Norwich - Norwich school Superintendent Abby Dolliver always refers to the November Board of Education meeting as her favorite of the year. That's when Dolliver recognizes one student from each city school with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents top student awards.

"We recognize one of the students (in each school) not just for being a good or great student, but for being a good or great person," Dolliver said.

In addition to the Board of Education ceremony, the students will be honored Wednesday at a luncheon hosted by Norwich Rotary.

Several award recipients help tutor kindergarten students, escort them to their buses at the end of the day and help them in school hallways.

The kindergarteners notice the help, teacher Liza Krider said of Novalee Sanchez, award recipient at the John M. Moriarty School. "In the hallway, you will hear them say 'I know her, she helps us.'"

Karen Lau, 10, the fifth-grade award recipient at the Thomas Mahan School, was called a role model not just for her school but for the entire community. Karen is being tutored in math at Mahan School, but not to catch up with her grade expectations, but to master Algebra 1 and get a head start on geometry before she moves up to middle school, her teacher, Karen Frick, told the audience at the award ceremony.

Last summer, Karen volunteered to tutor younger students in reading and math. And when Karen came across a strange Latin word she didn't recognize in an assessment test, she decided to study Latin. Karen also is the team leader in the Stock Market investment team, and her team is ranked second in the Northeast Region thus far this school year.

At Wequonnoc School in Taftville, teachers and Principal Scott Fain weren't surprised that Tanisha Shakil is this year's award recipient. She has had her own role model throughout her elementary years. Her older brother, Shaon, now 22, escorted her to school every day and even joined the school PTO when he was in high school. He joined her on stage Wednesday.

"This is not just a celebration of students, but a celebration of families," Fain said.

Tanisha has a passion for reading, writing and helping other students, especially with technology, her teacher, John Medvec, said. Wequonnoc converted to a performing arts and technology magnet school this year. Tanisha has "fully embraced" the concept and has an important role in the class play "How and Why the Earth Rotates and Revolves around the Sun." Her artwork is on display in the school central office.

"I couldn't be more proud of her," Shaon Shakil said after the ceremony. "I'm glad Norwich does this every year. It's a really good program."

c.bessette@theday.com