The pandemic has changed all our lives in so many profound ways, but what stands out to us here at Branford Community Foundation (BCF) is what hasn’t changed: namely, the incredible resilience and fortitude of Branford’s graduating high school seniors.

“They finished their high school career under the most extreme and isolating conditions,” says Liza Janssen Petra, executive director of BCF. “They’ve managed to stay strong and positive and demonstrate an amazing work ethic during an incredibly stressful time, with so many unknowns.”

To celebrate Branford’s outstanding high school seniors, BCF recently had the honor of awarding scholarships to 29 graduating seniors. The award ceremony was via Zoom this year, but it was no less impressive. The scholarship recipients were selected based on a variety of qualifications including academic excellence, sportsmanship and career intentions.

Here are the awardees by scholarship:

Austin Ryer Memorial Scholarship: Emerie Salinas
Bob Dow Scholar-Athlete Scholarship: Minsok Lee
Cathyann Roding Performing Arts Scholarship: Benjamin Clouse
Celia Whorf Wheeler Scholarship: Cleo Hazen
D. Williams Owens, Jr. and Attorney Robert M. Owens Scholarship: Eric Lin
George Barone Scholarship: Spencer Landsbach,
George D. Malcolm Memorial Award: Elizabeth Bartlett & Reilly Girard
James MacVeigh Scholarship: Karly King
Jim and Carol Redden Memorial Scholarship: Daniel DeCerbo-O’Brien
John B. Sliney Memorial Scholarship: Busra Ozkan & Kubra Ozkan
Joyce Watson Potts & Carl E. Potts Memorial Scholarship: Emma Gallagher
Kendra Martin Scholarship: Camdyn Dunn
Linda Edsall Winward Scholarship: Riyanshu Bam
Mari-Ellen Reed Nursing Scholarship: Maribel Yanzaguano
Mary Palumbo and Lenore Palumbo Robbins Scholarship: Austin Bui, Jason Hackett,
Abigail Pawlowicz, Celia Turbert
Maureen Gustafson Scholarship: Emily Rosenberg
P.J. Ferriolo Memorial Scholarship: Tyler Wetmore
Philip A. DeLise Scholarship: Max Padian
Vincent S. Gordiano Sr. Scholarship: Sean Kelly, Peter Nazario
Sally Slater BHS Scholarship: Adrienne Dillon
Torello Family Scholarship: Sean Kelly
William Schwanfelder Scholarship: Christian Bjork & Violet Smiarowski

Born in the aftermath of 9/11 and stepping out into adulthood during a global pandemic, the Branford Community Foundation salutes the extraordinary and resilient class of 2020. These graduates will forge a remarkable path.

For more information about the Branford Community Foundation, including how to establish a permanent legacy fund such as a scholarship fund, visit our website at branfordcommunityfoundation.org. You can also make a difference by donating to BCF today.