IVYLAND – It’s sort of like being accepted into an elite fraternity or sorority.
Only the best of the best need apply. That was the case on Wednesday night when 34 of Bucks County’s top college-bound high school seniors gathered at the Spring Mill Country Club for the 25th annual Kiwanis Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet.
If nothing else, each of the award recipients was inspired by watching their brethren receive a check for $1,000 from the Dick Dougherty Honorarium Awards program.
As each student’s accomplishments came over the microphone, there were smiles all around among the crowd of approximately 170 onlookers.
“What a wonderful night,” said Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club’s Dixie Rhodes. “Over 170 people sloshed through the rain to honor some of our stop scholar-athletes. The banquet room was alive with conversation and laughter.”
Some of the upcoming destinations for these high achievers include the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. and Villanova University in the Philadelphia area.
“I am so proud of our Kiwanis Club for the hard work they put in this endeavor,” said Rhodes. “It was well worth it. I was humbled by all the accomplishments of these young scholars. They will shine in their roles as our future leaders.”
Guest speaker Brian Propp, a member of the Flyers’ Hall of Fame, congratulated the scholar-athletes for their accomplishments and wished them the best for the future.
Bucks County Herald editor Joe Wingert, who served as emcee, also congratulated those in attendance. The Herald and the Kiwanis Club co-sponsor the Sesame Place Classic which provides funding for the Dick Dougherty Honorarium Awards. Since 1999, more than $500,000 has been raised for this worthy cause.
“It’s a privilege to be in a position to recognize these scholar-athletes,” Wingert said. “They’ve accomplished so much. They’re motivated and I fully expect they’re going to be tomorrow’s leaders.”
Award recipient Alena Cofield of Neshaminy High School was pleasantly surprised by the turnout.
“I was amazed by all the people who came here,” she said. “It’s like seeing a big community come together. I think it’s nice to see athletes who put in a lot of work behind the scenes finally get recognition. You see amazing athletes doing so much more with their life.”
And William Tennent High School’s Quinn Cataldi, an outstanding cross country runner, also found the event to his liking.
“Obviously everyone here is a phenomenal athlete,” he said. “They’re also phenomenal scholars. It’s great being surrounded by like-minded people who are just as driven. It’s a great experience. I’ve met people who I wouldn’t have met otherwise from different sports. I can share my same drive and my same passion.
“A sport like cross country doesn’t get recognized a whole lot so we do appreciate the small opportunities when we do get them.”
Kiwanis’ Debbi Glass has an appreciation for all this young talent.
“It’s so good to see these scholar-athletes come up and be recognized,” she said. “I don’t remember being that smart when I was in high school. These young people are the leaders of tomorrow.”
>Dick Dougherty Honorarium Award recipients
>MALE
>Archbishop Wood: Brian Shammo
>Bensalem: Jake Quinlan
>Bristol: Andreas Quattrocchi
>Central Bucks East: Nolan Behm
>Central Bucks South: Dan Conrad
>Central Bucks West: Noah Miller
>Conwell Egan: Nick Brady
>Council Rock North: Zack Vigrass
>Council Rock South: Ian Lihani
>George School: Daniel Glushuk
>Harry S Truman: Nate Gilson
>Holy Ghost Prep: Daniel Perez
>Morrisville: Eric Miller
>Neshaminy: Matt Diamond
>New Hope-Solebury: John Nettles
>Pennsbury: Ryan Webber
>William Tennent: Quinn Cataldi
>FEMALE
>Archbishop Wood: Julia Waltrich
>Bensalem: Devon Bell
>Bristol: Heidi Brown
>Central Bucks East: Sydney Ralph
>Central Bucks South: Devlyn Faber
>Central Bucks West: Madeline Majewski
>Conwell Egan: Cecelia McBeth
>Council Rock North: Kaitlyn Landers
>Council Rock South: Carolyn Wright
>George School: Avery Frank
>Harry S. Truman: Alisha Knight
>Morrisville: Laila Waters
>Neshaminy: Alena Cofield
>New Hope-Solebury: Emily Wilson
>Pennsbury: Svanna Strandberg
>William Tennent: Evie Kimbrough
>Villa Joseph Marie: Rylind Pasquito
