Stephen Betzler, Stephen attended Monsignor Bonner High School where he was a member of the crew and swim teams. He received honors each year and was accepted as a member of the Honor Society during his junior year. Community service was important to Stephen and he participated in some form each year of high school while holding down several part time jobs in his neighborhood.

Stephen says, “Rowing over the past four years has enabled me to become the person that I am today. It has expanded my horizons and allowed me to try new things.” Stephen’s parents accepted his award for him because he had to report to the United States Naval Academy where he is currently a freshman.

Catheryn Reynolds, Cate attended Bishop McDevitt High School where she was consistently on the honor roll and a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. Athletically she participated as a volunteer and rower in the Philadelphia Rowing Program for the Disabled and Hammerheads Sled Hockey team. She was invited to train at the Paralympic Academy and USA Hockey National Sled Hockey Development Camp. At school she kept busy with the yearbook, newspaper and being a Spanish peer tutor. Her community service was church, Red Cross and tennis related while she had time to work a part time job.

Cate attends University of New Hampshire as a freshman. She says, “ Educating the mind without the heart is no education at all. Rowing has helped me to educate both my mind and my heart. I believe that rowing has helped me reach toward this goal by both aiding me in the classroom and helping to build my character.”

James McLaughlin, James, an Eagle Scout, attended Monsignor Bonner High School where he was a member of the crew team for four years. Consistently being on the honor roll, he was a member of the National Honor Society. He was also chosen as a Philadelphia Diocesan Scholar, taking classes at Neumann College during his senior year.

James is attending Brown University as a freshman. He says, “Primarily, rowing has taught me discipline. It helped to teach me to better manage my time. Long practices on both the erg and the water, spending miles upon miles trying to correct the smallest details in our technique, helps to teach patience.”

John P. Stokes, a 2006 Bill Braxton Memorial Scholarship recipient, is a freshman at Drexel University and a graduate of Northeast Catholic High School.

At Northeast Catholic High School, Mr. Stokes was an excellent student.  He was a member of the National Honor Society and a Mathelete. He was named to the honor roll and a Connelley Scholar each year. He also received a silver medal in Latin in ‘05.  He is active in community service and dedicated to rowing. John intends to row through college and beyond. He’d like to coach in the future and work as an engineer.

John  P. Stokes’ record of commitment and service to his school, his community, his family and to the sport of rowing embody the values of the Bill Braxton Memorial Scholarship.

Tara Moore, awarded the Theresa Braxton Memorial Scholarship for 2006, is a graduate of Archbishop Prendergast High School and a freshman at San Diego State University.

A good student, Ms. Moore took  honor courses while working on the yearbook committee and rowed crew for four years.  Tara was named MVP in ‘05 and captain in ‘06.

Tara Moore’s dedication and motivation to hard work and success make her an ideal recipient of this award honoring the memory of Theresa Braxton.

Brian Romansky, a 2006 Bill Braxton, Sr. Memorial Scholarship recipient, is a freshman at Drexel University and a graduate of
Northeast Catholic High School.

At Northeast Catholic High School, Mr. Stokes was a committed, hard working student.  He received first and second honors each year, was
a Mathelete and participated in Model United Nations. He is active in community service, volunteering for the Philadelphia SPCA. He was named most valuable novice and most improved rower. Brian plans to row in college. He is working toward a degree in engineering.

Brian Romansky’s willingness to achieve and his record of service  to his school, his community, his family and to the sport of rowing
embody the values of the Bill Braxton, Sr.  Memorial Scholarship.