PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Grace Minakowski, Drew Montgomery, Carly Damon, Albert Zaidi and Ethan Valdisera were honored for their outstanding achievements in leadership and athletics during the Calvert County Board of Education (BOE) meeting on May 8.
The board commended each student and adopted their recognitions to the official record.
The students honored are:
Grace Elizabeth Minakowski: Grace Minakowski of Huntingtown High School served as the Student Member of the Board (SMOB) on the Calvert County BOE for the 2024-2025 school year. She represented 14,000 students during her tenure and provided insights into students’ experiences. Board member Lisa Grenis praised Minakowski’s dedication, stating she was “always well-informed” and “sought to encourage the free expression of ideas among the students of Calvert County.”
Drew Montgomery: Northern High School senior Drew Montgomery won the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association Championship for wrestling, 144 pounds. Montgomery ended his season with a 39-0 record and was ranked No. 1 for the 3A/4A Lower Weight Wrestler of the Year. His overall varsity record was 175-5. Montgomery caps his high school wrestling career with a four-year streak as regional champion and SMAC champion, and was the MPSSAA champion in 2023.
Carly Damon: Carly Damon, a senior at Northern High School, won the MPSSAA 3A/2A/1A Individual 100 Backstroke Championship for the girls’ swim team. Damon was a member of the swim team for all four years of high school.
Albert Zaidi: Northern High School senior Albert Zaidi won the boys’ swim team MPSSAA 3A/2A/1A Individual 100 Backstroke Championship. He is also the Northern High School record setter for this event. Zaidi is a freshman on the team and this is his first year swimming with the Northern High School swim team.
Ethan Valdisera: A sophomore at Calvert High School, Ethan Valdisera won the MPSSAA Championship for wrestling, 113 pounds. Valdisera’s additional wrestling achievements include first place at the 2025 SMAC tournament and first place at the 2025 1A/2A regional tournament. With a 38-0 record in 2025 and a 71-7 varsity record overall, Valdisera is currently the No. 2 ranked 113-pound wrestler in the state of Maryland.
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