YOUTH ON DISPLAY
Annual ceremony features certificates, proclamations
People watch members of The Lions Den Dance Company of New London perform during the World Youth Day Celebration hosted by the Norwich Bully Busters at the Norwich City Hall parking garage on Friday. Prior to the event, National Youth Service Day awards were presented to youth in the Council Chambers of city hall.
Norwich — Nine youth leaders representing different schools and civic programs in Norwich were honored Friday as part of the city's annual celebration of World Youth Day.
The National Youth Service Award recipients received certificates and proclamations from the city during a ceremony hosted by Norwich Youth and Family Services at City Hall prior to the World Youth Day festival.
Kailey Kerrigan, an 11th-grader at Norwich Free Academy, was recognized by the Norwich Youth Council. Kerrigan completed the Teen Leadership Program in fall 2016 and joined the Norwich Youth Action Council, where she coordinates programs for youth and families. She helped run a youth hygiene project for more than 50 elementary school students and a middle school Coping Skills Fair for more than 40 students.
Guercie Guerrier, a senior at NFA, was honored by the NFA Diversity Program. Guerrier is president of the Norwich NAACP Youth Council and was the 2017 recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Trust Fund Scholarship. She helped organize the annual NAACP Martin Luther King Day march in January and NFA's program to mark the 50th anniversary of King's assassination. Guerrier is a tutor and mentor to immigrant students at NFA.
Four local youths were honored by the New London County 4-H for various programs.
Michelle Wisniewski, a Griswold High School student, was honored by the New London County 4-H Teen Ambassador Program. She led morning wake-up and gymnastics exercises at the Connecticut 4-H Teen Ambassador Weekend. She also volunteers at the annual 4-H auction and headed the beverage station. Wisniewski also leads open house tours at 4-H events.
Chloe Smith was selected as the 4-H Junior Staff Program award recipient. Smith, a Montville High School student, was one of 43 Connecticut delegates to the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. At summer camp, advisors look to Smith to be a friend and caretaker for younger campers.
Gabe Fisher was the Norwich-based New London County 4-H Foundation youth service award nominee. Fisher was a delegate to the 4-H Citizenship Washing Focus Program. A three-sport high school varsity athlete in ice hockey, lacrosse and track at South Windsor High School, Fisher also coaches youth hockey.
Hannah Tingley was the 4-H Camp Leadership Program recipient. Tingley, a student at RHAM High School in Hebron, was honored for her work ethic, compassion and skill in working with campers. A member of the Teen Ambassador Program, she does community service projects in the Norwich area.
NFA's Project Outreach student service group selected Jenica Warren for its award. Warren has given up her study halls for three years to work in the project Outreach office and help peers with class work and she eats lunch with special-needs students. Warren volunteers for many projects, including community meals and visits to nursing homes. She was co-chair of the 2017 and 2018 Suicide Prevention Week events committee.
Three Rivers Young Marines Master Sgt. Mason McMahon, a sophomore and three-sport athlete at NFA, was the Young Marines' award recipient. He is an instructor for a leadership school in Springfield, Mass., and is a recruit instructor for local Young Marine recruits. In January, McMahon was appointed Southern New England Regiment sergeant major, the highest billet in 20 units in New England and eastern New York.
Angeles Rodriquez-Torres, a senior at NFA, was the Norwich Bully Busters award recipient. Rodriquez-Torres has been an active volunteer with the Bully Busters. She attends and works at most events. She volunteered for the Summer Jam and Learn program, an intensive six-week program for high-risk youths aged 9 to 14.
“Angeles was an amazing leader and role model for the entire program,” Bully Busters Director Debbie Kievits wrote in her nomination. “She is truly an inspiration.”