Salutatorian Gardey Recipient of Balgenorth Scholarship

George Gardey, Class of 2023, is this year’s recipient of the Richard A. Balgenorth Lasallian Award for Higher Education.

Named for the late Richard Balgenorth, Class of 1975, who passed away suddenly in 2007, the award is presented to a graduating senior who displays an understanding of the importance of his De La Salle experience. The award was established during the 2008-2009 school year, to perpetually honor Balgenorth, a faithful and proud supporter of the Lasallian mission at De La Salle.

Richard’s spirit carries on today through the generous work of his wife Kim Balgenorth, who served as a counseling assistant, benefactor, and proud supporter of De La Salle from 2008 until her June 2023 retirement.

In his award application essay, written as a future father writing to his son, Gardey wrote: “Through De La Salle’s life-altering experience, it lives up to its motto of ‘Builders of Boys, Makers of Men.’ Son, I cannot stress enough the importance of finding a school that will foster your growth as a young man and provide you with the support and guidance you need to succeed. De La Salle has been a defining part of my life, and it will be the same for you.

Your education is the foundation upon which you will build the rest of your life, and there is no place like De La Salle to grow into the man God made you to be.”

The Balgenorth Award, valued at $1,000, is to be used by a student to defray expenses directly associated with his first year of college.

The Salutatorian of the Class of 2023, Gardey will be attending the University of Notre Dame, and plans to major in Finance. He chose Notre Dame as “it is the most prestigious Catholic university with strong academics and a fantastic student life."

Past Balgenorth Scholarship Winners include:

• Andrew Holub, ‘09

• Michael Albani, ‘09

• Bernard VanBerkum, ‘10

• Kyle Sant, ‘11

• Aaron Brzezinski, ‘12

• Andrew Piontkowski, ‘13

• Alexander Valentini, ‘14

• Nicholas Jozefczyk, ‘15

• Kevin Jones, ‘16

• Russell Hu, ‘17

• Michael Ososkie, ‘18

• Christian Dean, ‘19

• Andrew Rusu, ‘20

• Michael Wisniewski, ‘21

• Dylan Todaro, ‘22