GFHS celebrates 93 VIPs for kindness, positivity, and more!

Congratulations to the students recognized this semester with a VIP award in one of the following areas:

• Positivity (optimism, the student views challenges as opportunities for growth)
• Kindness (the student is friendly and generous, the student builds others up)
• Perseverance (persistence, the student doesn’t give up easily or may be making hard-fought improvements)
• Love of Learning (the student is curious and has a thirst for deeper understanding)
• GF Nation Spirit (the student demonstrates leadership and respect, donates time and energy to the community)

Each student who received a nomination was given a certificate and given the opportunity to participate in a make your own ice cream sundae event. Please scroll down here to read about each of the VIP award-winners’ recognition.
 

Aaliyah Beckwith	Perseverance	Aaliyah entered GFHS as a new student in mid March. As with any new transition there are challenges to overcome. Aaliyah may have felt nervous and overwhelmed but she did not give up. She has been coming to school, meeting new people, and making new friends. She is persevering!!!!	Mrs. Currao
Abbey Putraw	GF Nation Spirit	I have reached out to Abbey multiple times this year to help welcome a new student to our Biology class and guide them so they are successful. We have had several students transfer into our class this year and Abbey has risen to the challenge each time. It is greatly appreciated!	Mrs. Ludlow
Abigail Kramer	Kindness	Abby, you are a very kind and caring young woman. You are always quick to help your peers and welcome new students into our class. You also always speak (and respectfully) to adults, which does not go unnoticed. You are a great addition to our class!	Mrs. Nowlan
Adalis Mosher	Kindness	Adalis is endlessly kind, patient, and trustworthy. Thank you for all of the good that you do throughout your day, Adalis. The world needs more of you!	Mrs. Anderson & Mrs. Benway
Adalis Mosher	Perseverance	Adalis, you show up, you put in the work, and you don't quit — that kind of grit will take you further than you know.	Ms. McLeod and Mr. Meunier
Addyson Paro	Positivity	Addyson's humor and energy is contagious and appreciated.	Mr. Levett
Adrianna Riley	Perseverance	You've got this! I'm proud of you and look forward to cheering for you at graduation!	Mrs. Tobias
Aiden Maclin	Love of Learning	Thank you for working so hard this year and always being such a great participant in class!	Mr. Meunier and Ms. McLeod
Aiden Rossley	Love of Learning	Aiden always works hard and provides in-depth, well thought out responses.	Mr. Amberger
Alex Wolf	Kindness	Alex always has a smile on his face and brings a nice positive vibe to the classroom!	Mrs. Seabury
Alicia Ortega	Perseverance	Always works hard and getting things done.	Mr. Miller
Aliyah LaBounty	GF Nation Spirit	Aliyah has proven to play an integral part on our Championship Mock Trial Team. She gave a very inspiring speech at our awards dinner commemorating our undefeated season!	Mrs. Stewart
Allison Cash	Kindness	Always willing to help and work with others.	Mr. Miller
Andrew Crandall	Love of Learning	Andrew worked extremely hard learning Calculus throughout the year. He worked many hours outside of class, including over vacations to achieve his goals.	Mrs. Geruso
Arianna LaPointe	Perseverance	Arianna's ability to overcome challenges is a testament to her inner drive and strength. Keep working hard and never give up.	Mr. Levett
Aurora Livingston	Positivity	Aurora has been the voice of optimism for the HS VEX Robotics team for the past 4 years. Whether it is fixing a broken robot, rebuilding a robot in a short period of time or just volunteering to help out with anything needed, Aurora will be greatly missed as our team leader!	Mrs. Geruso
Ava Nunziata	Perseverance	Thank you for working so hard in math class each day. You should be proud your consistency and your work ethic!	Mr. Meunier
Ben Rivers	Love of Learning	Ben works hard every day in class and asks great questions. He is a leader in our room and helps those around him.	Mrs. Arney
Benjamin Aratare	Perseverance	Benjamin has come a long way and is constantly improving on skills that can be challenging for him. I am proud of you Benjamin!	Mrs. Seabury
Brady Ives	Kindness	Brady brings a top level of kindness to our classroom each day. He works hard and shows he values learning. His energy spreads throughout our class!	Mrs. Arney
Brayden Bennett	Kindness	He demonstrates kindness, friendliness and a good peer example. He has always been friendly and also complementary of others.	Mrs. Floyd
Bryce Chatham	Perseverance	Nice job finishing the year off strong in math class!	Mr. Meunier and Ms. McLeod
Caleb Burbo	Perseverance	While it's hasn't been easy, Caleb never stops trying to accomplish his goals!	Miss DeLong
