J.P. Gonzales is a senior of the Academy of Finance whose experience of becoming a soccer player at PCTI won him the Barnes and Noble “My Favorite Teacher” contest. Thanks to his History teacher, Jayne O’Neil, J.P. was encouraged to write about an instructor who positively impacted his life. He chose to write about Mathematics teacher and Coach, Mark Foti.
Mark Foti encouraged J.P. to pursue his varsity soccer dream even though he did not make the varsity team his freshman year. Through hard work, practice, and the support of his coach, J.P. expressed how he grew as a person and eventually became the Varsity Soccer Captain as a senior. He wrote:
At that moment I realized that he had been preparing me for this day since I started playing on the team. He had been giving me the support and experience I needed to lead the team. Without him I would have never achieved the goals I set for myself…with his great sense of humor…the way he conducted himself as a role model, he became like a second father to me.
Jill Fish, the Community Relations Manager of Barnes & Noble in Hackensack, presented J.P. with an award of recognition and a twenty-five dollar Barnes & Noble gift card. Mark Foti also received an award of recognition, as well as two graphic novels of classic literature to share with his class.Congratulations to J.P. Gonzales on his award winning essay and thank you to his instructors who inspired him to take part in the contest.
Photo Caption: (From left to right) Instructor Jayne O’Neil, Barnes & Noble Representative Jill Fisch, J.P. Gonzales, and Coach/Instructor Mark Foti gather in celebration of the “My Favorite Teacher” contest win.
Mark Foti encouraged J.P. to pursue his varsity soccer dream even though he did not make the varsity team his freshman year. Through hard work, practice, and the support of his coach, J.P. expressed how he grew as a person and eventually became the Varsity Soccer Captain as a senior. He wrote:
At that moment I realized that he had been preparing me for this day since I started playing on the team. He had been giving me the support and experience I needed to lead the team. Without him I would have never achieved the goals I set for myself…with his great sense of humor…the way he conducted himself as a role model, he became like a second father to me.
Jill Fish, the Community Relations Manager of Barnes & Noble in Hackensack, presented J.P. with an award of recognition and a twenty-five dollar Barnes & Noble gift card. Mark Foti also received an award of recognition, as well as two graphic novels of classic literature to share with his class.Congratulations to J.P. Gonzales on his award winning essay and thank you to his instructors who inspired him to take part in the contest.
Photo Caption: (From left to right) Instructor Jayne O’Neil, Barnes & Noble Representative Jill Fisch, J.P. Gonzales, and Coach/Instructor Mark Foti gather in celebration of the “My Favorite Teacher” contest win.