As the top-ranked student of the Weehawken High School Class of 2003, Alex Wagner knew that she was going to receive an award or two - perhaps - at the annual Academic Awards Night and National Honor Society Induction Ceremonies.
But how about seven?

"I'm never going to get used to this," said Wagner, who plans to study engineering in college. "It's a surprise every time I get an award. I knew that I had more than a chance to receive one, but I didn't think I'd end up with that many. It was amazing. My parents told me that I had to carry them out all by myself, but I got two trophies, a plaque, a clock and a plate. It was like, 'Wow.' I couldn't believe it."
Wagner received the top honor, The Academic Award, at the dinner held last Friday at Schuetzen Park in North Bergen, given to the student with the highest average, accumulating the maximum number of credits and participating in extra curricular activities. She received the award from Board of Education President Richard Barsa.

Wagner was one of nearly 30 students who received awards for their excellence in the classroom, as well as the others who became members of the National Honor Society for the first time.

Wagner had transferred to Weehawken High School after spending her freshman year at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md.

"That school was totally the opposite of Weehawken," Wagner said. "The school had 3,200 kids. There were so many people that there was no chance for any recognition. To come from that place to a school where there is so much individual attention was pretty nice. It's also nice to come to a school that recognizes what you do."

Carol Malsch, who serves with Kate Kinzie as faculty co-advisors for the National Honor Society, believes that the awards presentation is an important event in the school year.

"I personally think it's the highlight of the year," Malsch said. "We've done this for quite a few years. I think other schools have taken the lead and are beginning to have nights like this as well for their students. It's important to have the students recognized for their hard work."

Besides the academic awards and NHS ceremonies, a Weehawken High School graduate was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. This year's honoree is famed oceanographer David Mearns, whose expedition to find the sunken HMS Hood and Bismarck in the Atlantic Ocean was featured in a series of documentaries last year.

Mearns, who lives in London, was unable to attend the evening, but his mother, Carolyn, accepted the award on his behalf.

"It shows that kids from a small town like Weehawken can make leaps and bounds and become highly successful like Mr. Mearns," Malsch said. "It's a wonderful incentive."

Some of the honored students weren't fully aware of Mearns' accomplishments, but they came away very impressed.

"I had heard of him, but I didn't realize that he went to Weehawken High School," Wagner said. "That's the kind of stuff that is so cool to hear about. He went out and did something great with his life and he's from Weehawken. That's pretty impressive."

"Of course, it inspires me," said Paula Agulla, who will be the Class of 2003's salutatorian. "It's always good to know that a Weehawken High School graduate accomplished such great things."

Agulla, who received three awards, said that she doesn't focus on receiving awards.

"As long as I know I'm trying my hardest, then it doesn't matter if I'm recognized," Agulla said. "But it always serves as a good self-esteem booster. I was pleasantly surprised that I received so many awards."

Anthony Garcia, the president of the school's National Honor Society, who served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, was also happy to receive his awards.

"I think it gives us confidence and a feeling of accomplishment," Garcia said. "I feel very fortunate that the teachers took the time to honor us for the hard work we do throughout the course of the year. There's definitely a sense of pride involved."

The members of the Academic Bowl team, which captured the Hudson County championship, as well as the Mock Trial Competition team, were also honored.

Malsch was pleased with the way the evening turned out.

"It's a very positive event," Malsch said. "The parents are very excited and there are a lot of tremendous smiles. There's a great sense of pride throughout the room."



Here's a list of the award winners:



Art Award - Loreley Rey, Adriana Machado

Brown Book Award - Jonathan Barracato

Business Award - Vanessa Lopez

Chess Award - Joseph Poole, Alfonso Gonzalez, Shawn Dorman, Francis Petrie

Computer Technology Award - Vanessa Lopez

Culinary Arts Award - Joseph Orru

Drafting Award - Elie Hakim

Drama Award - Tatiana Fernandez

ESL Award - Mar Jorie Ortega

Economics Award - Samilet Lee

Foreign Language Award - French - Pari Shah

Foreign Language Award - Spanish - Loreley Rey, Paula Agulla

Industrial Arts Award - Dennis Climent

Journalism Award - Alex Wagner

Language Arts Award - Samantha Pierre

Math League Award - Alex Wagner, Jorge Janampa

Music Award - Joseph Orru, Samilet Lee, Julian Candelaria

Resource Program Award - Carlos Blanco, Rhina Acevedo

Science Award - Alex Wagner, Anthony Garcia

Social Science Award - Alex Wagner

Seventh Grade Citizenship and Scholarship Award - Miranda Ginebar

Eighth Grade Citizenship and Scholarship Award - Tanvee Trehan

Peer Leadership Award - Samantha Pierre

The Academic Award - Alex Wagner