Carter Riley	Perseverance	Carter, your strong work ethic and kind spirit are an inspiration to students and teachers alike.	Ms. McLeod and Mr. Meunier
Caydence Flint	Love of Learning	Caydence couldn't take chorus earlier this year because of a scheduling conflict...but made sure she was able to come back in the Spring. Her presence and positivity were missed...and now we have her back!	Mrs. Reed
Chace Davidson	Kindness	We can always count on Chace to do the right thing and to be a positive leader. We appreciate you, Chace!	Mrs. Anderson
Chloe Wright	GF Nation Spirit	There's not enough space to write about all of the ways that Chloe deserves the VIP award. She works hard with amazing insights, participates with well thought out responses, and loves to learn new topics. She also completed an amazing and in-depth healthcare internship.	Mr. Amberger
Coby Potter	Positivity	Coby always has a smile and readiness to learn!	Miss DeLong
Colton Durkee	GF Nation Spirit	Colton enters the school building each morning with a smile on his face, an enthusiastic greeting, and with a cheerful disposition. Colton definitely exudes GF Nation School Spirit!	Mrs. Currao
Connor Chance	Love of Learning	Connor nudges out of his comfort zone to try new experiences and challenge assumptions. He has an impressive thirst for knowledge and persistence on growth.	Ms. Bell
Cullen Jones	Perseverance	Cullen, the distance between where you started and where you stand today is a reflection of your incredible effort and perseverance. So proud of your effort!	Ms. McLeod
David Aiken	Kindness	You are at your best in math class when you are working with others, helping them to understand tough problems or solve an interesting puzzle. We also appreciate that you take the time to make our room neater and more organized!	Mr. Meunier and Ms. McLeod
Dylan Leroux	Perseverance	Dylan works hard day after day and always sets a good example for his classmates. Great work, Dylan! We appreciate you.	Mrs. Anderson & Mrs. Benway
Elijah Straight	Kindness	Elijah, the effort you bring to your work and the kindness you show others set a remarkable example for all.	Ms. McLeod and Mr. Meunier
Emma Stevens	Love of Learning	Emma works incredibly hard and loves to learn. She is a great role model for all of her peers.	Mr. Amberger
Felipe Oliveira	Positivity	Felipe is always kind and naturally sets a positive tone in any group he is a part of. We are so happy to have you here!	Mrs. Anderson
Felipe Oliveira de Almeida	Love of Learning	Thank you Felipe for being an outstanding student in Global History & Geography. It has been a pleasure working with you. Your passion for social studies speaks for itself. I wish you the best of luck in the future.	Mr. Conduzio
Gabby Field Colvin	Perseverance	Gabby works At Angelina's for supported employment. She tackles any job she is directed to do; willingly and with a positive attitude! Any future employer would be lucky to hire this gem!	Mrs. Brown
Gianna Roglieri	Love of Learning	Gianna, thank you for a job well done this year in Global History & Geography. You always try your best and consistently set the bar high as a role model for your peers. Keep up the good work!	Mr. Conduzio
Graecen Lewis	Positivity	Whether they are tackling a tricky assignment with a smile or stepping up to lend a helping hand, Graecen's relentless optimism turns every classroom challenge into an exciting new chance to learn and grow.	Mrs. Wever
Graecen Lewis	GF Nation Spirit	Graecen, you are an all around amazing young woman. This semester, it was nice to see you in a different light, helping within our community to read to Pre-K students. They loved your company & we are so happy to have you in Interact Club! You are an exemplary model for what a well rounded student should be -- kind, caring, demonstrates academic achievement and honesty, and also gives back to the community. You rock!	Mrs. Nowlan
Haven Alessi	Love of Learning	Haven consistently earned top scores on APUSH exams. His writing skills are exceptional!	Mrs. Stewart
Isabella Hoban	Kindness	On the trip to Greece Izzy was faced with several awkward situations; she faced these situations with kindness. Instead of being rude, mean, or intolerant she was kind, considerate, and helpful. I am proud of her for choosing kindness!	Mrs. Currao
Isabella Marillo	Perseverance	Bella worked hard to make some self-improvements on violin this past marking period. I appreciate her increased effort. It didn't go unnoticed!	Ms. Leyden
Jackson Junko	Love of Learning	Jackson consistently gives his best effort, actively seeks feedback to improve, and takes the initiative to make up missed work when he's absent. Your leadership and dedication don't go unnoticed, thank you for all your hard work!	Ms. Schlinger
