Local Students, Teacher Honored By Weller Foundation

FAIRFIELD — In recognition of their exemplary achievements, five Newtown High School senior students were recently presented with awards by The Weller Foundation, Incorporated during its annual awards banquet on May 7 in the Dolan School of Business dining room at Fairfield University. A fourth grade Hawley School teacher was also honored for her work during the ceremony.

A finalist competing for the $12,000 Barton L. Weller Scholarship Award, NHS senior Sarah Peck is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Peck of Newtown. Sarah’s project was titled “A Visual Representation of Sound Waves,” for which she received an $800 finalist scholarship. Sarah will be attending Penn State, where she will attend the Schreyer’s Honors College as an electrical engineering major.

The $2,500 Vincent A. Voccia Vocational Award was given to Christopher Snow, son of Mr and Mrs Arnold Snow of Newtown. This award was established in 1983 by the foundation to be presented to seniors to assist in preparation for a vocational or technical career. Christopher will be attending Johnson & Wales University in the fall to pursue culinary arts.

The $500 Senior Science Award was presented to Robert Morlath, son of Mr and Mrs Robert Morlath of Sandy Hook. This award was established in 1962 to honor an outstanding senior who has demonstrated the ability to achieve recognition in science. Robert will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute this fall to pursue aerospace engineering.

Kathryn Schmidt, daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Schmidt, was awarded the $500 Eleanor F. Moore Business Award, which was established in 1973 to honor an outstanding senior who has demonstrated the ability to achieve recognition in business. Kathryn will be attending New York University this fall to pursue political science.

Bridie Rubino, daughter of Mr and Mrs Ben Rubino of Sandy Hook, was awarded the $500 Paul W. Broggi Communications Award, which was established in 1986 to honor an outstanding senior who has demonstrated the ability to achieve recognition in communications. Bridie will be attending the College of Charleston this fall to pursue communications.

Melissa Thorpe, a fourth grade teacher at Hawley Elementary School, was awarded the 2008 Weller Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of her project, “Poetry of Many Faces,” which was implemented in grade 4.

The Weller Excellence in Teaching Award (formerly The Weller Outstanding Teacher Award) program was introduced to the Newtown Public School System in 1900. The award recognizes the teaching quality and innovation exhibited by classroom teachers of grades kindergarten through 5. It is hoped that this honor will help encourage the teaching excellence that is so vital to youth. As recipient of this award, Mrs Thorpe was presented with a $1,000 award and a Certificate of Honor.

The Weller Foundation, Incorporated is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1962 to provide financial assistance to educational, charitable, and civic organizations. It is well known in the area for its numerous scholarship programs, student awards, and other supporting contributions.