001Statement is hereby made that adequate notice of this meeting was given by the prominent posting of said notice in all district schools and other public places, the mailing and or hand delivery of said notice in the designated newspapers, the Asbury Park Press and the Manalepin Patch, filing with the clerk of Manalepin Township and the clerk of English Town Borough. At this time I'm going to invite two students from our Pinebrook Jazz Band to join me on stage to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you both. Okay, let me do roll call really quick. Mrs. Campo? Here. Mr. Capric? Here. Mr. Ferber? Here.
002Mrs. Herr? Here. Mrs. Lucas? Here. Mrs. Parisi? Here. Mr. Singer? Here. Mr. DeCetti? Here. We have a quorum. So welcome again to our evening of appreciation. This is truly one of my favorite nights of the year. I love to look out at the audience and see members from all different aspects of our community here together to celebrate our staff and our volunteers that truly make a difference every day in our schools. So tonight, we honor our retiring colleagues who have devoted many years of service to our district. We celebrate those outstanding staff members who have been nominated by their peers for exemplifying true excellence as educators and support personnel, and we recognize those who volunteer their time to make our schools even more special than they already are. New Jersey consistently ranks among the top
003states for education, and our district proudly stands out as one of the best districts in New Jersey. Simply put, we are among the nation's finest school districts, and that distinction is thanks to all of you here tonight, as well as to the rest of our amazing staff. So before we get in, give yourselves a round of applause for everything you've done. I feel incredibly fortunate, and I hope you do as well, to be part of a community filled with such a caring and dedicated professionals. Every day, our staff go above and beyond to provide our students with an outstanding education in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. It truly takes a village, and ours is one that shines brightly. So without further ado, let this celebration begin. We are going to start with honoring our
004retirees, and at this time, I'd like to invite Ms. Orlando to the stage. Good evening, everyone. I am the very proud principal of Clark Mills School, and this year, I have four very special retirees. We are going to start with Lorena Taviano. Lorena, we honor your remarkable dedication as a teacher. Your patience, flexibility, and deep passion for learning have nurtured and shaped countless young minds. Thank you for inspiring growth, sparking curiosity, and making every day a learning of learning meaningful and joyful. You have not only taught the fundamentals of reading and writing, but you have also instilled a lifelong love of learning that your students will carry on forever. Thank you for your 20 years of extraordinary service to Menalop and Englishtown. Mrs. Lori Singer. Lori, after 34 years of dedicated service as a teacher
005and reading specialist, you have transformed countless students into confident readers and lifelong learners. Your extraordinary patience, expertise, and unwavering passion for literacy have shaped not only skills, but also confidence, character, and a love of learning. You have been a guiding light for our students, a trusted colleague, and a gift to our families. As you retire, you leave behind a legacy of growth, encouragement, and excellence in education. Thank you for 34 wonderful years in Menalop and Englishtown. And Jenny Sagnelli, our secretary. Oh, Lorraine and Lorraine Ottaviano, come on up. We are going to give you something. Lorraine Ottaviano. Thanks. I am messing this all up. Mrs. Lori Singer, come on up. Mrs. Jenny Sagnelli, after 27 years of devoted service across three schools, you've been so much more than a school secretary. You've been the heart
006of every building you've touched. Your warmth, kindness, and steady presence has comforted students, families, and staff throughout your time here in Menalop and Englishtown. You consistently take initiative without being asked, always see what is needed to be done, and do it with care, love, and grace. You leave behind a legacy of love, connection, and unwavering dedication. Enjoy a beautiful, well-earned retirement. And thank you for your 27 years in the Menalop and Englishtown Regional School District. Come on up. And Anne-Marie Gorman is not here this evening, but we would like to thank her for her 23 years of service to the Menalop and Englishtown Regional School District. I'd now like to call up Ms. Shannon Barth. Ms. Barth never stops working. Even during a celebration, she's somewhere working behind the scenes. Hi everyone. So initially, I
007was going to start off with a funny thing, but now that I'm late, I can't do that because that wouldn't be good. Okay, my Marion, tonight we celebrate you. I'm going to try to do this without crying. Marion has been in the district for over 14 years. She's dedicated herself to everything that she's done. I've had the pleasure of working with her for the past eight years. Many have called upon her and she has answered to many things, like ba, ma, mama, me ma, aunt ma, grandma, sunshine, and my favorite, Marion. She truly has been everyone's person, selfishly, I thought she was only mine. But over the years, I've realized that everybody counts on her. She's everybody's person. She has so much love to share with everyone. And I am so blessed to have worked
