Norwalk High School Recipient Spotlight

2012   Alex Libre

Alex's comments:

Five years ago, I stood at this very podium, so honored and humbled to accept this scholarship award that I feared my trembling hands would prevent me from delivering my speech as prepared. And as I stand here now, I am no less overwhelmed, yet there is a steadiness to my hands that has developed over the last half-decade. Tonight, rather than facing the daunting task of promising to uphold Kevin’s legacy during my years at Dartmouth and beyond, I am thrilled to be able to share with you some of the ways in which I have.

First, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone in this room—to all of you—for enabling me to follow my dreams. Your generosity and inspiration have shaped the person I am today by giving me both the gift of education and a special connection with the person whom the Fund honors, and no words will ever truly capture my appreciation for your support.

2011   Lorena Sferlazza

Lorena's comments:

Thank you Mr. Eidt for your kind introduction. And thank you, all of you, for gathering here tonight.

The Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship Fund for me is about community. It brings to life the memory of an 18 year old young man, whose love for his family, friends, each one of you, continues to bear witness even 19 years after his passing. Your support over the years has allowed me to pursue my passions at the College of the Holy Cross, and grow in a place where service to others is rooted at the core of its mission. You have enabled me to develop my art, study in Italy, work in an auction house, challenge my learning through Honors research, deepen my Catholic faith, and be moved by the overwhelming experience of community I have been blessed to know. Tonight, I’d like to share with you three of these communities that because of this fund, I have been blessed to be a part of.

2010   Eloise Libre

Eloise's comments:

Good evening.

I am honored to be here. All of you are extremely special to me. While I never had the privilege of meeting Kevin, I know that he left a meaningful impression on everyone he met; his commitment to organizations and to other people was great, and has inspired much of what I have become. Tonight I’d like to talk about how your support and Kevin’s inspiration perpetuates beyond the winners of this scholarship.

When I stood before you five years ago to accept this prestigious award, I never could have guessed where I would be today. Because of this scholarship, I was lucky enough to graduate debt-free, and I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am for this. Graduating debt-free allowed me to accept an AmeriCorps internship in San Francisco. I am spending the year working for an environmental education program through the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks. Our program, called the Youth Stewardship Program, provides students all over San Francisco with a series of free field trips to parks within walking distance of their school. I teach hands-on lessons for 2nd-12th grade about topics such as ecosystems, plant and animal adaptations, urban gardening, and habitat restoration. For kids who rarely get a chance to explore outside, this is huge. For me, playing in the dirt with kids every day is the best job in the world!

2009   Despina Sidiropoulos

Despina's comments:

"It is with mixed emotions that I stand before you this evening. Although I am sincerely honored and grateful for the scholarship that I was awarded five years ago, I cannot help but be saddened by the fact that it was established as a result of the tragic loss of Kevin Eidt. Even years after his passing, Kevin’s spirit continues to resonate in the Norwalk community, the Boston College community, and in those whose lives he touched."

"Kevin’s light permeates into the lives of others, inspiring those around him to share in his legacy. Edith Wharton once wrote: “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it”. Kevin was the candle that lit the way for us to continue the journey. It is our responsibility to be the mirrors that reflect Kevin’s aspirations, ideals, and compassion that he had for others. By keeping Kevin’s ideals ever present in our lives, we can ensure that we will be sharing him with the rest of the world."

2008   Alyxie Harrick

Alyxie's comments:

"I’d like to begin this evening by sharing a little of my background so you can better understand my gratitude, dedication, and drive. I am one of five children in a single-parent household. My father passed away when I was in elementary school, and in high school, my mom welcomed my two cousins to move-in with us when their parents passed. College for me meant student loans and full-time jobs."

"The Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship changed that. When I first applied five years ago, I made a promise in my application “to pursue my goals based on the morals and values in which I believe Kevin and I share so that I may add meaning to someone’s life, even if just one person.” Tonight, I would like to reflect upon the responsibility with which this scholarship charged me and to express how my loyalty to Kevin’s Fund became the engine that empowered me. Kevin fueled my strength and embedded in me a tenacity that enabled me to rise above the ordinary and to achieve extraordinary milestones."

