Chagrin Falls Middle School is proud to announce that two of its students have been nominated to receive the Ohio Middle Level Association (OMLA) Breakfast of Champions Award. This is one of the most prestigious honors given to middle school students across the state. Eighth grader Grace Pelsozy has been selected for the Award for Character, and seventh grader Zayne Hamid has been selected for the Award for Scholarship. Both students were recognized at a special OMLA ceremony celebrating exceptional middle schoolers from throughout Ohio.
For Grace Pelsozy, doing the right thing has never required an audience. The eighth grader has earned the Breakfast of Champions Award for Character not through a single standout moment, but through the quiet, consistent example she sets every day at Chagrin Falls Middle School.
Teachers describe Grace as a role model whose positivity is genuinely contagious. Whether she is in the classroom working through a difficult assignment, moving through the hallways between classes, or cheering on her teammates as a member of the school’s cheerleading squad, Grace carries herself with a maturity and grace that stands out among her peers.
Academically, she is diligent and engaged, asking thoughtful questions and approaching every subject with curiosity. But it is her interpersonal qualities, her kindness, her inclusiveness, and her instinct to help others feel welcomed and valued, that have made the deepest impression on those around her.
“Grace doesn’t seek recognition,” one of her teachers noted. “She seeks to contribute. That’s what makes her leadership so powerful.”
As a cheerleader, Grace represents the school with spirit and sportsmanship, understanding that her role on the sidelines is as meaningful as any play on the field lifting people up, showing discipline, and encouraging others to give their best. It is a philosophy she brings to every corner of school life.
Seventh grader Zayne Hamid has earned the Breakfast of Champions Award for Scholarship, and those who know him say the recognition is long overdue. A straight-A student maintaining a flawless 4.0 GPA, Zayne approaches every subject not merely as a task to complete, but as a puzzle worth solving.
His teachers describe him as a true critical thinker and someone who consistently goes beyond surface-level answers to demonstrate genuine understanding. He comes to class prepared, contributes meaningfully to discussions, and asks the kind of insightful questions that push conversations forward and deepen the learning of those around him.
Zayne’s academic interests extend well beyond any single classroom. He is a talented and dedicated member of the school band, demonstrating musical discipline and skill. He also speaks French with notable proficiency, reflecting the kind of sustained commitment and aptitude that define his approach to learning across the board.
Yet what sets Zayne apart as much as his grades is the energy and character he brings to school. He collaborates willingly, encourages his peers, and helps classmates succeed, recognizing that true scholarship is not a solitary pursuit but a shared endeavor.
“Zayne brings a positive and fun energy to everything he does,” his teachers say. “He’s the kind of student who makes the whole classroom better.”
The Ohio Middle Level Association’s Breakfast of Champions Award is designed to celebrate the students who embody the very best of what the middle school years can look like — young people of strong character, intellectual curiosity, and genuine care for their communities. In Grace Pelsozy and Zayne Hamid, Chagrin Falls Middle School has two students who exemplify exactly that.