008with you for all these years and to know you. So tonight is about your celebration and your turn to appreciate everything that you've done for everyone. And now take your time and enjoy your retirement. Love you. And who says human resources doesn't have a heart? At this time, I'd like to call up Ms. Tice. Good evening, everyone. I'm the principal of Milford Brooks School and I'm so excited to honor two wonderful retirees, Patti Mulvey and Cami Savage. Patti, throughout your 25 years of service, you have been a truly compassionate and patient instructional assistant who has made an impact on the lives of the countless students you have worked with. Whether providing one-on-one support during fast-forward lessons or helping students build confidence in their academic abilities, you constantly met each child where they were and encouraged
009them to reach their fullest potential. The relationships you built with students and staff along the way and your commitment to helping children achieve their goals has left such a positive mark on our MB school community. It's been very hard to replace you since you left us in December. We truly miss seeing you all the time in our MB hallways. Congratulations on your retirement, Cami. Tonight we celebrate the remarkable career of Cami Savage, who has dedicated 27 years to shaping the lives of our youngest learners. Throughout her years in second grade and kindergarten, Cami has done far more than teach letters and numbers. She has taught children how to be students, friends, and confident members of our MB school community. With patience, kindness, and an unwavering belief in every single child she gets, no matter what
010issues they may have or behaviors, she has helped so many students truly discover their strengths and begin their educational journey with joy and success. Her impact on our school and the countless families she has touched is truly immeasurable. She is definitely, without a doubt, the core of our MB kindergarten team, and she was deeply missed at MB. Congratulations, Cami, on an extraordinary career and a well-deserved retirement. I would like to now call up Dr. Fiorillo. Good evening, everyone. I'm Michael Fiorillo. I'm the principal of Menalpen English Town Middle School. I started right before COVID began and schools closed down, and you can imagine that was a little bit of a hectic time trying to get to know everybody and keep a school open. When I think of our first educator, Mrs. Ann Moyle, I think
011of somebody who in that chaotic time was often a sounding board for me. I think of someone who I could always have honest conversations with, sometimes frank conversations, but always insightful conversations. Tonight, we celebrate Ms. Moyle and thank her for her 25 years of dedicated service, and has been a trusted source of advice and steady leadership throughout my time here for me, as well as many others. Through her work with the Association and the Communication Committee, she constantly served as a thoughtful and respected voice of our staff. Thank you, Mrs. Moyle. We recently had a brief medical emergency at MEMS, and our next teacher, I could tell you that she was the first one to respond, I could tell you how calm and how professionally she handled it. But I think if I tell you
012how Ms. Lozada acted afterwards, how she continued to reach out to me to make sure everything was fine with the student, and what her and her community could do to make the students return to school smoother and easier, that tells you more about the character of her as a person and educator. Tonight, we recognize Karen Lozada for her years of dedication as a math teacher at MEMS. Her commitment to students, her professionalism, and her steady presence in the classroom helped countless students build both confidence and academic skill. Her impact on our skill and community, and the relationship she built with staff and students throughout her career, will not be forgotten. Congratulations, Mrs. Lozada. There are so many things I'm going to miss, and I know I speak for the rest of the staff when I
013say we're going to miss about my next teacher. Mrs. Maria Gracia Watson, I think of all the things I will miss are the small conversations. Whether they're walking in in the morning, after bus duty in the hallway, about a variety of topics from a leak in a roof, to travel, to the end of Quintemester activity. She's always made me feel welcome and comfortable, and I see how that moves on to her students. Tonight, we celebrate Mrs. Gracia Watson for her dedication and service as a Spanish teacher at MEMS. She has always been a professional, kind, and warm spirit towards all in the building. She's a passionate advocate for Spanish language and culture, and she has inspired students to appreciate language learning while helping MEMS become an even more welcoming place. Thank you, Maria. I would
014also like to briefly recognize Louise Burns for her 26 years of service, Kareem Moorfield, and Carmen DiCurso for his 35 years of service. Thank you. At this time, I'd like to welcome up Ms. Suskowitz. Hi, everyone. Pinebrook is very fortunate to only have one retiree this year, and it was for someone who was with us for a relatively short amount of time when you think about a career. However, they had a very lasting impact on our school as a whole. So today, we celebrate Gail Murray, who is a truly one-of-a-kind educator, who somehow made the leap from media specialist at Clark Mills to makers-based mastermind at Pinebrook, back again to media specialist at Taylor Mills for one last act of service to the district, Look Effortless. She traded books for mice, glue guns, and a
