New Haven

New Haven Chapter Spotlight

2013 New Haven Awards Ceremony

For the 6th year, scholars, their parents, and mentors gathered to celebrate academic excellence in New Haven, CT.  Having outgrown the previous venue, all were assembled in the library of Hill Regional Career High School near Yale University’s campus.

The nautical theme of the architecture, with its 10’ diameter windows, coordinated with the theme of being the ‘Captain of Your Own Ship’, since Dr. Carson’s remarks included his mantra, ‘the person who has the most with what happens to you….is YOU!!’

Just prior to lunch, principal, Dr. Madeline Negron, welcomed all in attendance.  Dr. Maria Parente, Coordinator of Community Programs and Science from Yale University shared remarks. Yale has partnered with the New Haven, Connecticut Chapter since the beginning. 

A brief history of the fund was then shared by Candy Carson, followed by a Carson Scholar Alumi spotlight. Gabriella Biondo, a 2-time Carson Scholar winner, Baltimore County Woman of the Year, and Maryland State Woman of the Year through her involvement in student government, community service, and sports, is now a Yale University Master of Public Health Candidate, due to graduate next month!  She has continued her community service during her college career and volunteers at 3 different clinics in New Haven.  Her comments about what being a Carson Scholar involves, included how everyone should have a role model to help you focus and become more than you might have imagined.  With Dr. Carson as her role model, she has been able to complete her undergraduate degree and masters in only 5 years.  By becoming the best you can be, you can help save the world!

Keynote speaker, Dr. Ben Carson shared thoughts on his hope of developing a large corps of leaders who care about others.  By rewarding and celebrating intellectual talents, this can be done.  And by doing so, perhaps we can solve the problems in our nation and the world.  Looking at the well-being of the entire society should be our goal.  After thanking the parents and educators for providing the kind of environment that allows students to strive to be the best they can be, he concluded his remarks with his THINK BIG acrostic.

One by one, the 2013 scholars were called forward to receive their awards.  The new scholars were matched by as many repeat scholars in attendance!  The program concluded with all singing, “The Impossible Dream”… about the quest to follow the star of our dreams, no matter how hopeless, not matter how far….fighting for what’s right without question or pause, to make the entire world a better place!

First Ben Carson Reading Room in Connecticut Opens!

On Friday, April 5, 2013 The first Ben Carson Reading Room in the state of Connecticut opened at Strong Elementary School on Orchard St. in New Haven.  The students exercised the school motto of “Strong Hands, Strong Minds at Strong School.”

Read more about the Strong Elementary Reading Room.

To read more updates from the New Haven chapter, click here.