Kyle Murray Awarded Redding Republicans Matthew Berry Scholarship

Kyle Murray, son of James and Carol Murray of Redding, was awarded the Redding Republicans’ Matthew L. Berry Memorial Scholarship, given at Joel Barlow High School’s Award Night ceremony on June 3rd.

The scholarship, which is sponsored by the Redding Republican Town Committee and funded by the Berry family, is given annually to a graduating high school senior who demonstrates a commitment to using his/her higher education for the purpose of becoming an enlightened citizen who will make a difference in the world.

Mr. Murray was among a select group of students to graduate Joel Barlow with a Diploma With Distinction, honoring those with exceptional academic achievements and personal integrity in all aspects of scholarship. He was senior Class President, an honors graduate, a member of the National Honor Society, and he was recipient of the JBHS Outstanding Student in Latin Award, Excellence in Public Speaking Award and Spirit of the Arts Award as well as the Mark Twain Library Wit and Wisdom Award. He was also a member of the JBHS Debate Team. As a junior, he was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar and an AP Scholar with Honor. He was also the recipient of the National Council of Teachers English Achievement Award and Certificate of Superior Writing, the Redding Republicans’ Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence in Math and Science and the George Eastman Young Leaders Award. He has won numerous awards and citations both on a national and statewide level for his Excellence in Latin. In the summer of 2019 he was a research intern in the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is also an Eagle Scout.

Sharing his reaction upon receiving the award, Kyle said, “I would like to thank the Berry family and the Republican Town Committee for awarding me this scholarship that honors the memory of Matthew Berry. I look forward to attending Columbia University in the fall and plan to study biological science to pursue a career in the research of rare diseases. I am grateful for everyone’s support and the curiosity fostered at Joel Barlow High School.”

In a joint statement, Leonard Berry, Matthew’s father, and Steven Gagnon, Chairman of the Redding Republican Town Committee, said, “We are pleased and honored a to be able to grant this award to Kyle. He is clearly a most outstanding and accomplished young man with real vision of how he intends to contribute to society.”

Other Barlow awards sponsored by the Redding Republican Town Committee were given as follows:

Ronald Reagan Award for a Junior demonstrating Excellence in History and Social Sciences to Jalen Johnson
Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for a Junior demonstrating Excellence in Math and Science to Graham Litz
David Sanford Award for student demonstrating commitment to Redding's EMS to Ava MacNeal