On Friday, May 30th, 23 students of South Windsor High School’s class of 2026 received the Junior Book Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to South Windsor High School, and overall admirable character.
Organized by SWHS’s Director of School Counseling, Benjamin Wry, SWHS has been participating in the Junior Book Award program for many years. Established for over a decade, this long standing tradition provides juniors with an opportunity to connect with colleges and universities, as well as obtain additional motivation to excel as they round out their high school careers.
This year’s recipients are as follows:
Bowdoin College – Nishigandha Bhambure
Brown University – Jerry Zhu
Clarkson University – Arushi Sharma & Ananya Rajan
Endicott College – Eliza Blanchfield
Harvard University – Samarth Basanth
Rensselaer – Shaurya Ranjan
Rochester Institute of Technology – Ayush Singh & Audrey Zhang
Russell Sage College – Madeline Milheiro
Sacred Heart University – Jaden Bridgeforth
Salem State University – Elizabeth Sinclair
Saint Anselm College – Ariana Rosario
Saint Bonaventure – Brett Edelberg & Stewart Christophel
Saint Michael’s College – Grace Monahan & Israel Rivera
University of Rochester – Cole Murphy, Kaitlyn Roy, Nithish Jayarak & Sanjana Kadiyala
Western New England University – Sophia Gordon
Yale Book Award – Lavanya Rathore
The recipients listed above were allotted 5 guests to attend a ceremony, held in the high school’s grand auditorium, where a novel, or certificate was issued from their university, along with a description of their award.
“The Junior Book Awards at SWHS are a meaningful way to recognize and celebrate the achievements and potential of our junior students.” Wry commented. “These awards often come from colleges and universities to highlight juniors who demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership, or unique talents.”
For most of the recipients, their work extends beyond the walls of SWHS, with many taking on summer internships, extracurricular activities, extensive volunteering opportunities, business explorations, etc.
For Juniors, receiving the Junior Book Award has a number of benefits.
“It provides early encouragement, motivates continued academic and personal growth, and introduces students to potential future schools,” Wry told The Prowl.
In addition, the award opens up opportunities for scholarships, a decorated resume, and recognition from family members, and peers.
