E.O. Smith student rewarded for resiliency, compassion, leadership

While academic achievement is an important part of a high school education, there are other lessons learned and other achievements that often go unrecognized when the awards are handed out at graduation.

There is at least one award given this time of year that honors students who have persevered through different kinds of obstacles to make it to graduation day, and who have demonstrated admirable strength of character.

The William L. Greene Citizenship Award is given to four local students each year, on the basis of recommendations from the student’s guidance department.

The award comes with a check and a trophy, and is presented by the Ionic Lodge 110 of the Connecticut Freemasons.

This year’s awards were given to:

Tricia Barry of Willimantic, who is graduating from Windham Technical High School

Chelsea Haddad of Willimantic, who is graduating from Edwin O. Smith High School

Gerald Henri of Coventry, who is graduating from Coventry High School, and

Alex Lafontaine of Willimantic, who is graduating from Windham High School

Besides demonstrating good character, students receiving the award must be furthering their education.

Bill Greene, former Grand Master of the Connecticut Masons, and for whom the Masons named the award, pointed out that the students chosen for the award don’t necessarily have to be headed to a four-year college.

“They may be going on to trade school, they may be going for an associate’s degree - these are good goals, as well,” he said.

At the June 4 dinner, Greene told the students, “You should be very proud your school considers you an upstanding citizen of the USA. We’ve had some wonderful history on you young people, and we’re very proud of you,” Green said.

Hank Schwartz, who chaired the awards committee, said he enjoyed the process of selection. “It’s a task that’s so enjoyable, because the news media doesn’t often recognize all the young people who are doing good things,” he said.

He noted that while this award doesn’t necessarily go to the student with the highest grades, students are recognized for their academic effort as well as involvement in their community.

Schwartz read briefly from the recommendations made for each student - omitting anything that might be considered confidential, in terms of hardships they faced. “These are kids who have lived through a lot more adversity than most people, and they still come up smelling like a rose,” he said.

Of Tricia Barry, who studied manufacturing technology, he said she was recommended because she not only is kind and considerate but gave generously of her time to others, whether it was fund-raising, volunteering at the local library, lobbying for more nutritious school lunches or tutoring freshmen. Barry plans to attend Three Rivers Community College in Norwich where she will explore nursing and engineering.

Chelsea Haddad was recommended for her resiliency, compassion for others, and involvement in a number of volunteer activities including at Windham Hospital, the Mansfield Senior Center and for Relay for Life - while also performing as a member of the school chorus and school dance team. Quoting her guidance counselor, Schwartz said, “Chelsea is evolving into a strong community leader.”

Gerald Henri was congratulated for overcoming “tremendous odds over the past two years,” while also being helpful to struggling students and maintaining a positive attitude. His guidance counselor described him as “an honest and straightforward person.” Gerald plans to enter the field of Forestry.

Alex Lafontaine was recommended not only for his outstanding academic achievements, but as someone who “consistently challenges himself.” He also has volunteered at his high school and in the community, and was described as a talented musician who plays in the school band. Quoting his guidance counselor, Alex was described as “an intelligent young man with a high level of authority.”

The evening also included another award, this one going to William Greene for his own outstanding record of involvement with the Ionic Lodge 110 as Master of the Lodge this past year.

The Freemasons are considered one of the world’s oldest fraternal organizations with origins in the stonemason’s guild in the late 16^th to early 17^th Century.

While most members today are not stone masons — they come from all walks of life and professions — many Masonic symbols, such as the square and compass, are derived from the craft and tools of stone masons.

Its membership has included kings of England, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, composer Johann Bach, astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, jazz musician Louis Armstrong, baseball great Ty Cobb, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, actor Clark Gable, Harpo Marx of the Marx Brothers, President Lyndon Johnson, all seven Ringling Brothers and many other historic and well-known figures.

Today, there are about 5 million Masons around the world who are involved in a large number of charitable works, in America most notably children’s hospitals.

Posted June 17, 2010

Related link: Wikipedia list of some of the known Freemasons throughout history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Freemasons