The Spartan Choice Awards is an idea that was brought to life by senior Madison Vella during her sophomore year after getting the help from Ms. Lea Sanford, the Student Council advisor, and Ms. Amanda Jones-Weis, the assistant principal. This tradition started that same year after the idea of, “wanting to do something different that represented the whole student body,” Vella stated.
This award ceremony is important because, “It’s a way to recognize and celebrate the different Spartans we have at West,” Vella said.
This year is extra special to Vella because she is going to be the MC of this awards assembly that she had put together. “It makes me happy that my last day being here is going to be speaking at the tradition I created and it’ll be very memorable,” Vella stated.
When it comes to recognizing diversity in the student body, this awards ceremony is what hits the nail on the head. “ We try to recognize the students that go ‘under the radar’ and who do things that bring people joy,” Vella said.
In Sanford’s eyes, the Spartan Choice Awards was, “born out of a desire to honor our student body, especially our seniors, in an awards assembly.”
Sandford credited Weis for her leadership as well. “Ms. Weis has been a huge champion of Student Council and she brought the idea to sophomore Maddy Vella, now senior, and she helped this come into reality the past three years,” Sanford stated.
Recognizing students is important. This is why the assembly exists. “We recognize those athletes and academic super stars. But we look for opportunities to honor students that come to school, find a home, and make West a better place,” Sanford said.
They look for many different things when it comes to these awards such as, “club winners, our department shout outs, for artists, and especially for students that didn’t even know someone was paying attention to all the great things they were doing at West,” Sanford stated.
