WEST HAVEN – Notre Dame High School has bestowed its two highest honors upon graduating seniors Brandon Gomez of East Haven and Mark Powell of Orange.
The honors were announced at the school’s 61st commencement exercises on May 30.
The two awards are the Notre Dame Code Award and the Notre Dame Man of the Year. Both are voted upon by the school faculty.
Mr. Gomez received the Code Award, which is given to the senior who the faculty deems best lives his life by the words stated in the Notre Dame Code.
The Man of the Year award goes to the student who has made the greatest positive contribution to school life during his senior year.
Mr. Gomez, who was president of the Student Council, also dedicated countless hours to Notre Dame’s Christian Student Mission Club and Student Diversity Club. He served leadership roles as a peer counselor and volunteered for his church community.
Mr. Gomez will attend the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., in the fall.
Mr. Powell was senior class president as well as captain of the football and tennis teams in his senior year. He also was involved in several co-curricular activities, including student government positions, Team ND and KNADA (Knights of Notre Dame against Drugs and Alcohol) while volunteering outside of school with children with special needs.
Mr. Powell plans to attend Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., in the fall.
"Both these young men represent the best Notre Dame has to offer," said Holy Cross Brother James Branigan, school president.
"They are fine young men, strong academic students and great leaders. They helped set the tone for what was a great year for Notre Dame. I congratulate them on their well-deserved awards and I know they will be successful in whatever career path they choose," he added.
