Class act /An outstanding young Western New Yorker
Ryan Ganzenmuller, a 2008 Williamsville East graduate, has won the Leonard M. Castrianno Scholarship, named for school alumnus Castrianno, who was killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The award goes to a well-rounded student interested in the global economy.
“Leonard’s dad gave a somber but hopeful speech about the award itself,” said 18-year-old Ryan, referring to Williamsville East’s Awards Night, held just before June graduation.
“I was told that the scholarship is given to someone who not only achieves academic honor, but also who has a personality that resembled Leonard’s at Williamsville East,” said Ryan, of East Amherst.
“I was so very honored to be chosen for it.”
Castrianno worked on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Ryan belonged to his school political and philosophical forum clubs. He was on the basketball team since eighth grade, while still making the honor roll for every marking period in high school.
Ryan is a church volunteer, also playing guitar in a church band. In addition, he won the Union Local One United Food and Tops Markets Scholarship.
This fall, he will attend Binghamton University, and he plans a career in medicine.
“I must credit my teachers at Williamsville East for teaching me well enough to excel academically,” Ryan says. “When classes got tough, my teachers were there to help.
“School had come rather easily to me in the past, but when I took four Advanced Placement courses this year, I was more academically challenged than I’d ever been.”
Know a young outstanding Western New Yorker? Tell us about your nomination, including age, date-of-birth, address and phone number for possible publication in Class act. Sorry, photos cannot be returned.
e-mail lcontinelli@buffnews.com Or write to: Louise Continelli, The Buffalo News, P. O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240.
