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Northern New York Community Foundation

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Girardi, Victoria Named Graf Award Recipients at Watertown High School

June 8, 2017 By admin

Two seniors were recognized as the top graduating athletes at Watertown High School and the recipients of the William I. Graf Award on Wednesday. Jillian Girardi was selected as the school’s female recipient, and Peter Victoria was chosen for the school’s male honor this year.

The William I. Graf Award was created in 1954 by the Italian American Civic Association to honor Mr. Graf’s leadership and civic engagement in the community. Mr. Graf was a multi-sport coach and athletic director at Watertown High School. Graf award honorees are expected to have participated in at least two or more varsity sports in their senior year and showcase exceptional individual characteristics in sportsmanship, discipline, fair play, training, ability and academics.

Girardi was an accomplished five-year varsity lacrosse player at Watertown. She helped lead her team to a pair of Section 3 championships and New York State Final Four appearances. She was a three-time Frontier League All-Star and was chosen as a high school All-American as this year. Girardi also participated on the Cyclones’ varsity soccer team for three years where she was a two-time Frontier League All-Star. She was named to the Section 3 All-Star second team as a senior. She earned a scholarship from Northwestern University and plans to play lacrosse for the Wildcats next year. She has yet to decide her major of study.

Victoria was an exemplary four-year varsity swimmer at Watertown. He was a Frontier League All-Star in all four seasons and garnered a Section 3 championship with his teammates as a senior. He was also a New York State qualifier in swimming. Victoria was also selected as a three-time Frontier League All-Star while playing varsity baseball for the Cyclones. A member of the school’s National Honor Society, Victoria is enrolled at SUNY Buffalo and plans to study bio-medical science this fall.

More than 100 graduating high school seniors have received the Graf Award. Watertown High School’s athletics staff selects the recipients each year, and the Italian American Civic Association presents the award. Following the death of Mr. Graf’s son, William A. Graf, in 2013, the family decided to honor him by funding a financial award for recipients. William A. Graf, who also exemplified the traits of the award, attended Watertown High School and played several varsity sports coached by his father, William I.

Each recipient receives a financial award of $500. The Northern New York Community Foundation was selected to help continue the Graf family legacy by administering the fund in perpetuity and raising awareness of the award for students striving to earn the prestigious honor.

The Northern New York Community Foundation makes grants to support the work of non-profit organizations and provides scholarships to individuals in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. The Foundation has been built and added to from gifts (both while living and through their legacy plans) by individuals and organizations committed to meeting the changing needs of Northern New York, as well as supporting specific charitable interests and passions.

Lee “Gus” Murray, Jillian Girardi, Phyllis G. Johnson

Lee “Gus” Murray, Peter Victoria, Phyllis G. Johnson

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

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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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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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