Last week, Verona High School named Pierre Gadelkarim the recipient of its first Unsung Hero award. The award, which was created by the New Jersey School Boards Association, recognizes individuals who make their school a better place through their personality and empathy. In announcing the award, Assistant Principal Bob Merkler said, “Pierre comes to school every day with a smile on his face and is always the first person to help others out.”
Principal Joshua Cogdill seconded that thought. “He is just so kind to everyone,” Cogdill said of Gadelkarim. “He is the type of student who lifts the spirits of those around him. I see him walk into school every morning and he greets everyone he sees with a warm smile.”
Gadelkarim is a senior who played on the boys varsity soccer team. Cogdill says he’s done some soccer drills with Gadelkarim and observed the way the team reacted to his play. “He’s the kid you want on your team because he’s the glue,” Cogdill says. “Every kid on the team would run through a wall for him.”
