News
Norwalk High School Senior Brody O’Brien was named the 2014 recipient of the $100,000 Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship committee judged Brody as the most outstanding senior in the Norwalk High School Class of 2014, in recognition of his outstanding dedication and achievements across the broad spectrum of academics, athletics, arts, and community and religious service, all areas in which Kevin participated and excelled.
Brody was selected from a pool of applicants who are in the top 10% of their class at the end of junior year, and who are members in good standing of the Kevin M. Edit Chapter of the National Honor Society at Norwalk High.
Scholarship recipients are selected based on the way their application, recommendations, and interview most reminded the Selection Committee of Kevin’s qualities and accomplishments.
For the full announcement, including history and other background, click here: 2014 Kevin M. Edit Scholarship Announcement & Background
Preliminary applications were submitted in October, and then eight applicants from this pool were invited to submit a final application, that included letters of recommendation in support of their academic, athletic, arts, and community and religious service accomplishments. Three finalists were then invited to an interview with the Scholarship Selection Committee. In addition to Brody, NHS seniors Lilliana Byington and Lila Sferlazza were also named as finalists for the 2014 scholarship.
Academically, Brody was first in his class at the end of junior year, with a 4.1756 grade point average. His senior year course load includes Advance Placement courses in English, Spanish, Calculus and Government, as well as Honors Physics and Entrepreneurship; he had earned a 4.725 grade point average through the first half of senior year.
In leadership roles, Brody is vice president of the Kevin M. Eidt Chapter of the National Honor Society; president of B.R.O.W.N., (Bears Reaching Out Within Norwalk), and secretary of the Salamanca Chapter of the Spanish National Honor Society.
Brody is a four year member of the Norwalk High School soccer team and member of the 2012 State Championship team. Brody also ran indoor track for two years.
In the community Brody has been active in B.R.O.W.N., B.B.C. Club, (Bears Beating Cancer), and Safe Rides. As part of B.R.O.W.N., Brody has served the Carver Community Center, Norwalk Reads Program, Tommy Cares Foundation, and participated in trips to Rockaway NY to provide assistance following Hurricane Sandy. As part of B.B.C., Brody has participated in St. Baldrick’s events, Whittingham Cancer Center’s Walk, and Sally’s Run.
Brody is a parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle church, where he has been a Confirmation Leader, helped out at the St. Vincent De Paul’s Food Pantry and was volunteer for clothing drives and fundraisers
Brody has been accepted at William & Mary, Gettysburg, and the University of Connecticut where he is a recipient of a presidential scholarship. He plans to major in Civil Engineering.
This year marked the announcement of the 18th recipient of Kevin’s Norwalk High School Scholarship representing a scholarship for each year of Kevin’s life. With the $122,000 in scholarships being awarded this year, the Fund has cumulatively awarded $1,500,750 in scholarships to over 110 outstanding young men and women who have matriculated at over 50 diverse colleges and universities since its inception.
Scholarship Fund Background
On the evening of January 23, 1997 Kevin M. Eidt, an 18-year-old freshman at Boston College, passed away from cardiac arrest while playing an intramural basketball game on campus.
Kevin, co-valedictorian of the Norwalk High School class of 1996 was also co-captain of the men’s tennis team, and a member of the renowned marching band and the jazz ensemble. Outside of school Kevin gave to the community as a volunteer for the Norwalk Soup Kitchen, Save the Children, and the American Heart Association. As a junior in high school Kevin created the concept and co-chaired with his brother, the first Hoops for Hearts basketball tournament in Fairfield County to benefit the American Heart Association.
Kevin entered Boston College in the fall of 1996. He was to complete only one semester, passing away during the first week of the spring semester. But in that short time, Kevin left his mark on BC, as he did here in Fairfield County.
As part of Norwalk’s 350th anniversary in October 2001, Kevin was posthumously honored as one of the hundred individuals whose leadership would shape the greater Norwalk area for the next 50 years. This honor was in recognition of what Kevin accomplished in his life and what his memory and legacy continues to make possible through a caring community’s support of his Scholarship Fund.
Kevin has been posthumously honored by having the St. Jerome, (Norwalk, CT), Youth Room, and the Norwalk High School National Honor Society Chapter named in his honor.
Boston College Eagle EMS is a all volunteer student run, quick response emergency medical service organization formed in 1997 by a classmate of Kevin’s who wanted to make sure future situations like Kevin’s could be met with the skill and resources which could mean the difference between life and death. In 2009 Eagle EMS established the Kevin M. Eidt Excellence Award which is presented annually to the most outstanding member of the organization.
It was the life Kevin led, and the void his passing created, that led family and friends to create the Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship Fund. The level of contributions received in that first year far exceeded expectations and with the help of an annual benefit dinner dance, the idea of a one-time scholarship has evolved into a significant ongoing scholarship program. The program has allowed Kevin’s spirit to continue in the exceptional young men and women who are recipients of his scholarships.
Additional Scholarships from the Kevin M. Eidt Fund
The Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship Fund is supporting nine scholarships in 2014 each specifically related to areas in which Kevin excelled: five for Norwalk High School, one for the St. Jerome Parish Youth Group, two for Boston College and one for Norwalk community service. During 2014 Kevin’s Fund will be awarding a total of $122,000 in scholarships.
The additional scholarships to be announced for Norwalk High School are:
To a senior in the Norwalk High School Honors Society, in good standing and in the top 10% of their class with demonstrated achievements across the spectrum of academics, athletics, arts, and community and religious service.
To a four year member of the Norwalk High School Marching Band, in good standing, with the highest cumulative grade point average similar to Kevin’s accomplishment.
To a senior in the Norwalk High School Jazz Ensemble for outstanding contribution to the Jazz program..
To a senior in the Norwalk High School Orchestra who has made an outstanding contribution to the Orchestra program.
To a member of the Norwalk High School senior class who has made an outstanding contribution to Norwalk HS both as a scholar and as an athlete.