Date: Fri 16-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Outstanding-Youth-Awards

Full Text:

WITH PHOTOS; NYS Presents Outstanding Youth Awards

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Kindness, good nature, and excellence in all aspects of life were commemorated

on May 8 at Newtown Youth Services during their annual Outstanding Youth

Awards ceremony. This year, 51 youth ranging in age from 5 to 18 received the

awards at the afternoon ceremony.

"It's a wonderful statement about our community, that so many kids were

nominated. And so many parents and teachers took the time to fill out the

nomination forms. So it touches more than youth; it draws the whole community

together," said Jane Todorski, assistant director at NYS.

Each year, NYS accepts nominations from the community for young people who are

outstanding. Of the ballots received, the Outstanding Youth Award Committee

selects those youths who have demonstrated strong, healthy values and who use

their talents and abilities in a positive way.

"I felt like the prize patrol when I called [to let the nominees know]. Some

of the parents cried," said Ms Todorski. "It's something very positive. It was

joyous."

The agency believes the traits the Outstanding Youth possess are strengths

that will bring them continued success in the future. Excerpts from just a few

of the nominations demonstrate the spectrum of ages of and contributions made

by the young people in our community:

Shannon goes out of her way to make everyone in our class feel special and

important.

Kelley has demonstrated superb qualities of friendship in the fifth grade. She

volunteers before being asked to help a friend... She will share a lunch

leaving herself with less, to help out a friend. Her words and actions are

kind yet she is humble.

Alexandra acts as the primary resource/support person for the Big Sisters. She

was appointed to assist eight freshmen/sophomore girls from July 1996 [right]

through today in every aspect of their Newtown High School Life, as well as

their home life.

It is with tremendous enthusiasm that I say Laura is one of the most

outstanding young ladies I have ever come to know in my 16 years as a guidance

counselor. As a student and as a person Laura is very special, and someone you

will not want to pass up for your school or community.

Erin has become an outstanding addition to the senior choir at Christ the King

and participates actively in a number of church activities.

Even when Jason finds people, situations, or work at school to be difficult,

he calmly and cooly handles himself in a kind way. Jason's coping strategies

are a good model for others around him. His flexible thinking allows him to

help creatively work for compromises in difficult situations. I learn from

Jason, too!

The awards ceremony, held for the tenth consecutive year, is part of NYS's

Celebrate Youth Festival. Nomination ballots for those receiving awards were

read by Ms Todorski and NYS Director Deborah Richardson presented the

certificates. Outstanding youth also received a NYS t-shirt.

Other staff members who assisted in the ceremony were Job Bank Coordinator

Kristin Jeffe, Program Coordinator Tracy Riccio, and Office Manager Anita

Arnold.

Those who received the 1997 Outstanding Youth Awards are Kelly Bailey, Dan

Bombaro, Diana Bowen, Carolyn Brennan, Marisa Burnham-Bestor, Melissa Burns,

Nick Cerreta, Erica Christopher, Kelly Clar, Sarah Doherty, Katie Doyle,

Kelley Fitzgerald, Melissa Fornabia, Jeff Gasparini, Amanda Giannini, Colleen

Glaser, Stacey Gordon, Jason Hanna, Melissa Hanna, Shannon Hayes, Jessica

Hoffman, Beth Huisking, Kristin Jeffe, Lindsey Jones, Colleen Kelley, Kristen

Landolfi, Denise Lawson, Erin Lewis, Lindsey Malloy, Laura Marusa, Mark

Maruschak, Katie McClure, Roxanne Mellick, Brittany Pasko, Nick Perrone, Sam

Potter, Katie Proulx, Debra Ravetto, Christy Reutzel, Allyson Robichaud, Mary

Kate Rod, Lisa Rodriguez, Catherine Symes, Erin Thomas, Chris Thompson,

Melissa Thompson, Michael Tibbets, Christopher Tomascak, Dawn Williams,

Alexandra Zaleta, Ashley Zenhye.

The two other events that are part of Newtown Youth Services' Celebrate Youth

Festival are the annual talent show and Gail Smith Awards. Ms Richardson

explains that the festival "is a time to look at kids and how cool they are."