2007   Kara Bess

Kara graduated with honors from Columbia University in May 2011 with a major in History and concentration in Psychology. Kara is currently working as an Associate at Sapient Global Markets, a leading provider of services in financial and commodity markets. Kara is engaged to Chase McCaleb, to be married this June. After the wedding, the couple will reside on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.

Kevin’s Fund is honored to welcome Kara-Lynne, the eleventh recipient of the Norwalk High School scholarship to graduate from college, this evening to share her journey with us.

Kara’s reflection on her scholarship follows:

“I imagine that Kevin believed that any experience was a good experience, as he embraced all that he did with enthusiasm and steadfast dedication. He understood the value of involvement in a wide range of activities at a young age, how to truly enrich life through both breadth and depth by experiencing as much as he could. Though his time here was cut too short, Kevin had already pursued countless experiences. The positive outlook with which he approached life was surely evident to those who knew him personally, as it is even apparent to those of us who have only had the pleasure of hearing or reading about his accomplishments.

2006   Lauren O'Hagan

Lauren graduated Cum Laude from The College of William and Mary in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Lauren is currently attending the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, class of 2014.

At William and Mary, Lauren became immersed in the history of the Williamsburg, VA and of the College by joining the Spotswood Society, a student historical society, where she gave tours of the Wren building and the historic campus. Lauren was active in her campus community as a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, which held multiple philanthropic events to benefit Service for Sight. In the Williamsburg community, Lauren volunteered with ARC, where she participated in activities with people with intellectual disabilities, and took part in various other community projects. She was a member of the Ballroom Dance Club and Team, through which she participated in several competitions and volunteered in local elementary schools teaching ballroom dance to students.

Throughout her junior and senior years and during the summer before her senior year, Lauren did research in microbiology through the Biology department. She presented a poster of her research project at the American Society for Microbiology Meeting in San Diego. Lauren was also involved in the arts, taking studio classes in ceramics and architectural design and volunteered catering events at the Muscarelle Museum of Art.

In describing what the scholarship has meant to her, Lauren wrote, “The Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship has allowed me to achieve my academic goals and has helped to make my graduate education a reality, but it has been so much more than that. Being a part of Kevin’s legacy is a tremendous honor, and it has given me a humbling perspective. My academic and personal pursuits are only a small fraction of the vast service and achievements of previous scholarship recipients, who all follow in the footsteps of Kevin. Throughout college, I have often thought of Kevin, who was truly remarkable in how he served his community, lived his life with purpose, and still continues to inspire. I happily keep Kevin in my heart as I pursue my goals and try to lead a life of purpose.”

2005   Jessica Bruno

Jessica graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May of 2009 with a double major in American Studies and Film, Television, & Theatre. Jessica is currently attending Quinnipiac University School of Law, class of 2012.

Jessica entered the College of the Holy Cross in the fall of 2005. Although her activities were limited by a torn ACL, she was a member of the Holy Cross College Choir and was a tutor and volunteer at Plumley Village, a subsidized housing complex run by the Boys and Girls Club in Worcester. Jessica transferred to the University of Notre Dame in the fall of 2006.

At Notre Dame Jessica was part of the Silver Wings a multi faceted service organization supporting both the campus and the South Bend community. Jessica also served as lector and Eucharist Minister at dorm masses. Jessica was recipient of the Hannah Storm Journalism Internship affording her the opportunity to write articles for newsletters and edit articles and websites for the Notre Dame Alumni Association.

During her junior year Jessica participated in My Brother’s Keeper an Urban Plunge program associated with Notre Dame. She was a tutor at St. Adalbert’s Elementary School in South Bend and was accepted as Transfer Orientation Committee leader for the 2008-2009 school year. Jessica also served as rector for St. Jerome’s 2008 Emmaus retreat.

