Daniela Brighenti Photo
Awardee Karahn Green wins with LEAP’s Fernandez.
Against an alternating backdrop of pictures showing grinning children, six graduating high school seniors were left smiling themselves after winning scholarships to help fund their upcoming college studies.
The children in the pictures projected to an audience of nearly 100 are part of LEAP, the community-based youth academics and recreation program led by students at the high school and college levels.
The ceremony — held at Gateway Community College on Thursday — celebrated both the award recipients as well as all 24 high school LEAP counselors graduating in the class of 2016.
The first two awards given out, at a total of $1,000 each, were funded by the family of Jay Bovilsky for the 16th consecutive year. Essence Santos-Eden, from James Hillhouse High School, and Karahn Green, from Hill Regional Career High School, were the recipients of this year’s scholarships.
Executive Director of LEAP Henry Fernandez, who presented the two awards, praised Bovilsky for his longtime commitment to LEAP and commended the two students for their “long history of academic achievement.” In the fall, Santos-Eden will attend Southern Connecticut State University; Green will attend John C. Smith University.
“Whatever you go on to do, think about how you can give back and contribute to the community,” Fernandez advised the soon-to-be college students.
Following Fernandez, Greg Pepe took the stage to present four additional scholarships. Pepe is a lawyer at the local firm Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C. This is the third year the has presented four $2,500 scholarships to outstanding LEAP students. His wife, Ann Baker Pepe, currently serves as LEAP’s board chair.
Lauren White thanks her family for supporting her.
This year’s recipients were Denaysia Silva, Autumn Thomas, Ken’Nia Threatt, and Lauren White. All four plan on attending college next fall.
“LEAP has been a big, big factor in my life,” Thomas said. “Growing up in a single parent home, having no money. It isn’t easy. You don’t get things like this very often.”
The batch of student applicants for the scholarship was particularly competitive this year, Pepe noted. He highlighted that the students chosen all presented exemplary academic achievements, and that he “looks forward to tracking [their] progress.”
In addition to presenting the four awards, Greg Pepe spoke to his audience about New Haven’s special sense of community. He received his law degree from the nearby University of Bridgeport, and holds multiple community positions in the Elm City.
“At a law firm, you see the effect of community on the people,” Pepe said. “Our hope is that as you become leaders, you will use your education to be a part of that community.”
