Rotary Honors Top Bridgeport Students With College Scholarships
June 8, 2016
The Bridgeport Rotary Club made the future a little brighter for 10 deserving high school seniors Tuesday, awarding each a $2,500 college scholarship at its annual meeting at the downtown Holiday Inn.
The club also recognized a teacher from each of the city’s 10 high schools, including the three new interdistrict schools at the 3-year-old Fairchild Wheeler campus, which will have its first graduations this month.
The students, who were recommended by their school, were lauded for their academic achievements, while the teachers were recognized by their principals as exemplifying the club’s “Service Above Self” motto.
“It’s been a long four years and it feels really good to be honored for it,” said scholarship winner Michael Green, who is third in his class of 202 at Harding High School.
Green is heading to the University of Bridgeport in the fall, where he hopes to study psychology and computer science.
The club has been awarding the scholarships for 19 years. DeNorris Crosby, who coordinates the annual luncheon, said it’s one of his favorite events of the year.
“It’s really, really gratifying,” he said. “I can’t say how much I appreciate being able to do this.”
In addition to Green, this year’s scholarship winners were Janea Butler, Bassick; Kimone Heywood, Bridge Academy; Kiara Marrett, Bullard Havens; Birthany Greaves, Central Magnet; Alyssa Mesaros, Kolbe Cathedral; Eric Ryan Franco, Notre Dame; Anecia Gidden, Aerospace/Hydrospace Engineering and Physical Science; Amanda Franco, Biotechnology Research and Zoological Science; and Joshua Romans, Information Technology & Software Engineering.
Nearly all of the students were in the top 10 of their graduating class with many taking leadership roles with school clubs, tutoring programs and service initiatives. All plan to go to college.
Teachers who received plaques for their work were Marilyn Pearson, Biotechnology/Research and Zoological; Jessica Medoff, Notre Dame; Ryan Anthony, Aerospace/Hydrospace Engineering and Physical Science; Margaret Heck, Information Technology and Software Engineering; Roderick Ricketts, Kolbe Cathedral; Lalita Ghei, Bullard Havens; Soledad Meade, Bridge Academy; Jacqueline Muniz, Harding; Matthew Sweet, Bassick; and Ana DaSilva, Central.
The Rotary Club of Bridgeport is one of the oldest in the world, having been founded in 1919, just 14 years after the first club was founded in Chicago, said President Virgilio Lopez. For more information on the local chapter or to inquire about membership, contact Vice President Carolyn Vermont at 203-685-5709.
Read the article on the Bridgeport Daily Voice’s website here.
