R.A.Y Award Winners Announced And Celebrated

Westwood Youth & Family Services and Westwood Rotary held their annual Recognize A Youth (RAY) event on May 21, 2019. The three Westwood High School (WHS) students honored were seniors Philip Bligh and Kayla Dolley, and junior Elizabeth Bunker.

Bligh’s youth minister at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Emily Stimson Sugg, nominated him owing to his work with the church. The work is not only in Westwood, but also at the Oasis Coalition and Ecclesia Ministries in Boston. Globally, he partook in a service-learning trip through St John’s to Honduras. Bligh is globally minded at WHS as well, where he serves as the 1980's Climate Change Chair for Model United Nations. Longtime Westwood Patch readers will not be surprised by his winning this award, as a younger Bligh was named a “Whiz Kid” by the Patch during his time at Sheehan Elementary School.

Dolley was nominated by Reverend Stephanie A. Salinas of First Baptist Church. She is very active in the Parish, serving in the diaconate, band, and youth group. She also runs an Instagram account with 9,000 follow that supports people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Bunker’s nominationation came from her church’s director of religious education, Karlene Duffy of St. Margaret Mary Parish. Bunker does many things at her church, including teaching religious education and Vacation Bible School. She also volunteers with the homeless in Boston and participates in Relay for Life and Komen More than Pink Walks.

R.A.Y. award nominations are accepted year round.

Photo: 2019 Recognize A Youth Award Ceremony left to right Westwood Rotary member, Dottie Powers, WY&FS Director Danielle Sutton, Kayla Dolley, Elizabeth Bunker, Philip Bligh and Rotary President, Helena Drolette.