Congratulations to Nnaemeka Ikechi, Class of 2024, this year’s recipient of the Richard A. Balgenorth Lasallian Award for Higher Education.
Named for the late Richard Balgenorth, Class of 1975, who passed away suddenly in 2007, the award is presented to a graduating senior who displays an understanding of the importance of his De La Salle experience. The award was established during the 2008-2009 school year, to perpetually honor Balgenorth, a faithful and proud supporter of the Lasallian mission at De La Salle.
Richard’s spirit carries on today through the generous work of his wife Kim Balgenorth has been a proud supporter of De La Salle; she was the DLS Counseling Department assistant from 2008 until her retirement in June 2023.
The Balgenorth Award, valued at $1,000, is to be used by a student to defray expenses directly associated with his first year of college.
Nnaemeka is currently president of the DLS Student Council, and heading to the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, where he will be playing basketball.
Nnaemeka has been a very involved student at DLS, starting with his transfer from the Utica Community Schools at the beginning of his sophomore year.
In his winning essay, Nnaemeka wrote about his Lasallian experience and how it has been life-changing for him.
He had attended public schools, and treated school like a chore; coming to DLS changed his attitude toward school. “The students accepted me quickly, and I finally understood what being in a ‘brotherhood’ meant.”
He added, “The values and ideals that have influenced me have become a key part of my life and are an integral part of who I am today. I am proud of how I have improved as both a person and a child of God. Even though I have many achievements and awards, the greatest accomplishment is first and foremost that I am a Pilot through and through and nothing can or will ever change that.”
Nnaemeka will be graduating summa cum laude.
Past Balgenorth Scholarship Winners include
- Andrew Holub, ‘09
- Michael Albani, ‘09
- Bernard VanBerkum, ‘10 (now Father Anthony Van Berkum)
- Kyle Sant, ‘11
- Aaron Brzezinski, ‘12
- Andrew Piontkowski, ‘13
- Alexander Valentini, ‘14
- Nicholas Jozefczyk, ‘15
- Kevin Jones, ‘16
- Russell Hu, ‘17
- Michael Ososkie, ‘18
- Christian Dean, ‘19
- Andrew Rusu, ‘20
- Michael Wisniewski, ‘21
- Dylan Todaro, ‘22
- George Gardey ‘23