One of the highest honors afforded to Bridgeport residents or those that have impacted the community is to be recognized as a Michael Benedum Fellow. On Thursday, officials with the Benedum Festival announced the 2015 honorees, as well as the winner of the Youth Service Award.

 

According to long-time Benedum Festival board member Robert “Bob” Allen, this year’s honorees include Sara Carr Parsons and Laura Stevens Aliff. The recognition done the day prior to the actual start of the Benedum Festival and the Fellows Award Banquet is done for those who exhibit the philanthropic spirit and giving nature  of Bridgeport’s most famous resident Michael Late Benedum.

 

Carr Parsons recently retired after 24 years of service conducting the Chanticleer Children's Chorus. However, Allen said that’s not the reason she was nominated nor selected.

 

“The reason she stood  out was her work that was done while serving with that choir and well beyond that,” said Allen. “There’s a history of volunteerism as well, while there is also additional work with music.

 

“What’s so very important is that she exposed hundreds or maybe even thousands of children to the joy of music,” Allen continued. “She also led numerous trips for children in the capacity as conductor, many of those trips abroad, where some children may not have had a chance to experience it otherwise.”

 

Ironically, Aliff also has ties to the Chanticleer Choir. According to Allen, she was involved in helping organize many of the aforementioned trips. All said there was much more the resume’ that helped the committee choose Aliff as a Benedum Fellow.

“She has decades of volunteerism, primarily with the school system. What’s amazing is that volunteerism continued after her daughters graduated. She’s been involved with everything, particularly at Bridgeport High School and still helps out today,” Allen said.  “ … She’s also been involved with the Maple Lake Association and other civic groups and so much more. Laura clearly represents what this award is meant to recognize.”

 

Once again, the Benedum Fellows committee and the festival will be recognizing a youth with the Youth Service Award. Soon-to-be-Bridgeport High School senior Eva McFarland was chosen for that designation.

 

“Here’s a young lady that is already heavily involved with the community through Key Club and the Kiwanis and she’s also deeply involved in helping at the school,” said Allen. “It’s also noted that she had done work and assisted with the elderly as well as doing things for children patients at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown and the Ronald McDonald House. She’s an active young lady in our community and beyond and an excellent choice for this honor.”

 

The Benedum Fellows Banquet will be held July 9 at the Bridgeport Conference Center. Keynote speakers will be George Daugherty, who portrays Michael Benedum, and Joe Deegan, son of former Bridgeport Mayor Joe Deegan.

  

Tickets for the Benedum Fellows Banquet are $25 each and are now available at the Benedum Civic Center. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. 

 

Editor's Note: Sara Carr Parsons is pictured above with her choir performing, while Larua Aliff, second from right is shown with her husband Bill and daughters Stacie, far left, and Natalie.