Travis Johnson of Great Valley High School was honored as the recipient of the 2025 Howard M. Reinard Jr., Competitor of the Year Award.
After several months of studying, practicing, and rigorous competing, Chester County high school students gathered at the Downingtown Country Club on Tuesday, May 13, to honor the hard work and dedication of the Chester County Academic Competition teams.
Coaches and academic team members attended to share memories from throughout the season, connect with teams from other schools, celebrate academic excellence, and come together one last time for the 2024-25 school year.
The breakfast began with opening remarks by Jay Della Ragione, special events coordinator for the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) and a welcome message from Jennifer Chicosky, marketing and community engagement manager at the CCIU. The welcome wrapped up with an inspiring speech from Rick Durante, who serves as the director of social corporate responsibility and government affairs for the academic competition’s premier sponsor, the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Unit (FMFCU). After the opening speeches, everyone enjoyed a buffet-style brunch prepared by the country club staff.
“The Breakfast of Champions reminds us that behind every dedicated study session held and correct answer given is a student who showed up, gave their best, and grew because of it,” said Della Ragione. “This event is a celebration not only of academic excellence, but also of perseverance, teamwork, and passion for learning. It’s an honor to recognize these students and the communities that support their journey.”
The highlight of the event was the message offered by keynote speaker Joshua Mensah. Mensah is a Coatesville Area Senior High School alum and former standout in the Chester County Academic Competition who was honored with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2014. A graduate of Cornell University and Stanford Law School, he now works at Amazon with a focus on cloud services and technology transactions. His message to the students emphasized the value of curiosity, connection, and joy.
“A significant lesson I learned as someone who was very competitive in high school is that the people you are with, the community you are building, and the relationships you form are more important than any individual score, award, or competition,” said Mensah.
When asked what advice he would give to the academic competition participants who are graduating this year, he answered, “The door is never closed; instead, it is wide open to approach adulthood in your own way. Rather than trying to come up with a perfect path, try everything and explore all possibilities.”
The 2025 Breakfast of Champions concluded with an awards ceremony to honor one individual from each of the Chester County teams as MVP. Additionally, the Chester County Coach of the Year and the Howard M. Reinard Jr. Competitor of the Year were announced, as well as the newly minted Heart of the Team award.
The Coach of the Year is an annual recognition awarded to one Chester County Academic Competition coach for leading by example and fostering a commitment to excellence and fair play. This year, the award was presented to Stephen DiRomualdo of Downingtown STEM Academy.
The honor of Competitor of the Year is awarded to a Chester County Academic Competition participant who has demonstrated exemplary team leadership and outstanding performance. This year’s Howard M. Reinard Jr. Competitor of the Year award was presented to Travis Johnson of Great Valley High School, who was also selected as the team’s MVP.
“I am shocked, ecstatic, and very happy,” said Johnson. “It feels good to be recognized in this way, and I can feel the strength of the community around me.”
“The leadership and collaboration of academic competition taught me that everyone has something to contribute in their own unique way… it demonstrates the value of other people,” concluded Johnson.
The Heart of the Team award, an honor which is new to the program this year, was proudly presented to Alyssa Russell of Avon Grove Charter School. Russell was recognized for consistently demonstrating character, compassion, and camaraderie throughout the academic competition season.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award. I have spent all my high school years focusing on academic accomplishments,” said Russell. “I hope that I have taught my teammates about the importance of humility and learning from mistakes. It’s okay to try your best.”
The Chester County Academic Competition is facilitated by the CCIU and sponsored by the FMFCU, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the Children’s Fund of Chester County (CFCC), and CCRES Educational and Behavioral Health Services. The mission of the Chester County Academic Competition is to promote lifelong learning, celebrate academic achievement, and enhance self confidence in high school students as members of a team by providing health yet challenging opportunities for students to develop academic, social, and personal skills. To learn more about the Chester County Academic Competition, please visit www.cciu.org/academic-competition.
