By Avery Imp, Greenwich High School class of 2023
On Thursday, May 25th, the PTA Council Essence Award Committee hosted a ceremony to celebrate the nominees and winners of the 2023 Essence Awards. This year, 13 exceptional Greenwich Public Schools PTA volunteers were honored.
Established in 2011, the Essence Award for Excellence in Volunteerism is awarded annually to one outstanding PTA member. Julie Marek, who co-chaired the PTA Council Essence Award Committee with Dani Rossi, shared the qualifications for this award: “selflessness, ongoing involvement, being a willing team member, a motivator, a person who significantly improved the school community, and a representative of the PTA values of collaboration, commitment, respect, and integrity.”
In 2017, the Lifetime Essence Award was added. Each year, it is awarded to an active and long-standing PTA volunteer who has contributed over many years and across schools.
The 2023 Essence Award for Excellence in Volunteerism was awarded to Cate Elliott-Bocassi. She has been involved with the Glenville School PTA in many capacities, beginning as a class parent and working up to the role of co-president.
Throughout her time with the Glenville PTA, she has helped to run the Scholastic book fair and Penguin Patch. In 2020, she came up with and organized the first “Gator Glow,” an event that allowed students and families to safely celebrate Halloween during the pandemic. It was such a big hit that the school has continued the tradition. While serving as co-president, she also stepped up as a cafeteria monitor when the school needed extra help.
In July 2022, she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. While fighting for her life, she has remained an eager and dedicated member of the Glenville School PTA.
Her nominators said that “Her selfless spirit of giving back to her school and community is truly inspiring and shines through in everything she does. She is a bright light that believes in putting others before herself and is a role model to our entire PTA. No matter what is going on in Cate’s life, she never loses sight of helping others.”
The 2023 Lifetime Essence Award was awarded to Valerie Rimmer, who was described as “a selfless volunteer, an exceptional leader, and a true advocate for [her] school community.”
She has been involved with the PTA and PTAC for more than thirteen years across four schools in the district. Further, she has simultaneously held PTA leadership roles at more than one school.
“Valerie doesn’t seek accolades or recognition but instead quietly supports students and their needs. Her focus remains steadfast, and her impact is profound, even without acknowledgment,” her nominator wrote. “But what truly sets Valerie apart is her unwavering dedication to the betterment of her school community.”
The full list of nominees for the 2023 Essence Awards includes: Carey Bisbee, Christina Broderick, Kerri Gruss, Cate Elliott-Bocassi, Angie Hartofilis, Leila Horn, Valerie Rimmer, Anne Rockel, Maureen Harper, Michelle Horgan, Jennette Leal, Janet McMahon, and Dawn Wistrand.
