JAY – Principal Scott Albert could not be prouder of two of his eighth-grade students. Curtis Cloutier, 13, and Jordann Bessey, 14, will be honored as Middle Level Scholar Leaders at a banquet on May 26 at the Augusta Civic Center. They’ll join almost 70 other students representing schools from all over Maine in receiving the same honor.

Both Cloutier and Bessey exhibited many of the basic criteria for the award during an interview in the principal’s office at Jay Middle School on Wednesday. Criteria include “demonstrating academic initiative and scholarship, providing service to classmates and school, exemplifying positive attitudes and demonstrating leadership in the classroom and school activities,” according to the Maine Association for Middle Level Education and the New England League of Middle Schools, which sponsor the program.

Each student was humble and unassuming, stating that they believed that their participation in team sports and their high grades were the driving factors.

Both students were surprised when they were informed of the award. They were called unexpectedly to the principal’s office for the announcement, having no idea that the award even existed.

“I didn’t quite get it at first,” said a soft-spoken Cloutier.

Bessey’s reaction? “I felt so smart after that,” she said with a laugh.

Participating schools choose two students to receive this award each year.

In the cases of Cloutier and Bessey, two teams of teachers recommended two students each from a total population of about 80 students for a total of four. The four nominees were submitted to the principal, who choose the final two.

“These kids are the kids you think of when you look at the criteria,” the principal said.

He said that he knew these two had good grades but, in looking at them in the decision-making process, even he was surprised at how good they were.

The two share much in common, such as playing the same positions in both basketball (guard) and baseball or softball (second base). They even have the same number – 5 – on their baseball and softball uniforms.

“Kismet,” explained Albert to the two baffled adolescents, who then added that word to their vocabulary.

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