015few mysterious wires no one else dared to touch. Every day, she had a great outfit, a smile, and a passion for inspiring students to challenge themselves, whether she was guiding them through creative builds or engaging them with thoughtful real-world learning experiences. Gail's legacy lives on in every student who considers themselves a maker, who question and who create, but also in Clark and Taylor Mills, who she helped find joy in getting lost in a great book. Lately, I imagine she started off retirement on the golf course, taking her morning walks, ruling the pickleball court, or deep in a home renovation. Retirement for Gail just means a different kind of busy. Gail, the district is fortunate to have had you for the last 14 years. Please enjoy every well-earned moment of your retirement. At this time, I'd
016like to call up Mr. Lasco. Leaving is garbage. Good evening, everybody. I'm Jeff Lasco, Director of Physical Plan. Tonight, I would like to recognize Dominica Mattia. Congratulations on your retirement, and thank you for your 18 years of dedicated service to Malp and English Town Board of Education. Your kindness, professionalism, and willingness to always help others never went unnoticed and made a positive impact on so many people throughout the years. I was truly fortunate to work personally with you during your final three years, and I always appreciated your support, patience, and warm spirit. You have left a lasting impression on your coworkers and the entire school community. I wish you nothing but happiness, relaxation, and many wonderful new adventures in the next chapter of your life. Unable to make it tonight, I would like to thank
017John Esinez for his 29 years of service to Physical Plan in the Grounds Department, and I'd also like to thank Kelly Gorman for his five years of service as a utility person for Physical Plan. At this time, I'd like to call myself to the podium to recognize Ms. Gigi Petillo. I'm going to go off my speech a little bit. I wrote a very professional speech, and I struggled with that because there was so much more I wanted to say about Ms. Petillo. I've had a lot of fun working with Ms. Petillo. Where are you, Ms. Petillo? I don't even see you. If I'm talking, I want to see you. I had a lot of fun working with Ms. Petillo, and this speaks volumes to somebody that they can be known all around the community, all
018around the county, and all around the state by just their first name, right? She's Gigi, and everyone knows who Gigi is, and that's an accomplishment all of itself. But now I'll get to my professional speech. I have the honor of recognizing Ms. Petillo tonight. Ms. Petillo has been with us for 22 years since 2003, first serving as Assistant Director of People Personnel Services, and for the last 16 years as Director of People Personnel Services. I've had the privilege to work side by side with you for 10 years, and it has been an absolute pleasure. As everyone in the room probably knows, Ms. Petillo possesses an extraordinary amount of knowledge and expertise. Her impact on our district has been undeniable, and as it's the many people she has helped, along with the connection she has built,
019they are a true testament to her dedication and her commitment. Ms. Petillo, I thank you, it's even hard to say Ms. Petillo and not Gigi, Gigi, I thank you for everything you've done for this district, for our students, I truly appreciate you, I've truly had a blast working with you, and I wish you all the best in your retirement, you absolutely deserve it. At this time, I'd like to call out Ms. Camuto. Good evening, I'm Leah Camuto, the still fairly new principal at Taylor Mills, but although being new, it didn't take long to recognize the dedication, the energy, and the impact that our two retirees have made. For 25 years, Jackie said he has exemplified dedication, flexibility, and an unwavering commitment to students. In her role as an instructional assistant, Jackie has been a true
020team player, she consistently stepped in wherever needed, often adapting to changing assignments with grace and professionalism throughout the year. We are grateful for her service, will miss her greatly, and wish her a happy retirement. And unable to be with us here tonight, we would like to thank Jackie Falconetti for her 22 years of service, and wish her the best in retirement as she prepares to welcome her first grandchild. And at this time, I'd like to call out Ms. Vestano. Good evening everyone, I would like to honor Sarah Garino. Sarah served the district for 17 years. As a compassionate bus assistant, she built lasting relationships with her students, her families throughout her years of service. She consistently engaged with her students, and remained committed to the success across the district. I wish her a wonderful retirement
021with her family and grandchildren. Come on up, Sarah. I was just letting Sarah know she could always come back and stop. Thank you, Sarah. And next is Joanne Simeone. Joanne is a valued member of my team. She has a wonderful sense of humor that brings laughter and positivity to our department, which is especially appreciated in transportation. With 20 years in the district, she has made positive impacts on students, families, and the community as a whole. I wish her a joyful retirement filled with sunshine, relaxation, and time spent with her toes in the sand. Come on up, Joanne. And I would like to take a moment to thank Donna Giordano, Harania Lind, and Christine Ciconi for their years of service to the district. Congratulations, everyone. At this time, I'd like to welcome Dr. Ciri. I am
