History
In 2008, Plainville High School classmates of Dr. Bill Petit (class of 1974) decided to begin a Community Service Program at their alma mater. The Class of 1974 had been active since their graduation and had supported academic awards to seniors attending a four year college or university or two year technical school. The Class decided to join with the PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION to create a program that would formally recognize and encourage community service in honor of the activism of the Petit women: JENNIFER in the Methodist church, the local food bank, Heifer International, and diabetes organizations among others; HAYLEY with the Connecticut Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; and MICHAELA with organizations to help animals. Like her father, Michaela had been enamored of Gandhi’s famous quotation and had posted it on her homepage: “We must be the change we want to see in the world.”
In 2009 the PETIT WOMEN BE THE CHANGE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS were started at Cheshire High School, as well. There, as in Plainville, there are first and second place individual winners, and a team prize. Each winner receives an award and a grant to a 501(c)(3) charity is made by the Petit Family Foundation in the students’ names.
A Community Service Day was begun with speakers that included students, administrators, and members of the Class of 1974. In the spring of 2008, the first Plainville High School Class of ‘74 and Petit Family Foundation ‘Petit Women Be The Change’ community service awards were given. The awards were given to two individuals, first and second place, as well as to one team. In addition, each winner was able to select a 501(c) (3) charity to which the PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION would donate in the students’ names.
Petit Women Be The Change Community Service Awards
2021
Plainville HS – Destiny Rose Wasilonsky & Janeil Benson
2020
Plainville HS – Ashley Hernandez & Emma Lopez
Cheshire HS – Sagarika Srinivasan
2019
Plainville HS – Andrew Kane
Cheshire HS – Alexa Cofrancesco
2018
Plainville HS – Cheyenne Emmendorfer, Karla Juarez & Abigail Leander
Cheshire HS – Manavi Jain
2017
Plainville HS – Caterina LaBella & Alexa St. Jean
2016
Plainville HS – First Place (tie): Lauren Lederman, Brianna Lagassey; Second Place (tie): Emily Bienasz, Kristina Petit
Cheshire HS – First Place: Cara Walsh
2015
Plainville HS – First Place (tie): PHS Unified Sports Basketball Team, Shatsada Lovan; Second Place (tie): Jarod Romankiw, Nichole Page, Carly Brunelle
Cheshire HS
2014
Plainville HS
Cheshire HS
2013
Plainville HS – Jennifer Heslin, Samanth Bradley, Kyleigh Panetta; Charities – CT Humane Society Shelter (Thank you note), Food Bank and Pure Water for the World (Thank you note), Event Program, Video
2012
Plainville HS – 1st Place Allesandra Caponigro $1000, Charity – Unfied Sports $500; Honorable Mention Samantha Bradley $100, Charity – CCMC $500; Team Award Winners Katherine Willard, Nicholas Giuliani, Charity – SOLES4SOULS $500, Event Program
Cheshire HS – 1st Place Jill Durso $1000, Charity – American Cancer Society $500; Team Award Winners Brendan Smalec and Anna Frenzilli, Charity – Cheshire Communtiy Food Pantry Inc. $500 thank you note
2011
Plainville HS – Alma Pietri, Lauren Davis, Emma Carpenter, Justin Misluck
Cheshire HS – Allie Centorino, Asahi Hoque
2010
Plainville HS – Paige Casey, Laurel Underwood, Brianna Francheschini, Rebecka Mousch, Samantha Dow, Jennifer Farina, Nicholas Daddabbo; Event Program, Comments, 2009 Service Fair Program
Cheshire HS – Ceara Rosemary Larkin, Christine Bannan, Jamie Erickson, Team ENOUGH—Mansoor Alam and Shayna Zanker; Comments, Event Program, Photos
2009
Plainville HS – Whitley Dozier, Kristen Carrocchia, Amanda Lea, Steven Boutin; Comments, Event Program
Cheshire HS – Julia Krasnow, Cheshire Softball Team—Emily Amento and Linda Amarante; Comments
2008
Plainville HS – Ryan Pelletier , Annalicia Huey, Team CANstruction and Mr. Esposti’s Bike Rehabilitation team; Comments, Event Program, thank you note, 2007 Service Fair Program
