Garfield students honored for academic, leadership and pathway achievements

The Garfield Board of Education celebrated student achievement at its June meeting, honoring a June Student of the Month and recognizing multiple student programs that district leaders say expand college and career opportunities.

Vice principal Miss Botton presented Amelia Wallace as June Student of the Month, reading a list of honors that included an approximate weighted GPA of 4.3, a place among the top 10 percent of her class, participation in the district’s early-college program and leadership roles in the National Honor Society. "I am honored to be recognized as student of the month for June," Wallace said, thanking family, teachers and the staff who supported her nomination.

Administrators also recognized 19 Garfield High seniors who earned associate degrees through the district’s early-college partnership with Bergen Community College, bringing the program’s total early-college graduates to 77. The administration said the graduating group collectively earned more than 1,140 college credits and that the program has helped past graduates complete bachelor’s degrees earlier and at lower cost; the district displayed each graduate’s planned fall college as names were called.

Student-government leaders recapped a year of events that officials credited with building school spirit. Outgoing president Darla Martinez (student government president 2024–2026) highlighted the district’s first outside-venue homecoming, attended by more than 315 guests, spirit weeks and pep rallies, and thanked the board for a $500 contribution to the event. Vice president Sarah Bolanos and the incoming co-presidents, Julia Feldman and Elizabeth Abd (2026–2027), outlined plans to expand student representation at board meetings, restore career night and explore off-campus lunch and community movie nights to increase student engagement.

Students in the Tomorrow’s Teachers internship described in-classroom mentoring experiences and said the program allowed interns to earn college credit through Fairleigh Dickinson University. Presenters said the cohort produced published children’s books as a culminating project and publicly thanked mentor teachers and program leader Miss Kada.

The board’s president and trustees praised the students and staff during member remarks, and administrators said continuity for these programs is on next year’s agenda.

The board did not take formal policy action on these recognitions; they were presented as part of the superintendent’s report and ceremonial agenda.