Board recognizes College Board honorees and summer tech students; students cite science and computer science plans

The Springfield School District board opened its Sept. 28 meeting by recognizing students who received College Board National Recognition awards and by acknowledging summer technology students who helped ready district devices and classrooms over the summer.

Board members named Emmanuel Gattoo, Amara Nitsay, Savannah Brown and Gabriel Guy as national recognition program awardees. The board said the award recognizes underrepresented students who excel on College Board assessments and meet academic criteria including GPA and test requirements. The district invited the students forward for photos and brief remarks.

During remarks, one student said she intends to study environmental science and ecology and hopes to attend Swarthmore College. Emmanuel Gattoo said he aims to attend Johns Hopkins University and is interested in neuroscience and neurobiology. The board and audience offered congratulations and applause.

Later, the district recognized summer tech students — Josh Merlino, Jesvin Jerry, Logan Wren and Luke Hathaway (Ryan Forgione was not present) — for work that included inventorying, enrolling, repairing and distributing more than 800 Chromebooks, reimaging staff laptops, installing smart panels and troubleshooting classroom technology. Students who spoke said the experience increased interest in computer science and technology careers.

Board members and staff praised the students, noted the value of the program for operations and thanked staff who supported the summer work. The board said it will include the honorees in future communications and photographs.

The recognitions provided an early consensus moment in a meeting otherwise dominated by administrative and personnel actions later on the agenda.