Doing The Right Thing: Brick Board Honors Student For Being A Role Model To Peers

It’s a simple action, one many people do every day: smile and say hello.

Most of us never give it a thought, whether we are on the giving end or receiving. But for some, the act of someone taking that moment to say hello -- to acknowledge them genuinely -- can mean the world.

Such is the case with the special needs students who attend Brick Township High School, and their schoolmate who takes the time to make them feel respected and treats them with kindness.

The Brick Township Board of Education took time out to honor Eric Buteau at a meeting this spring, praising the young man for his kindness toward his schoolmates with special needs.

“(Buteau) goes above and beyond when it comes to being a fellow classmate to his peers,” Board President Sharon Cantillo said in presenting a plaque recognizing the Dragons’ junior. “He is an exemplary mode of how we all should be toward individuals who may or may not have special needs.”

Buteau is involved with the special needs class at Visitation Roman Catholic Church, which he has done since he was in sixth grade, and has dedicated many hours helping students who have a variety of challenges, from autism to Down syndrome to those with cerebral palsy who lack verbal skills, she said.

“He is not worried about what his peers think and treate everyone with dignity and respect,” she said.

On hand for the presentation of the Above and Beyond Recognition Award was a student, Angelina, and her mother Madeline Iannarone. Angelina calls Buteau her friend, Cantillo said, and no matter who he is with or where he is, if she says hello, Buteau stops to say hi, she said.

“No laughing after the hello, or jokes; just a simple hello,” she said.

Cantillo said another parent summed it up thus: “As a parent of a child with a disability, you only hop that your child meets someone like Eric in their lifetime. We are very fortunate that Eric is in our lifes. Eric’s parents should be very proud of the way they raised him, to be such a kind, well-rounded young man.”

“Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make the biggest impact,” Cantillo said.

(Eric Buteau gets a hug from Angelina Iannarone at the school board meeting after receiving a plaque acknowledging his kindness toward her and other special needs students at Brick High School. Credit: Karen Wall)