Jacob Hubert	Love of Learning	Thank you Jacob for all of your hard work and dedication in Global History & Geography this year. Your passion for social studies is obvious and your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Keep up the good work!	Mr. Conduzio
Jakob Streicher	Positivity	Jake has been doing good with being positive during the end of school year. Usually in years past he has struggled with it, but he is doing great this year.	IT Office
Jennifer Hammond	Perseverance	By refusing to back down when things got tough, Jen has turned every challenge into a hard-earned win, showing what incredible progress looks like when you simply refuse to quit.	Mrs. Wever
John Tallon	Kindness	John is a first-class young man. The way he carries himself and interacts with others is a testament to his character.	Mr. Levett
Kaitlin Rice	Positivity	Thank you for your positive attitude and your persistence in math class even when the work is tough!	Mr. Meunier
Kamden Darnley	Kindness	He is a very kind, respectful individual. Always has a smile for others.	Mrs. Floyd
Kamden Darnley	Love of Learning	Kam, I am impressed with your love for learning Spanish. Giving up your study hall most days to come take my Spanish II class in addition to your class with Mr. Barnard is rare to see. You are a positive and kind addition to our class. May you always continue your love for learning languages!	Mrs. Nowlan
Katherine Pond	Love of Learning	Kat has gone above and beyond with her English 11 Research Paper, diving deep in her topic and inspiring others with her enthusiasm for the project.	Mrs. Gallagher
Kianna Wertheim	GF Nation Spirit	I have reached out to Kianna multiple times this year to help welcome a new student to our Biology class and guide them so they are successful. We have had several students transfer into our class this year and Kianna has risen to the challenge each time. It is greatly appreciated!	Mrs. Ludlow
Killian Ball	Kindness	Killian, your hard work and kindness in the classroom inspire everyone around you- keep it up!	Ms. McLeod and Mr. Meunier
Killian Ball	Kindness	Killian consistently demonstrates kindness toward both me and his peers. He contributes positively to our classroom environment, and his generosity and thoughtful actions do not go unnoticed.	Ms. Schlinger
Laurynn Hastings	Kindness	Laurynn is a kind, helpful, and a good friend. On the Greece trip she supported and helped her roommates and made the transitions less challenging for them. She is a great person!	Mrs. Currao
Lillian Dybas	Love of Learning	Lillian works hard with all of her school work and also out of school. She also completed an amazing internship at the hospital.	Amberger
Lillian Wright	Perseverance	Lilly uses her resources and works hard to reach her goals despite ongoing challenges. She should be proud of her progress this school year!	Ms. Bell
Lillian Wright	Love of Learning	Lillian takes pride in her accomplishments and is always finding ways to challenge herself.	Miss DeLong
Logan Bowman	Love of Learning	Logan always has an answer ready, even when the room goes quiet	Miss DeLong
Logan Bowman	Perseverance	Logan, the growth you have shown this year is a true testament to your hard work and determination to be better every day. You should be proud of yourself!	Ms. McLeod
Logan Harney	Perseverance	Thanks for always working so hard in math class!	Mr. Meunier and Ms. McLeod
Luc Aleva	Kindness	Luc, you work hard, you're kind, and you make this classroom better just by being in it.	Ms. McLeod and Mr. Meunier
Maddie Bray	Positivity	With a smile that's as constant as her work ethic, Maddie brings an energy to the room that turns every tough lesson into a win and every challenge into a chance to grow.	Mrs. Wever
Madeleine Lieberth	Love of Learning	Madeleine consistently demonstrates a genuine love of learning through curiosity, dedication, and a positive attitude in and out of the classroom. She approaches challenges with enthusiasm, asks thoughtful questions, and inspires!	Mrs. Dunleavy
Makenzie Williams	Perseverance	Thank you for working so hard in math even when things get challenging! You have made so much progress this year!	Mr. Meunier and Ms. McLeod
Mason Byrnes	Love of Learning	Mason is the first one in the door and always says good morning. He completes his work well and participates in class. He adds a lot to our classroom!	Mrs. Arney
Mia Krogmann	Positivity	Mia is a student with quiet strength. She leads by example with her optimism and faces her challenges as a learning opportunity. She never follows the crowd and offers a positive outlook even when losing a game on the LAX field!	Mrs. Currao
Michael Conduzio	GF Nation Spirit	Great job this year Michael on being a leader in the class of 2029. From the classroom to athletics you have demonstrated what it means to be a positive role model for your peers. Keep up the good work! Love, Dad	Mr. Conduzio
