If the 34 award recipients at Wednesday night’s Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club’s 24th annual Scholar-Athlete Dinner are examples of our local society’s future leaders, we’re in pretty good hands.
The best and the brightest of Bucks County’s high school graduating seniors gathered at the Spring Mill Manor to accept justified recognition for their exploits from both the playing field and the classroom.
Proceeds for the event were raised through last Sunday’s 24th annual Kiwanis-Herald Sesame Place Classic. Since 1999, more than $500,000 has been generated for the Dick Dougherty Scholarship Fund – named after the late newspaper sports editor – which provides assistance to college-bound young adults.
Guest speaker Brian Propp, a member of the Flyers’ Hall of Fame, served as guest speaker and told the room how impressed he was with their accomplishments.
An estimated 130 attendees listened intently as Propp, who survived a massive stroke back on Sept. 3, 2015, spoke not only of his inspirational, near-complete recovery journey but his admiration for those in attendance.
“They’re too smart for me!” he said with a grin. “You could tell from their thank you speeches they appreciate all they have received. The scholarship aid makes a difference for them. I really appreciate them having me as a speaker. Hopefully they learned a little something tonight ... to keep up their hopes. Making sure they’re doing as well as they can.”
The scholar-athletes were not the only ones singled out for praise. In a sense, it takes a village to get a young person through his or her formative years and on the path to greatness.
“There are many things which contribute to the success of these individuals,” said Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club President Deb Glass. “Family, friends, coaches, teammates – they all play a part in helping them to be the best that they can be. We celebrate those individuals as well.
“Tonight we celebrate winning, not just making it to the finish line but for the hard work, which plays a major role, facing challenges both academically and athletically. Overcoming obstacles, pressing onward and rising above in the pursuit of one’s best.”
Donna Milner said one couldn’t help but be inspired by hearing what these young scholar-athletes have already achieved.
“What a marvelous evening,” the Kiwanis member said. “These kids are so impressive. They’re going great places. I can’t believe what they’ve already accomplished during their school years. Congratulations to all.”
Kiwanis’ Mary Berman does much of the organizational planning for the banquet and she could not have sounded more pleased with the way things went.
“Just a wonderful evening,” she said. “The scholar-athletes were absolutely phenomenal. It was worth all the work. Just a great night all around for everybody.”
The 2024 Kiwanis/Dick Dougherty Honorarium Award recipients:
– Archbishop Wood: Julia Yogis, Enzo Petruzzelli
– Bensalem Township: Angelina Sponheimer, Jahaan Patel
– Bristol: Haley Velasquez, Matthew McVey
– Central Bucks East: Paige Keller, Jacob Tannenbaum
– Central Bucks South: Abigaile Fee, Zachary Thomas
– Central Bucks West: Amelia Duffy, Conor McFadden
– Conwell-Egan Catholic: Molly Milewski, Matthew Gorman
– Council Rock North: Kelly Lao, Brady Ott
– Council Rock South: Cameron Paige Blatz, Vincent Szydlik
– George School: Alice Morrison, Zachary Holmes
– Harry S. Truman: Jada Peterson, Abdelrahman Safwat
– Holy Ghost Prep: Andrew Morgan
– Morrisville: Brittany Roman Delgado, Zykheim Hairston
– Neshaminy: Reese Zemitis, Emeer Coombs
– New Hope-Solebury: Nina Meixler, Brooks Saft
– Pennsbury: Bailey Hall, James Schaffer
– Villa Joseph Marie: Kendall Gayton
– William Tennent: Theresa Ditri, Vincent Sulpizio
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