A Long Island teacher who for 25 years promised a $100 cash prize to the student who could ace their New York state chemistry exam has finally gotten the chance to deliver.
uncertain
who → promise → chance
Anthony Simonelli, a Baldwin High School chemistry teacher, awarded Jojo Yawson, one of his students, with a signed $100 bill to commemorate his perfect score on the 2026 Regents for Physical Setting Chemistry.
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Simonelli → award → Chemistry
Simonelli shared a heartfelt video on Facebook of the moment he visited Yawson's home to hand deliver the prize after waiting for someone to complete the challenge for over two decades.
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he → share → decades
'When you make it someday, I want you to look at this and say you finally did something amazing,' Simonelli told Yawson.
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Simonelli → make → Yawson
According to Simonelli, Jojo was the first and only kid out of 3,700 students with graded tests to receive a 100 score.
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Jojo → accord → score
While visiting Yawson's home, the teacher was overcome with joy before thanking him and shaking his hand.
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teacher → visit → hand
Yawson's family could be heard laughing and congratulating him on the achievement.
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family → hear → achievement
Ama K Karikari, Yawson's mother, described his accomplishment as 'a story of triumph.'
'It was so exciting to get the call from his chemistry teacher.
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It → describe → teacher
He said “I’ve been waiting 25 years to make this call.”
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I → say → call
Fifteen minutes later he was at the house presenting Jojo with a crisp signed $100 bill.
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he → present → bill
Both Mr. Simonelli and Jojo were on cloud 9,' Karikari wrote in a Facebook comment.
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Karikari → write → comment
Anthony Simonelli, a Baldwin Highschool chemistry teacher, awarded Jojo Yawson, (pictured) one of his students, with a signed $100 bill to commemorate his perfect score on the 2026 Regents for Physical Setting Chemistry.
asserted
Simonelli → award → Chemistry
According to Simonelli, Jojo was the first and only kid out of 3,700 students with graded tests to receive a 100 score
Simonelli shared a heartfelt video on Facebook of the moment he visited Yawson's home to hand deliver the prize after waiting for someone to complete the challenge for over two decades
'
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he → accord → decades
It was a genuine pleasure to teach him,' Simonelli wrote in a response.
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Simonelli → teach → response
'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 wrote.
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he → hope → world
Past students shared their reaction to Yawson's accomplishments and their experience having Simonelli as a teacher.
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students → share → teacher
Great man,' one commenter wrote.
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commenter → write → ?
Another commenter wrote: 'Mr. Simonelli was a fantastic teacher!
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Simonelli → write → ?
He took a challenging course and made it fun and easier for his students to understand.
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students → take → course
I had him for Chemistry about thirteen years ago and he had a true talent for teaching.'
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he → have → teaching
Simonelli reassured Yawson's family that the young boy has a bright future ahead of him.
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boy → reassure → him
'This kid is going to do something special with his life.
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kid → go → life
I hope you're all watching,' Simonelli said in the video.
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Simonelli → hope → video
'He deserves a mentor with connections far stronger than mine, someone who can open the right doors and help him reach the impact he is clearly capable of,' he wrote.
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he → deserve → impact
According to CBS News, Simonelli will offer $200 to the next student who receives a 100 score on the regents exam
Past
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who → accord → exam
Baldwin High School students shared their reaction to Yawson's accomplishments and their experience having Simonelli as a teacher
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students → share → teacher
According to CBS News, Simonelli will offer $200 to the next student who receives a 100 score on the regents exam.
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who → accord → exam
The Daily Mail has reached out to Ama K Karikari, Anthony Simonelli, and Baldwin Union Free School District for comments.
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Mail → reach → comments
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