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The 2025 Mario Award Recipiants

Dorothy Lee ’26 (145th News Editor) in News | February 14, 2025

Last Thursday, February 6, Jael Gaines ’26 and Kellen Fisher ’26 received the Jeremy K. Mario ’88 Award. Awarded annually to two IV Form students, one each from the Crescent and the Circle, the Mario Award recognizes the recipients’ contributions to their respective Houses and their unwavering ability to uphold community values. 

In acknowledgement of their impact to their Housemates and House faculty, Fisher  and Gainesh will receive a merit scholarship for their V Form year, in addition to a “Family Experience” stipend to fund an educational trip for them and their families. Furthermore, the recipients’ respective Houses, the McClellan House and the Hamill House, will receive funding to host a celebration for the students’ achievement and support future House needs. 

According to Dean of Students Blake Eldridge ’96 H’78 ’12 P’25, who announced the Award in School Meeting, “The Mario Award is more than just a recognition—it is a testament to the impact these students have on their Houses and the people around them.” 

Both Gaines and Fisher have demonstrated dedication to their Houses as incumbent House Presidents. To Gaines, her role as House President motivates her “to be a beacon to the House and a role model, mentor, advisor, or whomever her House needs [her] to be.” She considers McClellan her favorite place on campus—her “home away from home.” 

As Hamill’s House President, Fisher has also strived to form connections within the House and become “someone everybody feels they can talk to.” Having spent a significant amount of time in Hamill despite living off-campus, Fisher has gained an understanding of both the boarding and day-student experiences. “I got to see…a little bit of both,” he explained, “and this definitely gave me the perspective that I needed to be President.” Looking forward to the rest of the school year, Fisher hopes to “leave a mark…in the legacy of [Hamill] as a whole.”

Head of Hamill House John Giannikas values Fisher’s appreciation for the House and its community. “He's thoughtful. He's empathetic. He has a deep sense of responsibility,” Giannikas said, “But most of all, his greatest strength is that he has a love for the School and a love for the House.”

Indeed, McClellan’s Assistant Head of House Jeff Streeter P’26 ’28 described Gaines as “a great leader” who possesses “a unique combination of competence, responsibility, and a House ready to follow her wherever she leads.” She appreciates the students and faculty of McClellan for their support and looks forward to their celebration together. 

Fisher and Gaines’s qualities reflect the values represented by the Mario Award. Eldridge believes that “their leadership, kindness, and unwavering dedication [have created] an atmosphere of unity, camaraderie, and pride, shaping the Lawrenceville experience for all who share it with them.” He hopes that the Award and its recipients will continue to cultivate a sense of unity and encourage community values. 

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