Needham Teen Earns ACE Award

The following was submitted by Selectman Maurice Handel:

The ACE Youth Recognition Program 

Each year the Needham Exchange Club presents the Ace (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) Award to a  deserving student who has successfully overcome significant challenges as part of its extensive youth recognition programs.

Committee Member Bill Fidurko presented the 2013 Ace Award to Andrea Gonzalez The ACE Award is given to a student who continues to pursue and persevere toward the goal of achieving excellence, while overcoming difficult and challenging circumstances.

It is timely, with all the discussion in Washington on the issue of immigration, to honor a student who has gone through the complex process of becoming a US citizen. Andrea was born in Guatemala, when she was eight years old. For the next eight years, the family moved from Massachusetts to Florida and then  to Rhode Island and then back to Massachusetts.

All this moving impacted Andrea’s education. However, she was determined to learn and was able to accept the support given to her.

In the middle of her junior year, immigration issues surfaced. She followed the advice of one legal firm and returned to Guatemala, not knowing if she would be able to come home to Needham. Fortunately, after four months, Andrea and her family were allowed back. While in Guatemala, Andrea was able to communicate with Needham High School and to continue learning through on line classes. Andrea plans to be come a nurse.