Saugus students celebrated for academic excellence

SAUGUS – Saugus High School seniors donned their gowns a couple of days early Wednesday night for the annual academic award ceremony in the high school auditorium.Several students won multiple awards Wednesday including Andrew Rapsomanikis, who won the Advanced Placement physics award, the AP chemistry award and the May Kelly Math Award; Brendan Reach, who won the Math Team award, the math excellence award and the excellence in band award; and Amanda DiCenzo, who won the Semper Fidelis music award, the excellence in wellness award and the excellence in band award.?Tonight is your night to be awarded for 12 years of hard work and dedication,” said high school Principal Joe Diorio. “As principal I?m excited to see such a fine group of young men and women excel in so many areas. I hope tonight means as much to you as it does to our school.”Superintendent Richard Langlois congratulated the students for their accomplishments and told them to take pride in what they have achieved.?This is a celebration of your hard work and personal commitment,” said Langlois. “You have demonstrated that you aim high and that high achievement is attainable. I ask that you build upon those successes, and continue with the same will and aptitude, and set higher standards and expectations for yourself.”Rodrigo Mendoza won the John Burns English Award and the excellence in theater award.?I was amazed to think how academically successful he was having arrived at Saugus High School in the middle of his sophomore year from Peru, with English as his second language,” said Jane Osgood, the English Curriculum Specialist.This year?s valedictorian, Emily Covell, also won the John Burns English Award along with the Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit while Erin Bennet won the excellence in theater award, Alexis Fafard won the excellence in band award, and Safwath Ahmed won the excellence in chorus award and the Vistas award.Stefani Terrazzano won the Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit and the excellence in Spanish award while Courtney Sanchez, Olivia Singer and Olivia Pettenati won the Student Council Leadership Award.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].