During Jessica’s senior year she helped organize the Senior Legacy program and taught religious education to 2nd graders at St. John the Baptist Church in South Bend.

In summarizing what the scholarship has meant to her Jessica wrote. “On Saturday, April 2, 2005, I experienced one of the most extraordinary feelings as the 2005 Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship recipient. With four years of academic achievement, athletic success, and dedication to my community and church behind me, I was honored to be associated with such a beloved member of the Norwalk community. I was grateful to have the opportunity to follow in Kevin’s footsteps, and felt privileged to be part of Kevin’s legacy.” Jessica further commented, “This scholarship is more than just $90,000. It is about a young man who was a gift to his community, and his scholarship was a gift that made my dreams come true. I will always represent this scholarship proudly, and I will always have a special place in my heart for Kevin Eidt.

2004   Elana Ben-Porat

Elana, a four year Dean’s List student, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin in May of 2008 with a double major in History and Communication Arts.

During Elana’s freshman year she participated in the Education Fellows program learning about current problems in education and different types of school districts. She also joined Chi Omega and took part in the Chi-O Reads Out Loud for the Safe-Haven program, Dodge for Wishes for the Make A Wish Foundation and raising money for breast cancer research. She also became involved in the University’s Hillel, the Jewish organization promoting student involvement in religious, cultural, political, and traditional aspects of Judaism.

In her sophomore year, Elana continued her volunteer work under the Chi Omega sorority and spent her second semester abroad in Prague in the Czech Republic studying film and Jewish studies.

During junior year Elana sat on the sorority’s Executive Board as the Recruitment Chairman and was in charge of recruiting a new pledge class the fall semester of her junior year. Elana also traveled through Israel for two weeks on Taglit Birthright, a program to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Israel.

In her senior year Elana worked for Teach For America (TFA) as a Campus Campaign Coordinator. TFA is a non-profit organization that hires recent college graduates to work in low-income school districts in an effort to close the country’s achievement gap. As a Campus Campaign Coordinator, Elana promoted the organization and recruited students to apply for TFA. While working for TFA, she became invested in their mission to work towards ending the nation’s educational inequities. Elana was offered a position to work in New York City where she currently lives and teaches seventh and eighth grade social studies at the Bronx Early College Academy.

Each year our scholarship recipient submits a summary of their activities to the Board of Directors of Kevin’s Fund. We would like to share some of Elana’s comments from her summary written days after her graduation.

“How have I changed as a person and what impacted me the most throughout my four years in college? I am not sure I can put a concrete definition to the changes that I underwent, but I can assure you I have developed into a mature, nurturing and driven person. More specifically, I can confidently say the Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship Fund has been one of the prominent influences in shaping the graduate who walked across the graduation stage five days ago.”

“I feel the scholarship motivated me to perform at exceptional levels and created a strong desire within me to achieve success. I was a driven individual before receiving the scholarship, but knowing that I represented Kevin throughout college gave me more inspiration to excel in academics and choose a career in the public sector.”

“Right after accepting the scholarship award, a member from the selection committee told me how struck he was by my maturity level during the interview as I discussed my mother’s struggle with cancer. A week before I was to leave for my senior year, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor. During the first twenty-four hours of his diagnosis, I was unsure if I would be able to leave my family. However, I remembered what I was told four years ago, and had the maturity to go to back to school while simultaneously providing my family with the love and support they needed back home. I will never forget how the scholarship gave me the reassurance and hope to return to Madison, experience a monumental period of my life and not feel as though I was abandoning my family’s hardship.”

2003   Thomas Wagner

Tom graduated Cum Laude from Bucknell University in May of 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a minor in Economics.

While at Bucknell Tom was involved as a Residential Assistant for first year students, Events and Outreach Director for Catholic Campus Ministry, Vice President and Interim President for Residence Hall Association, and President of Habitat for Humanity. In addition, Tom also served as a Bucknell Tour Guide, was a member of American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the civil engineering concrete canoe team, and played trumpet in the University concert band.

