Pictured, are Abigail Holmes, Sara Wierbowski, Katherine Chin, Emily Joyce, Hailey Bell, Addison O’Rourke, and Cara Jones.
Pictured, are Robert Bassett, Louise Woodburn and Cara Jones.
Pictured, are Alexander Roberts, Christopher Bergmann, Gavin L. Neigh and Zachary Zielinski.
On May 15, at the Ah-Wa-ga Center at 34 1/2 Lake St. in Owego, 12 Outstanding Owego Free Academy graduating seniors were honored for their achievements, service to others, and good character in the annual Spring Student Recognition Ceremony of the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation.
Parents and students gathered in the morning to learn about the importance of knowing their family and community history, the need for life long citizenship, and to receive congratulations and a five hundred dollar educational award to be used for higher education.
Four different scholarships honoring current and past Owego citizens were given out to the following.
The First Louise and Robert L. Woodburn Family Scholarship was given by
Louise Woodburn to Cara Jones.
The David P. Beere Family Scholarship was given to Zachary Zielinski.
The Robert Van Rensselaer Bassett Scholarship was given to Alexander Roberts, Christopher Bergmann, Connor Hart and Gavin L. Neigh.
The Harriet and Charles Hibberd Bassett Scholarship was given to Abigail Holmes, Hailey Bell, Sara Wierbowski, Emily Joyce, Katherine Chin and Addison O’Rourke.
Students heard from Owego elder citizen Eudora Shuler about the exciting things that college and higher education have in store for them. In addition to certificates, each student was given an Ah-Wa-Ga Center wooden nickel to remember their hometown, a series of inspirational readings, and a new 2015 Lincoln penny to encourage them to model their lives after Abraham Lincoln and take initiative, become responsible individuals and save for the future.
Pictured, are Robert Woodburn Jr., Louise Woodburn, Cara Jones, Reatha Woodburn and David Woodburn.
Finally, students receiving scholarships were given the Bassett Challenge to do a “senior give back” to benefit the Owego community sometime before they graduate, Each student was asked to do two to four hours of volunteer service to help a group, cause, individual or organization that they care about, take a picture of themselves volunteering and then post it on the Facebook page of Friends of CHB Youth Foundation.
Robert Bassett, president of the Foundation, told students his father, Owego native and 1932 OFA graduate, Charles Hibberd Bassett, believed strongly that growing up in a small town had many advantages.
