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Northern New York Community Foundation

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WHS’ Nick Mallette is First to Earn Coach Matthew J. Branski Award

June 4, 2020 By admin

Standout Three-Sport Athlete Will Join Team at Le Moyne to Continue Lacrosse Career

    WATERTOWN — Watertown High School senior Nick Mallette was recently honored as the inaugural recipient of the Northern New York Community Foundation Coach Matthew J. Branski Award.

    The Coach Matthew J. Branski Award was established at the Community Foundation shortly after his passing in January 2020 to honor his leadership as a decades-long lacrosse coach and Watertown High School teacher who mentored countless students and athletes on and off the field.

    Highly regarded by players, parents, fellow teachers and coaches, Mr. Branski was a true friend who always ensured each player was treated with respect. While he demanded excellence, he inspired such results through the example he set for others.

    His passion for the game of lacrosse was matched equally by the same for Watertown High School, and the young men on his teams were genuinely excited to play. Some of his players went on to pursue lacrosse careers in officiating and coaching at both the high school and collegiate levels. In 2002, Mr. Branski reached the pinnacle of his career when he was inducted into the Upstate New York Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

    Branski Award honorees are veterans of the Watertown High School boys lacrosse program and demonstrate a hard-working attitude, dedication to the sport, determination to lead, and exhibit good sportsmanship. Students with plans to play collegiate lacrosse receive strong consideration for the award.

    “Coach Branski made a profound impact on the field and through this permanent fund will continue to positively affect the lives of student athletes,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director and 1988 Watertown High School graduate. “Many have contributed to make this tribute a reality. Each has helped perpetuate his love of the sport of lacrosse and remind future generations of the important role he played in Watertown athletics.”

From left, Michael Branski, Coach Matthew J. Branski Award inaugural recipient Nick Mallette, Watertown High School Class of 2020, and Watertown High School Varsity Boys Lacrosse Coach Brian Navarra.

   Nick Mallette is a standout three-sport varsity athlete, participating in football for two years and swimming/diving and lacrosse for four years. As a football player, he was named to the Section 3 Class A First Team as a tight end and served as a team captain. In the pool, Nick earned honors as a Frontier League diving champion, a four-time Frontier League All-Star, a Frontier League Team champion and a Section 3 Team Champion. Nick distinguished himself as a lacrosse player, earning honors as a four-time Frontier League All-Star, two-time Watertown Daily Times All-North player, a Frontier League Champion and was a two-time team captain.

   Nick started playing lacrosse in eighth grade and immediately “knew it was the sport for him,” his mother, Terri, said.

   In addition to playing on the Cyclones varsity lacrosse team, Nick has played in the 1812 Shootout and the John Pepper and Cornstalk Classic tournaments. He has also been a member of travel teams including Rhino, Unity, and Upstate Salt Kings, Syracuse.

   Outside of athletics, Nick is a gifted musician and has been involved with the Trillium Music Center, playing the violin since he was 5. He also plays the guitar. He is a member of the National Honor Society and an active community volunteer, completing many hours of service on behalf of National Honor Society and the lacrosse team.

   Nick graduates from Watertown this month with a 95.4 GPA and will attend Le Moyne College, Syracuse, where he will study biology and continue to play lacrosse as a Le Moyne Dolphin. Nick aspires to become a physician’s assistant and plans to apply for entry into the program at Le Moyne. He is the son of Al and Terri Mallette, Watertown.

   Brian Navarra, Watertown varsity boys lacrosse coach, and Mr. Branski’s son, Mike, presented Nick with the award, which includes a $500 scholarship. To join in helping to perpetuate the legacy of Coach Matthew J. Branski, make gifts to: Northern New York Community Foundation, 131 Washington St., Watertown NY 13601.

About the Northern New York Community Foundation

    Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

    Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

    The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.

Filed Under: Recent News

Northern New York Community Foundation

131 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: 315-782-7110
Fax: 315-782-0047

info@nnycf.org

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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Working with donors to benefit the community through grants and scholarships since 1929.

We are pleased to introduce the first winner of this spring’s NBC Watertown Classroom Kindness Challenge — Teacher Appreciation edition!

Colton-Pierrepont Central School sixth-grade teacher Bonnie McGee was surprised last week with a celebration and a $250 award from the Northern New York Community Foundation to help with classroom improvements. Thank you to our friends at NBC Watertown who visited Mrs. McGees classroom to present the award. 

