Yesterday evening, 34 Carver high school graduates and current college students received $130,000 in Carver scholarship awards.
Our students, scholarship donors, scholarship essay readers, and Carver staff celebrated the awards ceremony via Zoom, with Carver’s board chair, Phil Butterfield, and Carver CEO, Novelette Peterkin, presiding.
One of the highlights of the event was when we announced there would be two winners of the annual DeAndre Parks $5,000 scholarship, which is traditionally given the single student with the highest GPA. And then we doubled again the amount awarded! DeAndre Parks joined everyone for the ZOOM event and announced that he was matching Carver’s financial commitment this year, making the award $10,000 for each of the two students. Mr. Parks is a Senior Analyst at Western Asset Management Co. LLC in California. Mr. Parks was previously an Analyst at Citigroup Asset Management when he served on the Carver Board of Directors. This year, Trinity McFadden (a third year college student and past award recipient) was joined by high school graduate Louis Guaillas as earning the highest GPAs for the year.
Carver’s Scholarship Categories
SERENBETZ SCHOLARSHIP
Cindi Serenbetz brought greetings to Carver students on behalf of the Serenbetz family. Awards presented to 11 Carver students ranged from $2,500 to $4,000. The Serenbetz family generously supports Carver, for many years, and is especially committed to the Carver scholarship program. Thelma Serenbetz, matriarch of the family, was one of the readers of the scholarship essays each year. Her first job after college was as an editor, but more importantly, she knew the inestimable value of a college education. Thelma and her family went on to support many organizations and schools through the years to help young people thrive and achieve their goals.
When we learned of Thelma’s passing in August of last year, we wanted to honor her memory and legacy, particularly her commitment to our students. We are very pleased to be awarding the Thelma Serenbetz Scholarship to Carver students who earn a GPA of 2.0 to 2.5. This scholarship honors Thelma’s life and all that she gave to and made possible for Carver students through the years.
FULLER SCHOLARSHIP
The Fuller Scholarship was presented to six Carver students ranging from $3,000 to $4,000. The Fuller Scholarship was created to honor Carver’s longtime Executive Director, Richard N. Fuller Sr., upon his retirement. Mr. Fuller served Carver families for 26 years. He was an educator, trusted community leader and strong advocate for Norwalk families. The City of Norwalk renamed Academy Street, where the Carver Community Center is located, Richard Fuller Way. Countless Carver alumni credit Mr. Fuller for giving them the example, inspiration and motivation to succeed in life.
Diane Peters gave compelling remarks about how proud Mr. Fuller would be of today’s Carver students, of their determination and ability to succeed in school and in life, and of Carver’s significant and effective reach into Norwalk’s schools. Diane has herself been a longtime Carver volunteer and advocate.
WHITCOMB SCHOLARSHIP
The Whitcomb Scholarship was awarded to nine Carver students this year. The award ranged from $3,000 to $4,000 and was established in 2018, in honor of Dick Whitcomb, who is one of the most influential individuals in the life and growth of the Carver community since its founding in 1938. Mr. Whitcomb was involved in Carver since the 1960’s, when he’d bring St. Luke’s School students to volunteer at the Carver Community Center.
Novelette joined the Carver community in 2004. She met Dick in 2006, and invited him to join the Carver board. Dick was already over-committed and promised to reconsider when he could. Dick contacted Novelette in 2008 and offered to get involved, and that’s when Carver’s expansion began in earnest. Dick believed in Novelette’s vision for Carver, he eventually joined the board, and together they set out on the bold journey to expand the after school and summer programs to almost every school in Norwalk.
Dick was given Carver’s Lifetime Achievement Award on the occasion of Carver’s 75th anniversary. Since serving about 100 youth at the Carver Community Center in 2004, Carver is serving more than 2,500 students today in 17 Norwalk Public Schools, at Side by Side Charter School, at the Carver Community Center, and at the Classical Studies Magnet Academy in Bridgeport.
The Whitcomb Scholarship is awarded to Carver students who have demonstrated exemplary academic achievement of a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
DARIEN ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP
Mark Nowotarski presented the Darien Rotary Scholarship to two Carver students. This $4,000 award was established in 2018, and is presented to a graduating senior who will be attending Norwalk Community College. This student is highly engaged in the Carver community, demonstrates grit and determination, and demonstrates an exemplary willingness to succeed. The second recipient of the Darien Rotary Scholarship received a $1,000 scholarship for the 2nd year of college.
DEANDRE PARKS
The DeAndre Parks Scholarship was established to honor the profound contributions of this former Carver board member. Mr. Parks was one of the founders of Carver’s annual Child of America Gala, Carver’s largest event that consistently brings national prestige to our local organization. Mr. Parks remains a major Carver donor and champion even after all these years. He recognized Carver’s potential, fought for community recognition, and inspired so many others to give their support to Carver. The DeAndre Parks Scholarship is awarded to the Carver high school graduate or continuing college student with the Highest GPA.
See more details above about his surprise announcement at scholarship ceremony yesterday evening.
ATHENA SCHOLARSHIP
An anonymous donor established the Athena Scholarship in 2017. This scholarship supports a Carver student who demonstrates a diligent work ethic, resilience in the face of challenges, and a strong commitment to graduate from a four-year college within four years. This scholarship awards $10,000 per year for each of the student’s four years at college. This is a very competitive process to select the awardee. We hope to expand this significant award to more students in the years to come. The awardee must maintain strong academic performance and provide yearly updates to receive the yearly scholarship renewal.
Two students (including a continuing college student Athena Scholarship awardee) received this $10,000 scholarship this year.
The Case for Carver’s Scholarship Program
However difficult getting into college may be, that may be the easiest part of the transition to college life. That is why we support our students during their college years. Staying in college is becoming increasingly challenging for Carver’s first-generation college students as they confront steep hurdles, including financial hardships and the debt from student loans that can eventually undermine the promise of economic stability after they graduate.
Since 2005, 100% of Carver seniors have graduated on time; typically at least 95% of Carver seniors enroll in college immediately following graduation each year. 85% of Carver college students graduate from four-year colleges and universities within six years, while just 11 percent of students nationally from the lowest-income quartile earn bachelor’s degrees within six years.
Carver infuses high expectations, academic rigor, and healthy relationships into its youth development approach to instruction and support. Carver donors provide crucial support that recognizes and honors our students’ strengths, needs, hard work, and potential.