After receiving their Academic Award A award at the March 25 School Committee meeting, AHS seniors gathered on stage at the AJHS for a group photo. About 55% of this year’s 228 seniors received the award for academic excellence.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
AGAWAM — When Emily Gonzalez entered Agawam High School as a ninth grader, she made a commitment to herself that she would have a high GPA throughout her four years at the school.
Gonzalez not only achieved her goal, but she also earned a prestigious award for her academic dedication. She was one of 127 members in the class of 2025 to receive an Academic A award at the March 25 School Committee meeting.
The award is presented annually to seniors who have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA during their freshman, sophomore and junior years as well as the first semester of their senior year.
“This award shows that I’m very persistent in keeping my grades up. I’ve been committed to trying to keep up and maintain a specific GPA to achieve the things that I’d like to do in my future,” said Gonzalez, who is planning a business career. She will attend Holyoke Community College this fall and then will transfer to a four-year college or university.
The award was created in 1999 at the suggestion of former School Committee member Susan Pettazzoni. A committee member from 1992 to 2006, her 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 55% of the school’s 228 seniors were honored with the award that includes a certificate and a large white “A” trimmed in orange with a yellow lamp of knowledge in the center. It looks similar to sports letters that high school athletes receive for their athletic achievements. The presentation kicked off the senior award season that will last until graduation.
“I think this award is a good idea because it gives students something to strive for and something to have as a goal. It’s another incentive for students to keep their grades up to a high standard,” said Gonzalez.
Bianca Banaru said she was “very happy” to get her Academic A. “It’s important to me because it reflects the effort that I put in during my four years of high school. It also makes me proud of myself for maintaining a high GPA.”
Banaru was confident she would receive an Academic A, so she wasn’t surprised when she learned that she would get the award. “I kind of assumed that my effort and grades would be recognized at some point,” she said.
The award — which is unique to Agawam — has become one of the traditional awards for seniors. Banaru thinks that’s a good thing. “I think it’s definitely worthwhile. It gives kids an incentive to try their hardest and it also appreciates students who have already tried their hardest,” said Banaru. She’s undecided about what four-year college she will attend, but plans to double major in business administration and environmental science.
Like his two classmates, Evan Connery said the award is important to him because it acknowledges his academic success. “It’s an honor to get this award. It recognizes all the hard work I put into the past four years to maintain my GPA, doing all my homework and making sure my grades are up to the standard that I want them to be.”
Connery said he wasn’t aware of the award until he was told he would be getting an Academic A. “I didn’t keep my grades up to get an award. It’s more personal — I take pride in my grades.”
A member of the high school golf team, Connery will attend Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina this fall to prepare for a golf-related career. “I’m excited for college and all the stuff that comes along with it. I feel like it was only a year ago that I was a freshman,” he said.
School Superintendent Sheila Martin said the number of seniors receiving an Academic A has continued to grow over the years. “This growth 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 they would be seeing a lot of each other in the next few months. “We’re about two and a half months to graduation, with many events scheduled from now through then,” he said.
Blain added that the students receiving the award are “amazing” students. “They make coming to school easy every day — and that starts with families, who deserve a round of applause for raising children the right way,” he said.
After receiving their award, seniors went through a receiving line and were congratulated by the mayor and other School Committee members. Joining them were other dignitaries, including City Councilors Ed Borgatti, Thomas Hendrickson, Dino Mercadante, Anthony Russo, Peter Smus and Maria Valego.
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 where they were grouped by which elementary they attended to symbolize their full circle of learning at Agawam Public Schools.
