy Hawes, second grade, Dent; Deleida Garcia, fifth grade, Farmington; Gabriella Graves, fourth grade, Van Allen; Selah Chen, Gateway, sophomore; Gerardo Espino, eighth grade, El Portal; Benjamin Ferreira, senior, Escalon High; Nayeli Padilla, senior, Vista High.
Board member Nick Caton presented the Celebrations award, honoring students who uplift others and contribute to a positive school culture. Award recipients were Everleigh Flick, fourth grade, Collegeville; Anahi Torres, fifth grade, Dent; Ashley Alvarado Meza, fourth grade, Farmington; Patrick Vierra, third grade, Van Allen; James Metcalf, sixth grade, Gateway; Trinity Crawford, seventh grade, El Portal; Callie Oubeid, junior, Escalon High; Deionna Nunes, junior, Vista High.
Finally, Superintendent Chavez announced the Accountability award recipients, recognized for demonstrating responsibility, integrity and ownership of their actions. Receiving that honor were Lucia Saucedo, fifth grade, Collegeville; Logan Lanza fifth grade, Dent; Alexa Castillo, third grade, Farmington; Hannah Bianchini, fifth grade, Van Allen; Abraham Flores, sixth grade, Gateway; Jace Estrella, eighth grade, El Portal; Brien Novetzke, junior, Escalon High.
Chavez explained following the Friday night ceremony that the awards program took some time to pull together.
“We actually put a nomination out to all of the staff within the district; they can nominate students, not just teachers, it could be any staff member, a bus driver, a secretary … that’s pared down by the principal (at each school site) who makes the final decision,” said Chavez. “It’s been in the works for a while, we started preparations around February, we put out the nominations in early March and then the principals had about a week to finalize their selection and then they sent them over to the district so that we could prepare for today.”
The evening also featured a reception with refreshments and a special photo area complete with backdrop for families to pose with their honored students.
