Throughout each school year, many Erie 1 BOCES students are recognized for their success, but only 13 students are honored with the prestigious Excel Award for standing above the rest.
For the 2019-20 school year, the Erie 1 BOCES Board of Education has presented an Excel Award to Tonawanda City School District’s Jacob Lawson, a student in the Exceptional Education division. Jake is enrolled in the EDGE Academy.
Robert Boccaccio, principal, noted Jake is a hardworking, courteous and respectful young man.
“Like all who come here, he came to us with some personal baggage that he wanted to work through so he could graduate. While he has been here, he has striven toward that goal,” Boccaccio said. “Outside of school, Jake belongs to the Sea Cadets, a junior Navy program. The program provides youth with character building and leadership training. Jake has done training in Canada with Canadian cadets and at a Great Lakes training center. He was supposed to go to South Korea with his unit this summer, but the pandemic canceled that.”
Boccaccio added last year, Jake took military police training and also went to a leadership academy. Afterward, he was made master of arms (MAA) of his company and was later made chief MAA, meaning he is in charge of all the MAAs. He works at the Naval Park and at the Naval Operations Support Center providing security.
“As can be seen, Jake has his goals set on graduating and joining the Navy in some capacity,” Boccaccio concluded. “He is a pleasure to have in class and he always is an active participant, always willing to help out.”
Congratulations goes out to Jake and the rest of the Excel Award honorees!