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- Some of the recent Keys to Success winners pose outside the theatre entrance.
by Samantha Libraty
Keys to Success, this school’s ongoing student incentive program sponsored by the Honda Village Automotive group, awarded 45 students during March and April with certificates for doing an unexpected deed, such as helping other students or making progress in class.
Students were notified that were nominated by the teachers who nominated them and by main office secretary Suzanne Spirito. All nominated students received certificates and took a picture for Keys to Success’ website Monday, April 9.
Students who received these nominations were seniors Alison Berkowitz, Kristine Cheung, Bruno DaConceicao, Clare Doolin, Robyn Estwick, Juliana Farina, Joselin Garcia, Abigail Hewett, Abby Holtzman, Lawrence Lamisere, Swardiq Mayanja, Barry Santana, Jorge Velazque and Danielle Wasson; juniors Vanessa Battista, Zoe Cassidy, Malini Gandhi, Justin Huynh, Nicole McMillen, Eden Medin, Miguel Sanchez, Kristen Sumner and Dan Sweeney; sophomores Madeline Bledsoe, Tim Blouin, Sarina DiDino, Isabela Fernandez, Aidan Hanrahan, Sam Jones, Chris Lewis, Hannah McInnes, Rachel Ng, Kenny Sanders, Amelia Williams and Serhiy Zadorozhnyak; and freshmen Georges Chedid, John Gentile, Sofia Iodice, Grace Ledard, Caleb Pels and John Sava.
They will each select from a variety of available prizes, including gift cards and museum passes donated to the Keys to Success program by local and national businesses.
Sophomore Sam Jones, who was nominated by science teacher Karen Tokos, said, “I was nominated because during an anti-bullying session, my group members weren’t interested, and I kept the conversation going and engaged the other students.
“I guess she recognized that I tried to get my fellow students engaged in the conversation, instead of doing the same thing.”
English teacher Kim Parker, who nominated senior Robyn Estwick and junior Dan Sweeney, said, “I think the program is great because it recognizes the unsung heroes––the students who have small moments that will become larger successes.
“One of the students I nominated has really improved his academic performance. He continues to build on his successes, and he would not necessarily have been recognized in another program, which is why I think Keys to Success is great,” Parker said.
In May, 25 students of the many nominated so far this year will be selected from both this school and Waltham to be finalists, principal Jennifer Price said. Each finalist will receive a car key, and one student’s key will unlock a used car worth $5,000.
The student who wins the used car can choose instead to receive a $5,000 scholarship to the college of his or her choice, she said.
Freshmen cannot win the car, but they can be nominated for other regular prizes, Price added.
