CELEBRATIONS

GHS students are candidates for scholars program

Nine Greenwich High School seniors were selected as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order, to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars.

The candidates from Greenwich High School are: Stephanie Chang, Sophie Citron, Angie Fogarty, Ambika Grover, Noah Kim, Arjun Kishore, Yurika Sakai, Emil Schaumburg and Brandon Yu.

The selection of more than 5,000 general program candidates, for the most part, are made based on SAT and ACT scores. Test scores in each of the states/jurisdictions are reviewed and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math SAT score is compared with the ACT English, Reading and Math score.

Approximately 650 candidates are named semifinalists and forwarded to the commission for further review. In April, the commission selects up to 161 U.S Presidential Scholars each year. All scholars are honored for their accomplishments during the online National Recognition Program. U.S Presidential Scholars are awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion each June.

A nationwide list of the 2023 candidates was released by the U.S. Department of Education.

Hyatt Regency named ‘best of weddings’

Hyatt Regency Greenwich has been selected as a 2023 winner of The Knot Best of Weddings, an accolade representing the highest- and mostrated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot, a leading wedding vendor marketplace and planning authority. In its 17th annual year, The Knot continues its long-standing tradition of supporting local wedding professionals with The Knot Best of Weddings 2023, an annual by-couples, for-couples guide to the top wedding vendors across the country.

To determine the winners, The Knot analyzed millions of its user reviews across various vendor categories — planners, venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more — to find the highest-rated vendors of the year.

“We are thrilled with this recognition and honored to have hosted many memorable events. We look forward to partnering with more couples and wedding vendors in the future,” said Sherry Hicks-Buckles, Hyatt Regency’s general manager, in a news release.

For more information about The Knot Best of Weddings and this year’s winners, visit https:// www.theknot.com/vendors/best-of-weddings.

Two GHS students score at debate competition

Earlier this month at New Canaan High School, Greenwich High School juniors Connor Hone and Aubrey Niederhoffer took first place in the varsity division in a tournament of the Parliamentary Debate League for High Schools, Connecticut Debate Association. The tournament featured 248 debaters from 25 schools.

Greenwich groups receive funding from tax credit program

The Greenwich YMCA’s Energy Efficiency Program and the Greenwich YWCA’s Building Management System Replacement were among 70 projects in the state to receive a share of more than $450,000 in grant funding the Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program.

United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas — all subsidiaries of Avanrid — recently announced the grant funding, which aims to provide critical energy efficiency solutions. The grants, which will help nonprofit and community organizations conserve energy and lower costs, bring the total UI, SCG and CNG have been awarded through the program to $4.2 million since 2010. The program is administered by the State of Connecticut through the Department of Revenue Services. “Avanrid’s Connecticut companies have a long and proud history in the communities in which we operate, which is why we’re proud to support the work of 70 organizations across the state by providing this funding to help them improve their energy efficiency and save on operating costs,” said Avanrid CEO Pedro Azagra in a news release. “Since 2010, we have delivered more than $4 million in grant funding to Connecticut nonprofits, and we looking forward to strengthening our bonds with these organizations and supporting their important work for years to come.” UI, SCG, and CNG each provided $150,000 in funding through the NAA program.

Junior League seeks award applicants

The Junior League of Greenwich is now accepting applications for its Community Service Award.

Each year, the Junior League of Greenwich designates funds to be awarded to a local female high school student through its Community Service Award. The award of $2,000 is intended to recognize a high school student who exemplifies the mission of the Junior League of Greenwich by demonstrating sustained commitment to community service.

To be eligible, the applicant needs to be a female high school student in grades 9 to 12 who lives in or attends school in Greenwich and be someone whose volunteer activities demonstrate initiative and show significant and sustained commitment to community service and leadership.

Applications can be found at jlgreenwich.org and must also include two written recommendations from non-family members with knowledge of the student’s volunteer activities. The deadline for submission is April 5.

The Junior League of Greenwich presented the 2022 Community Service Award to Jennifer Di Capua, an 11th-grade student at Sacred Heart Greenwich.

Some of her roles include serving as a gradelevel community service ambassador, founder and president of the Women in Leadership Club, founding member and head of the Middle School Peer Branch Committee as well as the 3DNYC Summer Service participant and Sacred Heart Greenwich summer outreach volunteer.

For more information or questions, visit www.jlgreenwich.org or email jlg@jlgreenwich.org.