Mrs. McGee’s students appreciate their teacher’s hard work to provide meaningful instruction and lessons.

From one of the many nominations for her: “Mrs. McGee is a true gem of a teacher! I’ve known her since I was a student in her class over 20 years ago. She is still the same sweet, loving teacher she was all those years ago. She always made the class a fun place to be, and she was always there to listen and give support. To this day, she is always willing to help anyone in need whether it’s a student, parent, anyone! I hope she is still teaching when my children are old enough to be in her class!

Congratulations to Mrs. McGee, and thank you for setting a great example for your students!

#ClassroomKindness #TeacherAppreciation #NNYCF #NBCWatertown

We are pleased to introduce the first winner of this spring’s NBC Watertown Classroom Kindness Challenge — Teacher Appreciation edition!

Colton-Pierrepont Central School sixth-grade teacher Bonnie McGee was surprised last week with a celebration and a $250 award from the Northern New York Community Foundation to help with classroom improvements. Thank you to our friends at NBC Watertown who visited Mrs. McGee's classroom to present the award.

Mrs. McGee’s students appreciate their teacher’s hard work to provide meaningful instruction and lessons.

From one of the many nominations for her: “Mrs. McGee is a true gem of a teacher! I’ve known her since I was a student in her class over 20 years ago. She is still the same sweet, loving teacher she was all those years ago. She always made the class a fun place to be, and she was always there to listen and give support. To this day, she is always willing to help anyone in need whether it’s a student, parent, anyone! I hope she is still teaching when my children are old enough to be in her class!

Congratulations to Mrs. McGee, and thank you for setting a great example for your students!

#ClassroomKindness #TeacherAppreciation #NNYCF #NBCWatertown
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We are humbled to serve as the permanent home of The Peyton Lane S. Morse Legacy Foundation to help the Morse family perpetuate the life and legacy of their son, fallen Watertown City Firefighter Peyton Morse.

On Friday, Peyton was posthumously honored as a Watertown Rapids “Clutch Player of the Game” during the team’s home opener against the Utica Blue Sox at Toyota Field at the Alex T Duffy Fairgrounds. Peyton’s older brother, Parker, threw out an honorary first pitch as we celebrated Peyton’s legacy of service to others, and the importance of community.

Now in its third season, the “Rapids Support Team,” powered by the Northern New York Community Foundation, is a partnership to help the team with its charitable initiatives off the field to strengthen community and local nonprofit organizations.

Thank you to the Morse family for all your incredible work. We are honored to partner on such an important mission.

#WatertownRapids #RapidsSuportTeam #NNYCF #Partners #PeytonStrong #JusticeForPeytonImage attachmentImage attachment

We are humbled to serve as the permanent home of The Peyton Lane S. Morse Legacy Foundation to help the Morse family perpetuate the life and legacy of their son, fallen Watertown City Firefighter Peyton Morse.

On Friday, Peyton was posthumously honored as a Watertown Rapids “Clutch Player of the Game” during the team’s home opener against the Utica Blue Sox at Toyota Field at the Alex T Duffy Fairgrounds. Peyton’s older brother, Parker, threw out an honorary first pitch as we celebrated Peyton’s legacy of service to others, and the importance of community.

Now in its third season, the “Rapids Support Team,” powered by the Northern New York Community Foundation, is a partnership to help the team with its charitable initiatives off the field to strengthen community and local nonprofit organizations.

Thank you to the Morse family for all your incredible work. We are honored to partner on such an important mission.

#WatertownRapids #RapidsSuportTeam #NNYCF #Partners #PeytonStrong #JusticeForPeyton
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3 days ago
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Nonprofit organizations serving residents of the Clifton-Fine region in southeast St. Lawrence County should apply, for grant support through the Clifton-Fine Community Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation by Friday, July 21. Up to $6,000 in funding is available through this grant opportunity this year.

Complete details at: nnycf.org/clifton-fine-fund-2023-rfp/

#CliftonFine #NNYCF #Community

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Nonprofit organizations serving residents of the Clifton-Fine region in southeast St. Lawrence County should apply, for grant support through the Clifton-Fine Community Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation by Friday, July 21. Up to $6,000 in funding is available through this grant opportunity this year.

Complete details at: nnycf.org/clifton-fine-fund-2023-rfp/

#cliftonfine #NNYCF #community
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5 days ago
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