022here to honor the amazing, incredible, remarkable Miss Dana Luciano. Dana, I joked when you came in that I was going to stand up here and rescind her retirement, but I won't do that because you deserve it. Your dedication, your kindness, and your compassion have left an immeasurable mark on not only the school community, but Menalip and on a whole, because when they hear your name, they all say, oh no, she's leaving. You've inspired confidence, curiosity, the love of classic music, and character in countless students, creating a place where truly every single student who's walked through your door feels valued, loved, and welcomed. And that goes for their adults only, so if you've never walked into Miss Luciano's room, you will know you are greeted by good morning, beautiful lady, or good morning, handsome fellow. It's
023a great confidence booster. Your legacy will truly endure in the lives of everybody you touched, not only the students you taught, but the parents who are fortunate enough to have their child in your class. Thank you for all you do. Congratulations on your retirement. Enjoy the beach and your doggies. I know. I couldn't lie to you this time. At this time, I'd like to call Miss Fittipaldi up here. Hi, everyone. I'm Rebecca Fittipaldi, the proud assistant principal of the ELC. Unfortunately, our two retirees could not attend tonight, but I'd like to thank Miss Allison Volk for her 31 years of service in the district, as well as Miss Susan Burgess for her 19 years of service in the district. Congratulations to them both. And we have one more round of applause for our retirees. And
024I do want to take a moment before we move to the next part of the agenda to reiterate Miss Vestano's sentiments. I expect to see each of you in HR 180 days from now coming back to serve with us. Just because you left doesn't mean you have to stay gone. So at this time, I would now like to introduce Miss Jody Pipchinski, assistant superintendent of curriculum and human resources, to start our celebration of teachers and support staff members of the year. All right. First and foremost, congratulations to all of our retirees this evening. Not only do I love seeing each of them here, but I love seeing them surrounded by their friends, their family, their grandchildren, their children, and I also recognize we have some staff members here who are just here because. So thank
025you for that. Good evening again to our board members, our administrative team, the MERS staff who are present and their special guests. It's a true pleasure to gather this evening for our evening of appreciation, a celebration of the people who make the Monalepin English Town Regional School District such an exceptional place to learn and grow. In our district, we take great pride in a staff that is not only talented and dedicated, but deeply committed to our collective why, which is our students. Every day, our educators, support staff, and administrators give the very best of themselves to ensure our children thrive in classrooms that inspire curiosity, foster kindness, and uphold our longstanding tradition of excellence. The strength of MERS lies in our people. Choosing recipients for teacher of the year, educational services professional of the year,
026and support member of the year is not a simple task as we are fortunate to have remarkable educators and staff members in every school and across the district. Each honoree recognized this evening, please know has been nominated by peers and or administrators and these nominations thoughtful, heartfelt, and inspiring are reviewed then by a committee that selects the individuals who truly exemplify the spirit of our district. To be chosen among such an extraordinary group of personnel is a tremendous honor. It's a testament to a career built on passion, professionalism, and most importantly, an unwavering commitment to students. Few moments capture this pride more vividly than when the announcement comes up over the PA system. When that occurs, you have to be there, you suddenly hear the spontaneous cheers and the applause echoing throughout the hallways from
027the children and the colleagues. It's amazing. It's in those moments that the joy of the work we do shines most brightly. It is my pleasure to officially begin the next part of our ceremony as we will begin by recognizing the teacher and educational service professional of the year. Up here with me is Ms. Christine Parisi, a member of our board of education. I'm going to tell you teachers, just like we tell the students, at the evening of excellence, please make sure you pause when you get your wonderful certificate and make sure you let your family members take a picture. It's their moment just as much as it's yours. We know they are very proud of you. Don't try to shy away. Without further ado, I'd like to recognize first Ashley Troilitis from Clark Mills School.
028Troilitis, I'm sorry. From the John I. Dawes Early Learning Center, Kara Peters. Just as professional as they are, they've already lined up in order, ready to accept their awards. From Lafayette Mills School, Valerie Breslow, come on up. From the Menalapin English Town Middle School, Megan Watts. From Milford Brooks School, Nancy Wilcox. From Pinebrook School, Samantha Robbins. From Taylor Mills School, Lauren Baldari. From Wimrock Brooks School, Allison Englinder. And we also have our educational services professional who represents all of the district in this area. From Milford Brooks School, Abby Hammerstrom, the nurse. They follow directions really well, don't they? With that said, congratulations once again to our teachers of the year and our educational services professional. It's very well deserved. At this time, and he's already making his way up, I'd like to now introduce Mr.
