BOCA RATON – In Palm Beach and Broward counties, ten students from seven elementary schools were honored at a Presidential Merit Award Reception and Dinner at Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton. Each honoree received a renewable $1,000 Presidential Merit Award for all four years of high school. This is the second year that the awards have been given by Pope John Paul II High School to incoming freshman students.
Areen Fakhoury receives her Presidential Merit Award from Dr. Michael J. Coury, President of Pope John Paul II High School.
“We have always been fortunate to have outstanding youngsters apply for admission to Pope,” commented Dr. Michael J. Coury, the school’s president. “This year, we wanted to recognize and honor a select group of students who have already distinguished themselves in a number of areas.”
Recipients of the Presidential Merit Award were students who demonstrated outstanding academic credentials, leadership and service qualities, and an established record of involvement in clubs and activities. The ten students receiving this award were: Andrew Clum from Eagles Landing Middle School in Boca Raton (Mr. James Campbell, Principal); Maria Fonseca from Mary Help of Christians Catholic School in Parkland (Mr. Robert Messina, Principal); Dylan Lang and Esther Ponce de Leon from St. Joan of Arc School in Boca Raton (Sr. Ellen Murphy, RSM, Principal); Jonathan Vilardi from St. Joseph’s Episcopal School in Boynton Beach (Mrs. Tami Pleasanton, Head of School); Areen Fakhoury and Kenneth Oweis from St. Jude School in Boca Raton (Miss Deborah Armstrong, Principal); Emily Guinan and Karissa Quiles from St. Mark School in Boynton Beach (Dr. Joseph A. Finley, Jr., Principal); and, John Gomez from St. Vincent Ferrer School in Delray Beach (Mrs. Vikki Delgado, Principal).
“These honorees are leaders with great promise,” Coury noted. “We appreciate the fact that such outstanding youngsters have selected Pope for their high school journey. They have the potential to become the heart and soul of our Class of 2014.”