Years after the fact, the Ballston community’s giving spirit is still benefiting students. Three recent high school graduates are heading to school this fall with a little extra help thanks to scholarships funded by community donations.
Carney’s Tavern is one of many to have awarded scholarships to Burnt Hill-Ballston Lake High School seniors at Honors Night on May 23. This is the tavern’s third year to award a Daniel Ward Memorial Scholarship. Three students entering the field of hospitality, Daniel Olbrych, Emily Durrant and Forrest Burnetter, were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
“(All) of the scholarships are a tremendous advantage and blessing for us,” said BH-BL High School Principal Maryellen Symer. She added that when members of the community attend Honors Night and share stories it is “really something special” for everyone.
The scholarships were made possible through past generosity. A fundraiser Carney’s held several years ago to fund the purchase of a scoreboard in memory of Ward ended up collecting $20,000 above what was needed. These recent scholarships were given out in the memory of Bob Carney, too, after he died in February.
Ward was a bartender at the tavern for 27 years before his death in 2009. Both men are fondly remembered by many in the community.
“I hope they will continue with their education and go into the field … and always remember their roots back in Burnt Hills,” said Rosemary Carney, widow of Bob Carney, of the graduates.
Each student who applied for the scholarships was required to write an essay about their hopes and dreams.
Daniel Olbrych, 18, will attend Johnson and Wales University to pursue a degree in culinary arts and nutrition. The extra bit of cash will give him a hand with buying books and a computer for his first year on campus. He said he wrote his essay about cooking soup at the age of six for his mother.
“That’s when I knew I wanted to do something in the culinary and hospitality field,” he said. He plans on teaching nutrition and cooking after spending a few years in the industry.
Dawne Olbrych, Daniels’s mother, said her son’s passion for cooking never wavered while growing up and she’s been able to enjoy his culinary creations for many years.
“He will take different things and mix and match with everything that he has so we bought him a blank cookbook,” she said. “All his recipes have kind of evolved into things that are our family favorites.”
She added the scholarship is greatly appreciated.
“I wonder if they (donors) know how much it means to these young kids. It confirms for (them) that there are people out there rooting for them.”
Emily Durrant, 18, will be attending SUNY Delhi for a degree in travel and tourism. She caught the travel bug when she went to Disney World at the age of three through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
According to Durrant’s mother Christy, Emily was born with a rare disorder called cerebro costo mandibular syndrome, which affects bone growth, hearing and the pulmonary system. She added no matter what may be going on with Emily physically, she still enjoys traveling.
“She’s got a great attitude … having come from so many hurdles placed in front of her she’s been able to do that and enjoy it as she goes,” said Christy Durrant.
“I love to see new places and experiencing new things,” Emily Durrant said. “I am hoping to tie it all back … and share my story with other kids and try to help others … to help make their dreams come true.”
The scholarship will help give her more time to study and less time to work during her freshman year at college.
Forrest Burnetter, 18, will be attending Schenectady County Community College to pursue a degree in culinary arts (and perhaps a dual degree in applied science) for hotel and restaurant management.
“I want to be a chef on a sailing yacht in the Caribbean,” said Burnetter. He added he’s known exactly what he wanted to do since middle school.
He’s already getting that dream off to a good start, having just landed at job at Maestro’s Restaurant in Saratoga. Burnetter plans on using his on-the-job experience to further his career.
The scholarship will help Burnetter purchase a laptop computer to help his studies.
“He’s sharing a computer in the house now … just having his own will be great,” said hi mother, mother, Julie Burnetter said.
She added culinary arts is a good fit for her son and he’s even gotten the family (formerly vegetarians) to give meat a try.
While the scholarships will help all three recipients in their studies, they will also serve to connect the young learners with the world they hope to join one day.
“As we listened about Mr. Ward (at Honors Night) and the passion he had for the field, I felt proud that Forrest had the opportunity to do this …very proud,” said Julie Burnetter.
