TURNERS FALLS — As this year’s recipients of the McGraw Uplift Award, Turners Falls High School English teacher Clara Greszczuk and senior Mario Pareja were honored for exemplifying the spirit of a late beloved assistant principal and making a positive impact on the school community.
Greszczuk and Pareja were chosen from 47 nominees. The other student and staff nominees were also asked to stand and be recognized during the Tuesday ceremony at Turners Falls High School, with world languages teacher Megan Bendiksen presenting the award to Greszczuk and special education teacher Jessica Vachula-Curtis honoring Pareja.
The award is named in honor of Assistant Principal Earl McGraw, who died of lung cancer in September 2016. It is given annually to one student and one staff member who are nominated by their peers and exemplify some of the positive traits McGraw had during his tenure at the school. Award recipients are known for treating everyone with respect and without judgment, lifting up people who seem down and striving to achieve their goals.
In Pareja’s nomination description, he was described as being similar to the former assistant principal because he is someone who “looks out for anyone who is down” and “always shows love, listens or gives advice.”
“Somebody said that they wanted to be like me,” Pareja said about one of the comments made in his nomination. “It’s kind of nice to hear.”
Notably, Pareja is not the first Turners Falls High School student in his family to earn the McGraw Uplift Award. His brother, Ricky Pareja, received it in 2022. Mario Pareja said it is “surreal” to be recognized this way, a few years after his brother.
Greszczuk was described in her nomination as someone who has “grace under pressure” and as a determined, dedicated teacher who develops lesson plans to suit each of her students. One student described her as bringing light to the classroom when she teaches.
Both recipients said they didn’t expect to win a McGraw Uplift Award. Greszczuk said she’s always enjoyed seeing their peers celebrated during previous years.
“I see them doing a lot of work in the school community, and to see the other teachers who have already been nominated, they’re a great group of staff members,” Greszczuk said. “I’m excited to get to work with them, too, and recognize other staff and students of the school.”