029Jesse Tosetti, another member of our Board of Education, who will assist us as we now will recognize our support staff members of the year. And just like the teachers and educational professional staff, be ready for that photo opportunity. We even turned your certificates open so that you are ready to go. First and foremost, Clark Mills, Kimberly Whitehill. And I believe she's not here this evening. From the John I. Dawes ELC, Monica Zambruska. From Lafayette Mills, Jacqueline Roth. They too are earning an A plus, ready to go in line. Good job. From the Manalapan English Town Middle School, Christopher McKinley. Come on up. From Milford Brooks School, Roseanne Calgano. From Pine Brooks School, Eric Nelson. From Taylor Mills School, Santos Gonzalez. From Wemrock Brooks School, we have Bill Moore. Come on up. From Pupil Personnel Services,
030Antonio Bauer. From Main Street, Miss Heidi Brown. And I don't think she's here, but we're still going to recognize her. From the Physical Plant, John Liada. And from Transportation, James Weiss. Congratulations. You're welcome. Right. Thank you, Mr. Tosetti. Once again, I'd like to say congratulations to all of our honorees this evening. They have not only earned their respective title, but they have earned the respect and admiration of many, including students, parents, colleagues, and I heard a couple of that's my mommy out there. I heard that. I heard a couple of that's my Grammy too. You each have made a difference and continue to do so. Thank you every single day for all that you have done and continue to do. You have made a difference. At this time, I would like to introduce Mr. David
031Ferber, the president of the Board of Education. Thank you and good evening, everyone. We are so grateful for the many ways our volunteers, PTAs, PTOs, the MEMS Booster Club, the Foundation and our district CPAC support our schools and students throughout the year. The time, energy, and heart that you give make a lasting difference in our district. We are truly honored to recognize you tonight for all that you do. I'd now like to call up Kristin Lattazzani. Okay. I'd now like to call up, right, Kristin's not here, is she? Hi. Darren Leesey, congratulations. I'd now like to call up for her second time on stage, Jacqueline Roth from Lafayette Mills. Congratulations again. Not here with us tonight is Vanessa Katcham from Milford Brook, Kelly McConnick from MEMS, Amanda Pockrights from ELC, Meredith Silverstein from Wemrock Brook,
032and Lauren Tessie from Lafayette Mills. As some of you may not know, the PTA, the PTOs, and Booster Clubs and I meet once a month and it's a great meeting where we can share ideas, talk about the district. This year we changed the name of the meeting a little bit and we called it the Parent Collaborative and we invited other groups who also volunteer their time to our meetings and I think the conversations have become much more lively, much more engaging, and much more thorough where we're looking at all of our students and all the different ways we can help our students, not as different organizations, but together as one community for our district. So at this time I'd like to recognize our CPEG member Janine Montrone and Lisa Marie Strom and now I'd like
033to invite up the foundation. We'll start with Ms. Patricia or Pat Berger, Ms. Maria Malamachi, and Ricardo Rivers. I would now like to ask that Dr. Ciri come to the stage to share a very important award. This evening I have the honor of presenting the Janine Liege Award on behalf of the Foundation for MERS. The Janine Liege Award was created in honor of Janine Liege for her service to the school district and community. This award recognizes an individual whose dedication, compassion, and commitment to others reflect the very qualities that made Janine so special. This award serves as a way to honor and remember a remarkable woman and ensure her legacy will continue to live on throughout not only our district but the community. Janine left this world far too soon but she left an indelible
034mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her. When people think of Janine they immediately remember her smile, her laugh, and her truly genuine kindness. She was a role model to all of us and an example of how we should treat one another each and every day. The impact Janine had on students, staff, parents, and community members were both remarkable and inspiring. She greeted everyone with warmth and made people feel valued. Whether she was supporting the students here at Wembroke Brook or cheering on her two sons Chris and Nick from the sidelines or Vons here through the community, Janine was truly a champion for every single child. She believed in lifting people up, helping others succeed, and making everyone feel like they truly belonged. So when selecting a recipient for this year's award we look for
035someone who exemplifies those same qualities. The Janine Liage Memorial Award recognizes an outstanding individual whose service, dedication, and personal sacrifice have made a meaningful difference in the lives of others. This person is committed to the community, serves as a model of integrity, and demonstrates through their actions that every child deserves a champion and deserves the opportunity to succeed. When I was asked to present this award I thought about what I wanted to say about this year's recipient. The fun part about this award, it's the only award of the night where the recipient does not quite know why they are here. Sometimes we tell a lie, sometimes we recruit family, it's all in good spirit. So when I thought about how to introduce this individual I kept coming back to one word, their legacy. What will
