Greatest Achievement

What was your greatest achievement in the last 12 years? Explain.

Michael Evans works and plays hard, but he also has a strong cheering section.

Those cheers were loud on May 20 when, for the first time in PCTI school history, the Bulldogs were named Boys County Volleyball Champions. Evans made Varsity in his junior year and this season was among Players to Watch on NJ.com. He was largely used as Middle Blocker.

By mid-May, Evans was responsible for 68 digs and led Passaic Tech in kills with 204.

After an impressive three-year career, the senior is headed to Rutgers – New Brunswick to study Engineering. He was also accepted to Purdue and Penn State. Evans attended School 2 and WWMS before entering the PCTVS Diana C. Lobosco STEM Academy.

Described as a “very modest kid” by his godmother and retired Clifton educator, Elaine Puzio, he’s also an impressive student. It’s a source of pride for Evans’ parents, Michael and Theresa. Michael served on the Board of Education from 2015 to 2016. Theresa joined the Clifton School District at CCMS in 1999 and was later an assistant principal at School 4 and a principal at Schools 11 and 1, before retiring in 2020.

“I am so proud of him for all his accomplishments,” said Theresa. “He really needs to be commended for keeping up his grades in Honors and AP classes.”

Michelle Marin: Becoming a member of the Mustang Band. If I hadn’t joined the band in my freshman year, I would not be the person that I am today. This amazing organization has taught me many things in life that I will forever hold and take with me. I’ve learned the true meaning of dedication, desire, discipline, and drive. The organization has also taught me what family and what a home really is.

Jineen Khalil: Learning English, and being able to become an honor student with little-to-no English. I was able to learn English in under six months.

Gavrielle Rivera: Getting the lead role of Roxie Hart in this year’s Spring Musical, “Chicago: Teen Edition”.

Krishi Patel: Serving as the president of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, and founding the National Math

Honor Society and the Hindu Student Association. I was able to take initiative and become a leader, organize meetings, and take responsibility for my role in the Clifton community.

Yasmina Abufasha: Becoming valedictorian of my class. My rank is basically the culmination of all the work and effort that I put into school throughout my entire life. Though I don’t let my grades or GPA define me, I am certainly proud that I’ve reached this point in my life and am so thankful for the people that have helped me get this far.

Hisham Ettayebi: Earning a spot on an NCAA Div. I Track and Cross Country at Rutgers – New Brunswick.

Fernando Rosa Mejia: Finding out who I actually am. I have gotten to know myself and, by doing so, I got to accomplish a lot of goals that I set myself up for during these past 12 years.