Foxborough Vocational Student Wins Essay Contest

Declan Moloney, of Foxborough, is one of 20 students at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School who won an “Excellence in Education” essay contest this year.  The essays honored teachers from the students’ hometown public schools.

Moloney’s essay paid tribute to Dan Williams, who teaches social studies at the Ahern Middle School.  Both Moloney and Williams attended a ceremony on Jan. 25, which honored the students and their teachers.  This is the third year of the program, and more than 500 letters were submitted.

Southeastern Admissions Counselor David Joseph visited Williams at his school in a surprise visit last month to present him with flowers and to give him an invitation to the ceremony.  Williams said he was thrilled by the visit, and had no idea he had been honored by a student.

“I was headed out of the cafeteria, and David Joseph and another guidance counselor appeared with flowers for me.  It was great – I never experienced anything like that in my entire career,” he said.

As part of the ceremony, Joseph read excerpts of all the students’ essays, one by one, and then brought the teachers as well as students up to accept their awards.  

Moloney was accompanied by his parents, Philip and Denine Moloney, who were excited to attend the ceremony with their son.

“We were pleasantly surprised, and very impressed with David Joseph to have the insight to have this type of ceremony.  It’s a great way to bring people together,” Philip Moloney said.

David Joseph and Southeastern Guidance Director, Christina Guarini also thanked the teachers.  Joseph said that it is not always easy for teens to say thank-you, especially when addressing a teacher outside of their present school.  He thanked the teachers for shaping the students in a positive way before they got to the high school. 

Guarini commended the teachers for making a long-lasting impact on their students.

“When you have an impact on students that lasts well beyond your time with them, that really says something about who you are as a person and as an educator,” Guarini said.

The teachers received the letters that the students had written as well as plaques and wooden boxes, which were made and engraved by students in the school’s cabinet-making shop.