Sportsmanship awards for Swordsmen

St. Paul High School and student Alissa Caceres have received "Champions for Character" awards from the California Interscholastic Federation, Southern Section (CIF-SS) for their performances in 2008.
A letter from the CIF-SS to St. Paul Principal Frank Laurenzello said the awards are being presented based on recommendations that cited the school and Caceres "as exemplifying the very finest in sportsmanship, character, integrity and athletics."
The letter explained the school's selection "was made from a pool of all the schools in the CIF Southern Section."
Caceres' selection "was made from thousands of possible recipients in the CIF Southern Section."
Caceres, a standout cross country and track athlete, was honored in the student portion of the award.
St. Paul athletic director Marc Hernandez described the honor as an "award every athletic director strives to have in his athletic program."
"This means we're doing the right thing here," Hernandez said. "It acknowledges the type of kids we have here, the type of student/athletes who are being prepared to be productive later on in life.
"It's a validation for how we shape our kids, the process, and the great support we receive from our alumni and parents."