Store In Enfield Shopping Plaza Honors Its Recent Graduates

ENFIELD, CT — Management at a home merchandise store in the Brookside Plaza paid tribute Monday morning to four employees who recently completed their high school careers, with a small graduation ceremony, gifts and the surprise presence of their parents.

"These girls have lost out on so much this year," Bed Bath & Beyond store manager Dawn Smolenski said, acknowledging the cancellation of proms, spring sports, the class picnic and a traditional graduation ceremony in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Enfield High School graduates Janelle Bonilla, Samantha Ceniglio and Mia Jensen were joined by fellow associate Katie Steele, a recent graduate of Sabis International Charter School in Springfield, Mass. Fellow BB&B employee Luke Barnes played "Pomp & Circumstance" on a clarinet, and three of the girls donned their caps and gowns brought by their parents.

Smolenski spoke a few words about each graduate, and the girls were presented gift bags, custom-made cupcakes and other goodies. A poster collage of each girl was situated behind their respective family members.

"I had four graduates who actually came back, and I thought it would be nice to honor them, and let them know how much we appreciate them and how we're going to miss them when they go off to school," Smolenski said.

Bonilla (criminal justice) and Jensen (physical therapy) will both be attending Springfield College in the fall. Ceniglio is headed to Central Connecticut State University to study nursing, while Steele will be majoring in psychology at Westfield State University.

"They all have their different strengths - my district manager said these girls are fantastic with customers, and he was surprised they were only high school students," Smolenski said. "They go above and beyond every day, no pun intended, and they are great leaders."

Photos: Tim Jensen/Patch