Naugatuck resident Destiny Chapman, a 15-year-old freshman at Naugatuck High School, has been chosen as Miss Juneteenth 2015 Queen. Juneteenth is a celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. June 19, 1865, is considered the date when the last slaves in America were freed. Troops, under the leadership of U.S. General Gordon Granger, were deployed to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official in 1863. Granger told the freed salves to remember that day, June 19th. Juneteenth is recognized as a day of observance in the majority of states, including Connecticut. Chapman was chosen from a number of contestants who submitted essays on Juneteenth and were screened through an interview process. Chapman wrote in her essay, ‘Juneteenth is about freedom, it is about rejoicing life for the gift it is. Juneteenth recognizes our ability to grow beyond boundaries, to live without impositions and experience life fully with all of its joys and simple pleasures. Meaningful things such as warmth, kindness, hope, and unconditional love are a basic human right. Being emancipated from bondage, from oppression, from brutality, injustices, abuse, intolerance and hostility is what Juneteenth represents for many of us.’ As Miss Juneteenth 2015, Chapman will participate in several upcoming parades, including the Juneteenth African-American Caribbean Parade & Festival in Bridgeport June 13, the Barnum Festival Parade June 28 in Bridgeport, the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Bridgeport on July 12, and the African-American Heritage Day Parade in Harlem, N.Y., in September. –CONTRIBUTED
Woodland Regional High School senior and valedictorian Karissa Wilkerson, left, pictured with Woodland Principal Kurt Ogren, received the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship at the Capitol in Hartford May 19. The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship program recognizes high school seniors for their leadership, community involvement and academic achievement. Students are nominated by their high school principals or guidance counselors and recognized with one-time scholarship of $1,000 for their pursuit of higher education. –CONTRIBUTED
The Valley Fusion 10U travel softball team started the season off by winning three straight tournaments. The team, which is comprised of girls from Prospect, Beacon Falls, Naugatuck, Oxford and Cheshire, won the Spring Madness Tournament April 25-26 in East Hartford, the Valley Fusion Spring Fling Tournament May 1-3 in Beacon Falls, and the Rose City Rumble May 16-17 in Norwich. The team’s record in the three tournaments was 18-1, losing its very first game. The team is pictured following the Spring Madness Tournament. –CONTRIBUTED
Naugatuck High School sophomore Christina Tran, 15, plays pool with Naugatuck Senior Center member Eddie Lister at the center on May 21. Tran visited the senior center as part of Student/Government Day. She learned about the job of a senior center director, and the services and activities available for adults. -CONTRIBUTED BY HARVEY LEON FRYDMAN
Dante Yannantuono, 7, left, and Gianna Yannantuono, 9, both of Naugatuck ride the Yo Yo Swing Ride during St. Francis-St. Hedwig School’s annual Spring Carnival on June 4 at the St. Francis Field on Church Street. –LUKE MARSHALL
Boy Scouts Jake Stow, left, and Charlie Schwarz of Troop 104 plant flowers along a median on Main Street in Beacon Falls on June 6. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from town cleaned up and beautified medians on the street in celebration of the anniversary the town was incorporated, which was on June 1, 1871. Parks and Recreation Chairman Steven Ruhl, who is also the town historian, said he hopes to make the cleanup an annual event. –LUKE MARSHALL
The Naugatuck YMCA held its first Rubber Duck 5K. More than 100 runners participated in the inaugural event, which helped raise money for the Y’s scholarship fund. Kate Kemnitz finished first (21:40) for the women. -PHOTOS COURTESY OF JACK MCCOY PHOTOGRAPHY
Boy Scout Evan Tom of Troop 115 shakes hands with Naugatuck Mayor Robert Mezzo during his Eagle Scout Court of Honor March 28. Tom completed his required merit badges within 18 months, and completed an overhaul of the outside sitting area at the Whittemore Memorial Library for his Eagle project. –CONTRIBUTED
Thirteen local high school seniors, including Naugatuck High School senior Mikayla Healy, were awarded their school’s Good Citizens Award April 9 at a meeting of the Trumbull-Porter Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Watertown. Each student must have the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism to an outstanding degree. The students received a DAR Good Citizen pin, a certificate, an American flag and a small monetary stipend. Pictured, front row from left, award winners Alexis Rinaldi, Sacred Heart High School; Celina Caetano, Waterbury Arts Magnet; Joni Cotter, Holy Cross High School.; middle row from left, Chapter Regent Katharine Gabrielson, Healy; Victoria Maringola, Wolcott High School; Jensyn Cleveland, Thomaston High School; Chapter Chair DAR Good Citizens Daryl Masone; back row from left, Sean Chilson, Watertown High School; Luke Theriault, Pomperaug High School; and Emily LeClerc, Kaynor Technical High School. –CONTRIBUTED
The Naugatuck YMCA held its first Rubber Duck 5K. More than 100 runners participated in the inaugural event, which helped raise money for the Y’s scholarship fund. Cameron O’Bar finished first (18:33) for the men. -PHOTOS COURTESY OF JACK MCCOY PHOTOGRAPHY
Amiyah Morales, 3, of Naugatuck flips a rubber frog into a pond with the help of her aunt, Dora Henry, during St. Francis-St. Hedwig School’s annual Spring Carnival on June 4 at the St. Francis Field on Church Street. –LUKE MARSHALL
Genesis Santiago, 6, of Naugatuck flips a rubber frog into a pond with the help of her mother, Jackie Ortiz, during St. Francis-St. Hedwig School’s annual Spring Carnival on June 4 at the St. Francis Field on Church Street. –LUKE MARSHALL