MJ Eastman	Perseverance	MJ, the growth you have shown this year is a true testament to your hard work and determination. You should be proud of yourself!	Ms. McLeod and Mr. Meunier
Morella Aldrich	Love of Learning	Morella I really appreciate your attention to class activates, your positive attitude and the focus you place on your own learning! It has been a please to be your US History teacher this year!	Mrs. Stewart
Morgan Oliver	Love of Learning	Driven by a genuine wonder for deeper understanding, Morgan treats every lesson like a new adventure, constantly seeking out the knowledge that lies just beneath the surface.	Mrs. Wever
Norah Gibb	Kindness	Norah, you are one of the few students who always speaks to me in the hallway, even though you don't have me as your teacher this year. Your kindness and positive interactions with adults do not go unnoticed. Keep being that kind, caring, and respectful young woman that you are!	Mrs. Nowlan
Nova Melton	Perseverance	Nova has worked so hard this year, is always kind, and is such a positive force in the classroom. Great job Nova!	Mrs. Anderson
Payton LaPointe	Love of Learning	Payton qualifies for a VIP award for multiple categories. She is kind to her classmates in chorus, always sharing an encouraging word. She is endlessly positive and perseveres despite obstacles. But her Love of Learning is what strikes me the most, particularly her love of learning about singing. She continues to go above and beyond, preparing a NYSSMA solo every year, despite having to take a break from Chorus next year.	Mrs. Reed
Piper Dock	Kindness	Piper is always kind, friendly and respectful to others. She is a great example for others to follow.	Mrs. Floyd
Rhiannon Kaye	GF Nation Spirit	Rhiannon has proven to play an integral part of our Championship Mock Trial Team. She won "Best Witness" and prepared to be a second witness going above and beyond!	Mrs. Stewart
Ryder Lemery	Love of Learning	Ryder has made so much progress this year! He completes his work and asks great questions, improving our classroom atmosphere.	Mrs. Arney
Sapphire Bullard	Perseverance	Never gives up or quits. Continues working at something until she learns it.	Mr. Miller
Sarah Bennett	GF Nation Spirit	I have reached out to Sarah multiple times this year to help welcome a new student to our Biology class and guide them so they are successful. We have had several students transfer into our class this year and Sarah has risen to the challenge each time. It is greatly appreciated!	Mrs. Ludlow
Sarah Conduzio	Perseverance	Congratulations Sarah on the culmination of four years of hard work. From the Top 10, New Visions, both Honor Societies, to the University of Tennessee......Your perseverance has paid off! Great job, love Dad.	Mr. Conduzio
Selena Caldwell	Positivity	Great job this year in Geometric Applications! Thanks for always bringing the energy (even at 8:00 in the morning)!	Mr. Meunier and Ms. McLeod
Sophia Adolfi	Perseverance	Sophia congratulations on completing such a comprehensive APUSH Review Journal! Your persistence is impressive!	Mrs. Stewart
Sophia Palmer	Positivity	Sophia's energy and humor are a great part of GF Nation.	Mr. Levett
Sophia Tavares	Love of Learning	Always fully immersed in every lesson, Sophia approaches each day with an incredible drive to improve and a genuine heart for discovery. Her constant search for deeper understanding and dedication to doing her absolute best makes her growth truly inspiring to watch!	Mrs. Wever
Steven Endieveri	Perseverance	Steven has worked so hard this year, is always kind, and is such a positive force in the classroom. Great job Steven!	Mrs. Anderson
Trevor Driscoll	GF Nation Spirit	Trevor is a true leader in GF Nation. His wiliness to support his peers and make the right choices demonstrate the best of what Black Bear Nation Stands for!	Mr. Levett
Victoria Derush	Positivity	Tori always steps up to a challenge. Doesn't complain; just puts in the necessary work to get the job done. All while being kind and considerate of others.	Ms. Leyden
Vincent Romeo	Kindness	Vinny, You are such a great addition to our study hall! You are always kind to everyone, including myself. I appreciate your help every day to get the room "ready" and for the various errands you do for me without seeking any "reward." You are friendly to everyone, students and faculty, and your are always quick to help! Thank you for being such a kind human!	Mrs. Nowlan
Vivienne Cerro	GF Nation Spirit	Vivienne created an amazing children's book about money, called 'The Very Wealthy Caterpillar' who saved and invested and turned into a butterfly. It was a brilliant design and very well written.	Mr. Amberger
Xander Cheney-Prosser	GF Nation Spirit	Xander is always there to support his friends and teammates!	Miss DeLong
Zachary Bardin	GF Nation Spirit	Zachary is a positive force in our classroom. His leadership promotes positive behaviors. He works hard and wants to be successful.	Mrs. Arney