CHESHIRE, Mass. — Sydni Jamros' teachers describe her as a model, motivated student who excels in class and on the soccer field. 

 

The Hoosac Valley High senior was presented on Monday with the Superintendent's Academic Excellence Award, and attended the School Committee meeting to receive directly from Superintendent Aaron Dean's hands. 

 

"I will say I had Sydni when she was this tall in elementary school," said Dean, a teacher in the district for years. "These things don't happen by accident they require a support system. So congratulations to the family as well. It's quite an honor.

 

"I'm very proud of you should be very proud of yourself."

 

High school Principal Colleen Byrd read several comments from Jamros' teachers, including that she's always prepared.

 

"She's thorough and always provides work well beyond expectations. She has a great attitude and a great sense of humor which she sometimes integrate into her assignments," Byrd read, and that "she's a student that all teachers dream of having in their class. Her hard work, eagerness to learn collaborative nature and kind demeanor are an asset to any environment both inside and outside the classroom."

 

Jamros has taken Advanced Placement classes and is treasurer of the National Honor Society chapter. She has advocated for an induction ceremony of some type this year despite the restrictions of COVID-19 because, she says, "it's a great honor and one that she wants her peers to be recognized for."

 

She has also played soccer for Hoosac for five years and was nominated by her teammates to be co-captain for her senior year.

 

"She shown qualities of hard work resilience and dedication to push herself and her teammates to be better," Byrd read.

 

Her teachers said she is talented writer with a thirst for knowledge, and a stellar student-athlete whose calm demeanor belies her aggressiveness in the classroom as well as on the soccer pitch. 

 

"She's extremely involved in school committees and clubs, community service, and legs and even holds a part time job," said Byrd. "She makes the grades and gives back to her community at the same time, she is a true leader."

 

Jamros was congratulated by the School Committee. 

 

Also recognized on Monday night was Celia Norcross, who was voted by Berkshire County to receive the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association's Joao Rodrigues Distinguished Service Award. 

 

The award recognizes athletic directors, coaches, student athletes and community members who makes significant contributions toward their school's athletic programs in each of the eight districts.

 

"This year, Mike Matera and I nominated Celia Norcross from Hoosac Valley," said Athletic Director Molly Meczywor. Each school gets to nominate one person and then the district, in this case District G for Berkshire County, votes on the nominees with the winner's name forwarded to MSSADA. "We could not have asked for a more deserving candidate."

 

Norcross worked at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for 18 years and is now dean of students at Berkshire Community College. During her tenure, she has served in volunteer roles supporting and recruiting for athletics and being a "team mom," especially for men's soccer and basketball, and women's volleyball. 

 

She has served the last 15 years as a volunteer and coach for the following programs: Adams Cheshire Savoy youth soccer volunteer, coach, secretary, vice president, and referee coordinator; Adams Soccer Club volunteer coach for all age levels third through eighth grade and most recently supporting the seventh through 12th grade league this past fall. 

 

"Specifically for Hoosac, she has been a member of the Hoosac boys soccer program for the past six years as a Booster Club volunteer and organizer, team manager offering assistance with planning fundraisers, events for the athletes and senior game activities, and communication to the families," Meczywor said. "She has also been a part of the Hoosac Valley High School track booster and the hoosac Valley High School band booster."

 

Meczywor said Norcross has written that she has a passion for using soccer and sports as a vehicle to develop athletes.

 

"Having them understand the important role this serves in them, in their communities and nationwide has been a goal accomplished time and time again when she hears how someone has gained respect for a teammate, learned a new skill, was able to help and support another person, and enjoy their experience or learning and growing as a team," she read. "I'm so honored to receive this recognition but do so only first recognizing and sharing that I would not be able to do this work alone. It involves many dedicated athletes, other coaches and volunteers that also give us so much of their time."