036people say about this person 20 years from now? What impact have they truly had on students, families, and the community that they serve? And without question, this individual has dedicated her life to making Manalib in a better place. One may call her an advocate, a champion for the community, a lifelong learner, a volunteer. As a proud graduate of both the Manalib and English Town Regional School District and the Freehold Regional High School District, she has spent a lifetime serving the community she calls home, Ms. Jamie Brunel. I'm sure everybody knows, but let me just tell you in case you're one of the few people in the room that does not know Jamie. As a special education teacher at the Manalib and English Town Middle School, she has been a tireless advocate for students with special
037needs, helping them become independent learners, preparing them for success in high school and beyond. Her compassion, patience, and unwavering belief in her students have made a lasting impact on countless children and their families. I can't look at you. Jamie has continuously sought ways to better serve her students. She's become Orton Gillingham trained, allowing her to provide specialized support in reading, writing, and spelling for students with dyslexia. She believes that every child can succeed when given the proper support and encouragement. But Jamie's impact extends far beyond the classroom. For years, she's devoted countless afternoons, evenings, and weekends to coaching soccer and basketball, mentoring hundreds of young athletes. If you ever attended a sore basketball game or Manalib and soccer club game, you likely saw her on the sidelines. She has taught lessons that go well beyond
038wins and losses, lessons about teamwork, perseverance, confidence, and character. In fact, one of her former players is so inspired by her example, she now serves alongside Jamie as both a basketball coach and a special education teacher at MEMS. Jamie has dedicated countless volunteer hours throughout the community. Following in the footsteps of her late father, she served many years on the board of the Manalib and Soccer Club and created thousands of positive experiences for children. She currently serves as the Township Rec Advisory Board and is an elected member of the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education. Perhaps though, one of her most extraordinary contributions to the community is Turkey Time. What began as a small effort with a handful of local sports teams helping out has become an incredible community-wide initiative that now helps
039more than a thousand families every year. Through her leadership, her generosity, and her ability to simply bring people together, Jamie has demonstrated what it truly means to care for your neighbors, much like Janine. Jamie has the unique gift for making others feel seen, valued, and supported. The truth is, Jamie doesn't volunteer for recognition. She doesn't seek the spotlight. We literally struggled about how we were going to get her here, so thanks, Mr. Bruno. She simply sees a need and steps up to help, whether it's supporting a student, mentoring an athlete, helping a family or need, or opening up her home to others on a holiday, giving back is simply who she is and what she does. Like our dear friend Janine, Jamie leads with kindness, compassion, and action. She quietly makes a difference every day
040and inspires others without asking for a thank you. Her commitment to helping others has strengthened our schools, our athletic program, and our entire Manaliban English Town community. I know this award holds a special place in your heart because it bears Janine's name, which is why I'm not looking at you. For those of you who knew and loved Janine, this award is more about recognizing service. It's about continuing the legacy of somebody taken from us way too soon. Janine believes in lifting others up, and Jamie embodies that same spirit in everything she does. Jamie, I know I'm sure you're honored to receive this award, but I know that Janine is smiling down as she watches you accept it tonight. Vito is sorry he could not be here. He would have loved to be here as well.
041Through your service, your generosity, and your commitment to others, you have carried towards the very values that this award was created to recognize. You should be proud of everything you do with the lives you've touched and the example you set for all of us, so it is our honor to present you with the Janine Liagi Memorial Award. I would now like to turn the meeting back over to Dr. Nicole Santora. Can we give one more round of applause for everyone here tonight? And a special thank you to Ms. Felicia Natal for all her hard work to make this night special for all that attend. As we bring this celebration to a close, please take a moment to look around this room and take in the incredible people gathered here. Our retirees, our staff of the
042year, our volunteers represent the very best of our community. Dedication, service, and heart. Tonight we honor not only what they've done, but the lasting impact they've made on our schools and on one another. Thank you again for coming tonight and making this such a meaningful celebration. I truly mean this, when you look out into that crowd, all you see is love, and that's exactly what MERS is, so thank you. We now take a five minute break and then on to our board meeting.