Teacher Awards $100 to Student for Perfect Chemistry Score After 25-Year Wait
Anthony Simonelli, a Long Island educator, finally presented a cash prize to a student who achieved a perfect score on the state chemistry exam.
A Long Island teacher has fulfilled a 25-year-old promise by awarding a $100 cash prize to a student who achieved a perfect score on the New York state chemistry exam. Anthony Simonelli, a chemistry teacher at Baldwin High School, presented the prize to student Jojo Yawson for his flawless performance on the 2026 Regents for Physical Setting Chemistry exam.
Simonelli shared a video on Facebook documenting the moment he visited Yawson's home to deliver the signed $100 bill, marking the first time in his 25-year teaching career that a student had met the challenge. According to Simonelli, Yawson is the only student out of approximately 3,700 whose tests he has graded to achieve a perfect score.
During the presentation, Simonelli expressed his joy and encouraged Yawson, stating, "When you make it someday, I want you to look at this and say you finally did something amazing." Yawson's mother, Ama K Karikari, described the event as a "story of triumph" and shared in a Facebook comment that Simonelli had been "waiting 25 years to make this call." She added that both the teacher and student were on "cloud 9."
Simonelli also expressed his belief in Yawson's future, writing, "I hope this recognition helps others see what those of us who have worked with him already know: he has the character, talent, and drive to do something special with his life and change the world." He further noted that Yawson has the potential to achieve significant impact and deserves mentorship from those who can open the right doors.
Past students of Simonelli shared positive remarks about his teaching style, with one commenting, "Mr. Simonelli was one of my favorite teachers! Great man." Another former student recalled, "Mr. Simonelli was a fantastic teacher! He took a challenging course and made it fun and easier for his students to understand. I had him for Chemistry about thirteen years ago and he had a true talent for teaching."
According to CBS News, Simonelli plans to offer $200 to the next student who achieves a perfect score on the regents exam.
