The second award of the Jeffrey D. Ralston scholarship went to Connor Blemly, of Annapolis, MD. It was given at the Senior Awards Ceremony at St. Mary's High School, Annapolis, MD on May 21, 2002. Due to medical reasons, the Ralston family members were not able to attend the ceremony. Close personal friends of Jeff, Dave and Peggy Maurizi of Alexandria, VA represented the family and Peggy gave a wonderfully insightful presentation. Peggy is also a graduate of St. Mary's and shares many happy memories of Jeff's years there.
The accomplishments of Connor are quite impressive. He has maintained a commendable GPA while taking honors courses, graduating 15th out of 155 in his class. He is an athlete, excelling on the Varsity Lacrosse and Varsity Soccer teams. He volunteers his time at Mayo Day Camp with mentally and physically disabled children, and helps with the Special Olympic events and with local food drives for needy children. He has worked since he was nine, delivering newspapers and as an employee of Ben and Jerry's ice cream store in Annapolis since he was fourteen, working up to a position as manager. During all of this, most impressively, he has developed his most admirable quality, that of being a wonderful friend.
In his essay, Connor told of a personal experience in which he learned that his friendship was the turning point in another's life. He had spent a great deal of time helping another through a personal crisis. The value of caring for another and then recognizing the importance of this friendship in someone's life is a truly adult realization, a moment of maturation. This compassion and generosity of self is what this scholarship is meant to recognize.
The mother of one of Conner's friends wrote a wonderful recommendation for Connor that provided the "behind the scenes" look at the thoughtful, giving person that Connor has become. She has known Connor since the first grade at St. Mary's, as her son and Connor have been close friends since that time. Her memories include the selfless times when Connor would fill in for others when they could not work their shift at Ben and Jerry's and he would adjust his personal schedule to meet their needs. There were years he was nurturing a knee injury. He still wore a heavy brace so he could play sports, but he was there, playing through pain, to be part of "his team". He made sure his friend, who had moved from the area, and then returned and felt "out of the loop," was included in all of his sports and social plans. He is the true friend. Connor is loyal, dependable, responsible and truly reflects the qualities so many admired in Jeff's life.
It was an honor to present this year's Jeffrey D. Ralston Memorial Scholarship award of $1000 to Connor Blemly.