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Student team wins state Da Vinci Award; board recognizes unsung‑hero student and hears request for travel support
Summary
The board recognized student Yazir James Vilana as the district's unsung hero and heard a Long Valley Middle School Destination Imagination student ask for financial support to attend global competition after a state win and Da Vinci Award.
The Washington Township Board of Education used part of its March meeting to honor student achievements and to hear a request for support from a student team.
Mr. Bledo introduced and read the citation recognizing Yazir James Vilana as the district’s 2026 Unsung Hero after the student was formally honored March 5 at the Morris County Unsung Heroes Awards. "I couldn't be more proud of this guy," Mr. Bledo said after reading the award language.
Separately, a Long Valley Middle School student who identified themself as Iriso spoke during public comment on agenda items to represent the Destination Imagination 2026 team. The student described the team’s first‑place finish at the New Jersey state tournament and the award of the Da Vinci Award for creativity, recounted team dedication and late‑minute problem solving, and asked the board for support to travel to the global competition. "We are asking for your support so we can take this step further and be able to go to globals," the student said.
Board members congratulated the students and said they planned a recognition at a future meeting to celebrate the team and Yazir’s award in more detail.
No specific funding motion for travel assistance was approved at the meeting; the board indicated the team would be celebrated at an upcoming meeting and the administration is reviewing possibilities.
