Milford honors youth volunteers

By Susan Misur
Special to the Register
MILFORD — Tony Candido pumped his fist in the air with excitement as he watched members of the Mayor’s Youth Committee for People with Disabilities receive an award recently for their efforts.
Students in the group were among those honored at the 20th annual Mayor’s Youth Award Ceremony at City Hall. Teachers, parents, friends and clergy nominated eight clubs and 22 students of all ages for volunteering to improve the community.
One student was chosen from each of the elementary, middle and high school categories to receive the Mayor’s Youth Award. The Mayor’s Youth Committee for People with Disabilities won the award for the club category.
Candido, chairman of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, attended the ceremony to support club members of the youth committee. "These kids do this on their own time, at night and on weekends," he said after he congratulated each member. "They’re the best."
Noelle Labozzo, a fifth-grader at Orange Avenue School, received the award for the elementary school category for her work as a Girl Scout, donating to food banks, sending cards to sick children at a local hospital, and cleaning school grounds on Earth Day.
Elizabeth Buckheit, an eighth-grader at East Shore Middle School, was honored in the middle school category for volunteering at the animal shelter, library and senior center every week, and cleaning the grounds of Milford Landing.
Elizabeth Denhup, a sophomore at Joseph A. Foran High School, was chosen from the high school category for her work with Foran’s Natural Helpers club and student government and for volunteering weekly with the Special Olympics.
Elizabeth said she volunteers with the Special Olympics because her brother has Down syndrome.
"She’s got a heart bigger than Milford," her mother, Diane Denhup, said. "She’s always looking for someone to help."
Upon receiving the award, Elizabeth said, "I’m really excited, but also really appreciative and thankful."
A special 20th Anniversary Award was given to Sarah Wilkinson, who is now a teacher. She was the only student to ever win the Mayor’s Youth Award twice.
"She’s now doing for youth what many people did for Sarah in her life," Lisa Diamond, executive director of Milford Youth and Family Services, said during the ceremony.
The award program was started by Diamond because she wanted people to know of the positive ways youths were changing Milford. Diamond told the crowd the program has "grown over the years, and it’s still an inspiration."
Mindy Natale, program coordinator of Milford Youth and Family Services, handed out certificates and awards with Mayor James Richetelli Jr., who said it was "heartwarming" to see all that the youths have done.
"They’ve done everything from volunteering with the Best Buddies program to serving meals at homeless shelters," Natale said. "They remind me of what’s going right in the community."
Susan Misur is the interim editor of the Milford Weekly.