Board of Ed Honors NCHS Seniors Isabel Taben, Charlie Lenihan

The Board of Education on Monday night honored two New Canaan High School seniors recognized for their leadership skills, concern for others, willingness to take on challenges and ability to make difficult decisions. The Student Leadership Award from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education—a Wethersfield-based advocacy group known as ‘CABE’—goes to a male and female senior from participating districts who also exemplify a willingness commit to a project, diplomacy, an ability to understand issues clearly and dedication to honor commitment, New Canaan’s superintendent of schools, Dr. Bryan Luizzi, told about 100 people at a Board of Education meeting. This year’s CABE award winners are Isabel Taben and Charlie Lenihan, as decided by teachers, counselors and administrators, Luizzi said at the meeting, held in the Wagner Room at NCHS. Luizzi described Washington University-bound (in St. Louis) Lenihan—a National Merit Finalist who also earned the Norm Ricker Award, Director’s Award and Pennyweights Award at the recent NCHS Recognition Ceremony— as a student who “loves to engage his peers and teachers in lively theoretical debates” and possesses an “insatiable curiosity” and “loves to learn.”

“Charlie’s boundless energy and positive spirit are infectious, and his passion for life is inspiring for those around him,” Luizzi said.