Denville 8th Grader Recognized As Unsung Hero

By Cheryl Conway

Eighth grader John Capetillo of Valleyview Middle School in Denville was recently recognized by the Morris County School Board Association for his positive attitude and participation in the classroom.

He is among 40 students throughout the Morris County school district selected to receive this year’s Unsung Hero Award. In its second year, the 2023 Unsung Heroes Student Recognition Ceremony was held Wednesday, March 29, at the County College of Morris in Randolph.

The purpose for the inaugural program is to honor “the students who make your district a better place because they are a part of it,” as stated on the cover of the program.

Capetillo of Denville was nominated by Valley View Principal Seth Korman.

“John is a conscientious student who has been balancing his academics and responsibilities at home,” says Korman. “He always participates in class and has a positive attitude in all that he does.”

Inaugural Unsung Heroes Event Is Formed

Two years ago, the Morris County School Boards Association established the Morris County Recognition and Awards Committee to research and recommend ways to acknowledge well deserving Morris County school students and Board of Education members, explains Bernadette Dalesandro, president of the Morris County School Boards Association and president of the Netcong Board of

Education.

The committee is made up of Morris County school board members “who believe that recognition of outstanding student contributions in their respective schools and communities will help drive strong student outcomes and support student achievement,” says Dalesandro.

Last year the committee established the inaugural unsung heroes award to recognize a student continued on page 2