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Schools

Gov. Malloy, Former Lt. Gov. Fedele Receive Education Honor

The two state leaders, born and bred in Stamford, received the 2011 Excellence in Education Award by the Stamford Public Education Foundation Monday night.

It was a homecoming for Governor Dannel Malloy and former Lt. Governor Michael Fedele Monday night as the two were awarded the 2011 Excellence in Education Award by the Stamford Public Education Foundation.

The state leaders, both graduates from Class of 1973, accepted their awards at the and credited their success to their education at .

“I have these moments when I pause and reflect and I think how so many of my achievements in Stamford were education related,” Malloy, who was born and raised in Stamford and spent 14 years as its mayor, told attendees.

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Education has always remained a cornerstone of Malloy’s governance, implementing the first citywide pre-kindergarten program while serving as mayor.

“Preschool is something no child should be denied because of a family’s financial circumstances,” he said.

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Malloy added that expanding the selection of schools in the city, including the additions of and , was one of his proudest accomplishments.

“I am the product of this very special place," he said. "The strength of our democracy shows the strength of our educational system."

Fedele — described by Public Safety, Health and Welfare Director Bobby Valentine as a “hall of fame person” — served as Connecticut’s lieutenant governor from 2007 through 2010. He was born in Minturno, Italy and has been a resident of Stamford since 1958. Although growing up with a household that spoke little English, Fedele said he always worked hard at his studies. "My dad still knew the difference between an A and an F,” he said.

“I’ve been blessed with a great career because of my great education,” he told attendees after accepting his award. “I grew up believing that if you had a good education and a good work ethic that you could do anything you want in this country.”

The gala, which included drinks, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction benefiting SPEF, brought out members from both the private and public sector, including members of the Stamford Board of Education, representatives from , , UBS, l and General Electric, and Superintendent Joshua Starr.

“These men show that it’s not only important to do well academically, but to be a great public servant,” Starr said about the two recipients.

This is the fourth year that the Excellence in Education Award has been given out and, according to SPEF board member Susan Swidler, the turnout improves each year.

“It started out four years ago as just a small event. I’m just so proud and so happy. We reached out to the community and the community has welcomed us,” she said. “These are born and bred Stamford boys. There are a lot of successful Stamford kids.”

In addition to Malloy and Fedele, Rigano said that Baldridge International's Joy Baldridge, the evening's honorary chair, Westhill High School senior Joseph Bush, who was entertaining the crowd on the piano, and the event's caterers are all products of Stamford Public Schools.

“There are so many students and so many people that are moving on from here into successful careers,” she said.

Past recipients of the SPEF Excellence in Education Award include Murray Martin, CEO of Pitney Bowes, Bob Corcoran, CEO of the GE Foundation, and Time Warner Cable. The Stamford Public Education Foundation was established in 2000 and connects corporate volunteers with school-based programs serving low-performing and at-risk students.

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