Anthony Jaskot Catholic School Recipient Xavier High School, Middletown, CT

From the recommendation of Nicholas Cerrata
Working at Xavier High School, I have days that challenge me both personally and professionally. When these days occur I sometimes lose focus on how important our work as Catholic educators is. When these days occur I sometimes need a friend to help me remember how important role modeling faith, trust and love of God, are in all our lives. That person for me is Anthony Jaskot.

Tony has the ability to gently uncover the one thing you missed or forgot about, which can turn your whole day around. He reminds me how loved and supported I am in my work. He reminds me that patience is a virtue that most of us have not mastered yet. He reminds me that I have to let God work through me, when at times I want to take over God's work! He reminds me that teens are still kids who are trying to piece together all that they are taught and as influential adults in their lives, we have to help them rearrange the pieces to that big puzzle or on some days help find the "missing piece." He reminds me that teenagers are unique individuals with gifts and talents they are still discovering. He reminds me that our students trust our judgment, our abilities and our values more than we will ever know. He reminds me that we are called to treat all our students equally as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. He reminds me how important our school motto, "Be a man, a man like Christ," is in today's world. He reminds me that what we teach and all we stand for as a Catholic school is counter-cultural to what our students see and experience in the "real world". He reminds me that Scripture is a great place to look for answers to age old questions from teenagers. He reminds me that faith and love for God and others is a priceless gift we are all given. He reminds me that spirituality is FUN and should be woven into all we do as well as in to who we are.

John Vitek presents the Ambassador of Christ Recognition Award to Anthony Jaskot.

There is no one who emulates Christian values better than Tony. He gives of his time and talents freely to others and continuously works at rediscovering what he can do personally too make this world a better place. As the head of our athletic programs he also infuses his zeal for faith into the sports teams and coaches in the building. An example of this would be an e-mail I just received from him to all the coaches in the building. He invited every coach to sign up to attend the Stations of the Cross after school one Friday during Lent. He thought it would strengthen team bonds as well as be a great example TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY of athletics and spirituality coming together for a common "win."

I could not think of anyone more deserving of an award entitled Ambassador of Christ Recognition Award than Tony Jaskot. He has shaped the lives of so many young people in his thirty years in Catholic education--as coach, teacher, athletic director, and friend. The passion he shows everyday in his work exemplifies for all of us how committed he is to what he does and how he does it. I believe that we are all blessed to have him in our community and in our lives.