Murphy, Milner are named Koperwhats Scholarship winners

Two 2019 high school graduates, one from Bunnell and one from Stratford High, were recently named the recipients of the first annual Susan & Michael Koperwhats Scholarship awards.

The awards were named in memory of Michael Koperwhats of Stratford, who passed in December 2017 after a 37-year career as a teacher and principal in Bridgeport. Locally, Koperwhats was chair of the Stratford Board of Education, Town Council and served as a Councilman at Large. Michael was a Sterling House and Little League program volunteer, and is survived by his wife, Susan, in whose honor the awards are also named.

Scholarship applicants were required to be education or nursing majors in college plus have a history with Sterling House Community Center.

Kerrigan Murphy was chosen as Stratford High School’s 2019 winner. Kerrigan will be studying elementary education at Southern Connecticut State University this coming Fall.

About her relationship with Sterling House, Kerrigan wrote, “I have been working at Sterling House for almost seven years and it is like a second family to me. I used to be a soccer referee and now I work at the concession stand in the spring and fall. During the winter I am also a scorekeeper for basketball.”

She continued, “I absolutely love going to work and I love the people I work with at Sterling House and I am so grateful to have had this as my first job. It has helped me prepare for the future in college and in the work force in many ways.

“I have learned how to communicate with people and work well with others even if there is a disagreement. I have had so many memorable moments with everyone at Sterling House and it has taught me so much.”

Congratulations, Kerrigan.

The Bunnell High School scholarship winner was Peter Milner. Peter will be attending Sacred Heart University and also studying elementary education.

In his application, Peter wrote, “My connection with Sterling House began with playing soccer and basketball in elementary school. I continued to play basketball through high school and I have been a Sterling House soccer referee since the fall of 2014.

“I received the Debbie Diaz award for sportsmanship in 2016 as a basketball player and the Debbie Diaz award for sportsmanship in 2019 as a soccer referee. I also participated in the counselor-in-training (CIT) and junior counselor (JC) programs” for the Sterling House summer day camp program in 2018 and currently in 2019.

Milner was awarded counselor of the week and he received the President's Volunteer Service Award in 2018 and 2019.

“The opportunities I have had through Sterling House and the support and encouragement of Mr. O'Brien have given me confidence and self-esteem to pursue a degree in elementary education at Sacred Heart University.

“I am so grateful to the Sterling House staff for taking a chance on me despite my learning disability and speech disorder and giving me a job this summer as the sports activities assistant and for their continued support as I develop as a person. Sterling House has had a profound impact on my life and the accomplishments I have achieved and I will be forever grateful to this amazing organization.”

Congratulations to Peter from everyone at Sterling House.

Both Kerrigan and Peter received a check for $250, and Susan Koperwhats said, “We had many fine applications and unfortunately we were only able to select two. On behalf of my family, I congratulate both and thank everyone who applied.”