During the summer between Tom’s junior and senior year he traveled to England, France, Germany, and Italy as part of a civil engineering program to learn how engineering techniques are applied in societies outside the United States. Senior year, Tom was initiated into Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering Honor Society) and one of five students selected to represent Bucknell in Washington, D.C. at the National Transportation Research Board Conference. He also worked with Lewisburg, PA citizens and elected officials to provide a plan for the “Redevelopment of the Bull Run Neighborhood” as his senior civil engineering project.

Currently, Tom holds his E.I.T. certification and is employed at DMJM Harris, a consulting engineering company in New York City, as a civil engineer. He has plans to return to school in the next year to pursue a master’s degree.

Tom wrote, “The Eidt Memorial Scholarship has truly impacted me in a way words will never convey. The concepts I have learned, friendships I’ve made, and experiences I’ve shared are all a direct result of the scholarship. They have helped me to improve my character, identify my morals, and in turn, discover myself. I truly hope that the faith and self-confidence the scholarship committee has instilled in me has helped me to instill those same traits into the people I have met at Bucknell and beyond. For me, Kevin’s legacy has not come to an end; instead, it is just the beginning. I hope to pass his spirit on to all those I meet through the morals and values I exemplify.”

2002   Laura Sharp

In May 2006 Laura graduated from the University of Rhode Island Honors Program magna cum laude with a B.A. in French and a minor in Leadership Studies. While studying at URI Laura was a member of the Newman Club Advisory Board, Vice President of Habitat for Humanity, Student Organization Leadership Consultant and secretary of the organization. In addition, she was a member of the Outdoors, French and Spanish clubs. Her junior year, Laura had the opportunity to study in Orléans, France for both semesters. Speaking only French and immersing herself in the culture Laura achieved one of her dreams: to obtain fluency in a foreign language. Laura was recipient of the French Excellence Award.

In a few months Laura will be starting her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at Quinnipiac University. This 27-month program will be the next step for Laura in becoming a Physician Assistant. After graduating Laura would like to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery. She hopes to combine her interests in medicine, French, and humanitarianism in doing medical work in a less privileged French speaking country.

Laura wrote that, “Receiving the Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship has been a great honor. It allowed me to study both at the University of Rhode Island and abroad. These two experiences have greatly shaped who I am. The faith that the scholarship committee and the Fund’s benefactors have placed with me is something that I will keep with me throughout all my endeavors. I have felt blessed to be able to honor Kevin’s memory with this scholarship and will continue to do so.”

2001   Lauriann Kress

Lauriann graduated magna cum laude from Bucknell University in 2005 with a B.S. in Mathematics with minors in French and Education and was inducted into four honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa. While at Bucknell she participated in Catholic Campus Ministry’s steering committee, played in the band and orchestra as a percussionist, and worked as a writing and math tutor in Bucknell’s Writing Center. She submitted proposals for workshops at the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing and presented at these conferences in Lawrence, KS in 2002 and Hershey, PA in 2003.

During summers Lauriann worked at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth as a Teaching Assistant and as the Academic Dean’s Assistant. In 2004 she spent part of the summer studying the sociological and psychological aspects of the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland.

Upon graduating, Lauriann was chosen to be a Newton Fellow through the non-profit organization Math for America. She is currently studying at Teachers College, Columbia University where she will graduate in May with a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education. For the next four years, she will be teaching at a public high school in New York City.

In providing the above information to us, Lauriann wrote: “My accomplishments were achieved because I was able to attend Bucknell University, a decision clearly influenced by the receipt of Kevin’s Scholarship. Believing in myself was important to my success, but more so was having the support of an entire group of donors who believed in my ability to achieve. For the opportunity you have given me, I am most thankful and I will honor your gift by always remembering what Kevin’s legacy has given to me.”