Robbinsville High School senior Frank Pagano was recognized as an “Unsung Hero” by the New Jersey School Board Association and Mercer County School Board Association during a recent ceremony at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.
The award is given each year to a student from each of Mercer County’s high schools who “make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities but are often overlooked by other traditional student recognition programs.”
Pagano was recognized on March 20 for overcoming adversity in his early life to become an inspiring mentor for younger students at RHS, specifically those involved with the basketball program.
“I didn’t have a picture-perfect household growing up, and a lot of younger kids in the program went through something similar,” Pagano said. “I think it’s important that everyone has someone to talk to about what they’re feeling or what they’re going through, and I like to think I helped provide that.”
When he was a freshman, Pagano had a mentor of his own on the basketball team who acted as an “older brother” he could rely on. The experience inspired him to carry on that role for players younger than him, and he hopes to see the cycle continue.
Pagano, a 5-foot-10 shooting guard, said he wants to keep giving back to the community long past high school and is pursuing a career as a teacher and basketball coach—possibly even at RHS.
“I could definitely see myself coming back to teach here one day,” he said. “We have such a great community here and it’s so much more than just a place to live – it’s a home.”
In the basketball season that ended last month, Pagano had four games in which he drilled four three-pointers. He played in 28 games of the season, averaging more than six points a game. The team went 15-14 for the year.
“One of the most important lessons we try to instill in our students is that good character comes before anything, and Frank is a tremendous example,” School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Pizzo said. “Congratulations to Frank for earning this award; he is a tremendous role model for all of our students.”
