Young people and their proud parents came together at the Carver Community Center for our 49th Annual Testimonial Dinner on Friday, June 7, 2019. Each year, the Carver Foundation of Norwalk awards Carver students, including current college students, with scholarships and recognition.
See all the photos here in our Facebook album.
We also recognize our Volunteer of the Year (Kirk Skodis) and High School Volunteer of the Year (Zaith Guzman). We honor all our college graduates, high school graduates, most improved students of the year, and other levels of graduation and achievement.
This year, thanks to Carver’s many generous donors, Carver awarded $82,500 in financial college scholarships.
Carver High School Graduates
Each of the 49 Carver seniors graduated high school on time and received admission to college. We are busy working with our students on choosing their best college option. This is a very challenging process as we weigh a student’s college of choice, the offered financial package with attention to potential college debt, family resources, and personal interest of study while encouraging two or more Carver students to attend four-year colleges together to provide mutual support. We find that students who attend college out-of-state have a higher rate of success when they know peers on campus than when they go off alone. The current college commitments include: Plymouth State University, Norwalk Community College, Pace University, Norfolk State University, Bridgewater College, Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, Fairfield University, Central Connecticut State University, University of Bridgeport, University of Connecticut, Manhattanville College, Maine College of Art, and Rhode Island School of Design.
College Scholarships
Carver awarded $86,000 in Scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 to graduating seniors and continuing college students. The breakdown is as follows: Athena Scholarship ($20,000) awarded to two students – each receiving $10,000/year for 4 years; DeAndre Parks Scholarship, which is awarded to one the student with the highest GPA of 3.9 ($5,000); Darien Rotary Scholarship ($5,000), which is awarded two strong students attending; Richard Whitcomb Scholarship ($21,000), which was awarded to six students earning a 3.5+ GPA ; Richard Fuller Scholarship ($20,000), which was awarded to ten students earning a GPA of 2.6+ to 3.49 GPA; and the Carver Scholarship ($15,000), which was awarded to eight students earning a GPA of 2.0 – 2.49.
Carver scholarship recipients this year (including those already attending college) are enrolled at the following institutions: Virginia State University, Norwalk Community College, University of Connecticut. University of Hartford, Delaware State University, Western Connecticut State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Virginia Union University, University of Massachusetts at Boston, Fairfield University, Central Connecticut State University, Bridgewater College, Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, Thomas Jefferson University, , Shaw University, Albertus Magnus University, Lassell College, Pace University and Rhode Island School of Design.
Carver 5th Grade Transition Programs
The Brookside Elementary School 5th Grade Program Student of the Year was Angelly Rivera and Most Improved Student was Daniella Paniccia. Carver Community Center CASPER 5th grade program Student of the Year was Juliet Centento, and Most Improved Student was Alejandro Ramirez-Camblor. Kendall Elementary School 5th Grade Students of the Year were Apolo Caguao and Walissa Joseph, and Most Improved Student was Harshen Maldonado. Tracey Elementary School Student of the Year was Daryl Jimenez, and Most Improved Student was Aliarah Target.
Carver Middle School Programs
Carver Community Center Jr. YDP Graduate of the Year was Amanda Miller, and Most Improved Student was Kobe Rojas. Carver Jr. YDP 7th grade Student of the Year was Aniyah McCray, and Most Improved Student was Maia Bates. Carver Jr. YDP 6th grade Student of the Year was Kysen Delva, and Most Improved Student was Lyric Stultz. Nathan Hale Middle School (BARK) YDP Graduate of the Year was Lindsay Caruso, and Most Improved Graduate of the Year was DeAaron Moten. Nathan Hale 7th grade Student of the Year was Serenity Taylor, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Chris Calo. Nathan Hale 6th grade Student of the Year was Jackie Corona, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Bryan Acosta. Ponus Ridge Middle School (PRIDE) Graduates of the year were Sandra Andronic and Irene Soriano Ditchella, and Most Improved Graduate of the Year was Camila Chaves. Ponus 7th grade Graduates of the Year were Yessamin Arias and Nolan McCaffrey, and Most Improved Students of the Year were Nolan McCaffrey and Kaitlyn Thomas. Ponus 6th grade Students of the Year Hanna Pipsa and Zachary Ruiz, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Zachary Ruiz. Roton Middle School (RAMS) Graduates of the Year were Zhary Gomes and Gracie Blackwell, Most Improved Student of the Year was Noah Salkie. Roton 7th grade Student of the Year was Thomas Forbes, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Jamie Contreras. Roton 6th grade Student of the Year was Jayden Criollo, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Derrick Wiggens. Side by Side Charter School (RISE) Graduates of the Year were Austin Ayala and Samantha Stone. Side by Side 7th grade Student of the Year was Jasmine Molleda, and Most Improved student was Zachary Preval. Side by Side 6th grade Most Improved Student was Destiny Ventura. West Rocks Middle School (REACH) Graduate of the Year was Joshua Olmed, and Most Improved Graduate of the Year was Fred Luma. West Rocks 7th grade Student of the Year was Andi Campoverde, and Most Improved Student of the Year was David Castillo. West Rocks 6th grade Student of the Year was Clarissa Buisserith, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Johanna Bunch.
Carver High School Programs
Carver Community Center Sr. YDP Graduate of the Year was Carla Romeus, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Genisis Butler. Carver Sr. YDP 11 grade Student of the Year and Most Improved Student of the Year was Ananijah Morgan. Carver Sr. YDP 9th grade Student of the Year was Jordan Powell, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Madison Saintamand. Brien McMahon High School (BMHS) Graduate of the Year was Thaddeus Burrus, and Most Improved Graduate of the Year was Desanae Jenkins. BMHS 11 grade Student of the Year was Michelle Chacko, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Luis Guaillas. BMHS 10th grade Student of the Year was Mandie Romeus, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Angee Cruz. BMHS 9th grade Student of the Year was Neishka Nerette, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Jade Foreman. Norwalk High School (NHS) Graduate of the Year was Salvador Olmeda, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Lyverline Vertus. NHS 11th grade Student of the Year was Roman Perez, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Myles Russell. NHS 10th grade Student of the Year was Baylee Turner, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Sayed Chowdhury. NHS 9th grade Student of the Year was Tania Del Cid, and Most Improved Student of the Year was Gabriel Vega.
Carver 2019 College Graduates
Mejelly Jean Baptise, Kana Danzey, Kimberly Duhart, Taylor Duhard, Naomi Hadarik, Phillippe Lerebours, Taijek Mikel, Angel Reyes, Brando Rogers, Tevin Snider, Jaelyn Stultz, Andre St. Surin, Devante Thomas, Caira Ward, and Tamara Williams.
