Civetti named October Showcase Cinemas Student-Athlete of the Month

To say that Lauren Civetti has earned a number of firsts in her senior year at Johnston High School would be an understatement.

Before the 2017-18 academic year began, Civetti was selected to attend the National Student Leadership Summit in Indianapolis.

Soon there after, Civetti became the first student in JHS history to ever be named Public Relations Coordinator for the Student Council.

Back on Oct. 22, Civetti was voted Queen of JHS’ historic 50th Anniversary Homecoming celebration.

Just last week, the daughter of Robert and Carol Civetti, Lauren landed another prestigious honor, as she was named “October Showcase Cinemas Student-Athlete of the Month,” an award given to a schoolboy and schoolgirl athlete through a program sponsored by National Amusements and administered by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

Carolyn Thornton Iannuccilli, a JHS grad and Hall of Famer who serves as the RIIL’s Director of Multimedia Content, said Civetti was selected as both the West Regional Female Student-Athlete winner and overall Female-Student Athlete statewide winner for the month of October.

Ponaganset High’s Evan Hallberg was the male winner.

“Johnston High cross country coaches Cheryl Marfeo and Jay Areson nominated Lauren for the Showcase Cinemas Student-Athlete of the Month award,” Thornton explained.

Below is what Thornton shared with the Sun Rise in regards to the nomination.

“We are pleased to nominate Lauren Civetti for Athlete of the Month,” Marfeo and Areson submitted. “As her cross country coaches, we have witnessed Lauren develop into an outstanding leader of the team. She has proved to be a positive role model both within the academic setting and extra-curricular activities. She has demonstrated dedication, a high level of leadership qualities, and is a positive influence for underclassmen athletes. Lauren has earned the title of captain in three sports, which include basketball, cross country and softball. She volunteers at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, organizes fundraiser walks and coaches youth softball. Lauren is actively involved in the following academic clubs/activities: National Honor Society, Student Council, Chemistry Club and the Interscholastic League Board of Advisors. While balancing a part-time job at the Johnston Indoor Recreation Center, competing in sports and being an active member of the school and community, Lauren has managed to maintain a rigorous course load with high academic grades. She has demonstrated valuable qualities such as leadership, integrity and character.”

“We are really, really proud of what Lauren has accomplished,” said Robert Civetti, her father and a Johnston Town Councilman who once starred in sports during his years at JHS. “She has always played softball and basketball, but we were surprised when she said she wanted to run cross country.”

As a father, Robert Civetti pointed out, “we thought it would be tough on her knees, and at times, she complains about pains in her knees. But, Lauren did not think so and said she still wanted to run to stay in shape for softball and basketball.”

“So, with that Lauren began running cross country in her junior year and quickly caught the eye of her coaches as well as opposing teams,” her father noted. “We’re proud she became one of the top cross country runners at JHS, and she recently received All-Division honors.”

That’s why the Civetti family – which includes dad, Robert, mother, Carol, brothers, Bobby, a JHS junior, and Christopher, a Ferri Middle School sixth grader – and other people in-and-around Johnston, would never doubt Lauren’s ability to succeed to the highest possible level.

Not even when she lists among her future intentions of going to college and majoring in forensics.

After all, Lauren Civetti grew up in a family where all her cousins are boys, and that also put her in the middle of a lot of competitive sports and people.