Agawam High School senior Kamiyah Ward shakes hands with School Committee members and city councilors who gathered on the junior high school stage to congratulate 131 seniors after they received their Academic A award at the committee’s March 24 meeting.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
AGAWAM — Entering Agawam High School as a ninth grader Kamiyah Ward felt she didn’t have the best grades. So, she focused on changing that.
Last week, Ward was among 131 AHS seniors to receive a prestigious award for maintaining at least a 3.0 (B) grade-point average (GPA) throughout her four years of high school.
The award — known as the Academic A — was presented at the March 24 School Committee meeting under Highlights in Education. The annual award recognizes the dedication students have shown to achieving their academic goals.
“This award is important to me because starting in my freshman year, I focused in more on my goals,” said Ward. She was determined to become a better student — and her hard work paid off.
“It makes me feel very proud of myself. This award shows I’m a very hard-working student,” said Ward. She added that she overcame academic obstacles as well as obstacles in daily life.
“It shows I know how to stay focused when different assignments are given to me. This award also represents who I am overall as a student and in my work ethic,” said Ward, who is planning a nursing career. This fall she will attend the University of Connecticut at its Storrs campus.
“This is one of our favorite events, “said Shelley Borgatti-Reed, vice chair of the committee. “It begins the events for all the seniors coming up for the rest of the year. Mayor [Christopher] Johnson isn’t here tonight. He is out of town, but he wants to express his congratulations to all the students in our audience tonight,” she said.
The Academic Aaward — unique to Agawam — was created in 1999 at the suggestion of then School Committee member Susan Pettazzoni, who was in the audience to watch this year’s awards presentation. A committee member from 1992 to 2006, Pettazzoni’s idea was to create an award that recognizes academic accomplishments in a way that is comparable to how students are recognized for sports achievements.
About 52% of the 251 members of the class of 2026 were honored with the award that includes a certificate and a large white “A” trimmed in orange with a yellow lamp of knowledge.
“I definitely do think this award should be continued, because it gives recognition to students who felt like they like weren’t good enough or weren’t smart enough,” said Ward. “It shows them that they really were, and that their hard work paid off at the end of the day. And I think other school districts should do it as well.”
Carlina Calabrese, Ward’s classmate, said she’s always taken a lot of pride in her grades and worked hard in school. “It’s nice to get recognized for that,” said Calabrese, who is planning a career in business or finance and is leaning toward attending either UConn or Penn State in the fall.
“I didn’t really know much about the award until I got the email about it. I was hoping I would get the award — I was a little surprised, but I was happy that I got it,” said Calabrese. “I’m very lucky to be receiving the award.”
The Academic A award presentation was one of the last times that a large portion of the class of 2026 gathered together before graduation. Calabrese said it’s “crazy” to think that graduation will be in less than three months.
“I still remember walking in for my freshman year. It feels like yesterday. When they said it goes by fast, it really does. We’re all close, I’d say, and we all get along. So, it’s hard to think that it’s getting close to the last time we’ll all be together just one more time.”
Ward agreed, adding that it’s a “very bittersweet” time for her “These are people from not even just high school, but elementary school that I’ve basically grown up with. And seeing us all grow up and go on different paths is very inspiring, and it just makes me feel that sense of community from all these years,” she said.
Ward added that she’s proud of what her class has accomplished, but said that “at graduation, some tears will definitely be shed — especially going from seeing these people every single day to not seeing them anymore. It’s very scary.”
School Superintendent Sheila Martin said the number of seniors receiving an Academic A has continued to grow over the years. “This can be attributed not only to the hard work of students, but also to their teachers, administrators, parents and guardians who stress the importance of academic excellence.”
Before the awards were presented, AHS Principal Jim Blain told parents and family members in the audience that “it goes without saying you know your students’ academic prowess. Please know the impact they make in our school every single day by the type of people they are. And that goes to families who raise their children, right? So, thank you.”
Blain added that seniors are about to end a journey at AHS and in the Agawam Public Schools. “Your students contribute every single day in not one, not two, but probably five to 10 different activities, clubs, awards, athletics, band, music, theater — everything we offer — it’s for these great kids,” he said.
After receiving their award, seniors went through a receiving line and were congratulated on stage by School Committee members and City Councilors George Bitzas, Edward Borgatti, Thomas Hendrickson, Peter McNair, Dino Mercadante, Christine Rickman and Anthony Suffriti.
Once the awards were presented; students joined the School Committee and City Councilors on stage for a group photo. Students then went to the AJHS cafeteria for photos grouped by the elementary they attended to symbolize their full circle of learning in Agawam.
