06/19/2025
The Tony Pompelio and Schoolmates Award of Courage is probably the only award that has nothing to do with grades. More significantly, it is an award that students, and students alone, decide who receives it. Sparta High School Seniors are invited to state, in writing, who they believe should receive this award of courage, and why. Tony’s family, based solely on these written submissions, selects the recipient. That has
been the tradition since this award was first granted thirty-six years ago in 1989.
Courage is not always measured by doing something heroic or newsworthy. Often, courage is demonstrated by ordinary people persevering, even when the odds are against them. For this award, Sparta Seniors interpret the definition of courage.
“Tony was an ordinary, average kid who had the courage to challenge us to look at ourselves and each other and maybe laugh a bit when we became too serious. If he felt strongly about something, he refused to compromise his principles, and he would not be intimidated by the fear of confrontation.”
Sparta High School Class of 2025 Tony Pompelio and Schoolmates Award of Courage Recipient Aaron Ginorio, pictured with Richard and Ann Pompelio and Presenter Karin Lowney-Seed.
