FIRST UP on GMW is an occasional column that highlights shorter news items, announcements or updates, and helps you get a quick start to the Wilton news of the day. Today’s Youth edition highlights items about kids in Wilton doing GOOD things. Have a news tip, item or something you know people are chatting about? Email us at editor@goodmorningwilton.com.
WHS Girls Lacrosse to Celebrate Seniors
The Wilton High School varsity girls lacrosse team invites the community to join in honoring its senior players on Thursday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m., at Kristine Lilly Field (395 Danbury Rd.). The Warriors will then take on Staples High School at 6 p.m.
WHS Student Courtney Allen Named Semifinalist in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Courtney Allen, a graduating senior at Wilton High School, has been named one of 621 semifinalists — and one of only 12 in Connecticut — in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from over 6,000 candidates expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in 2025.
Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, now in its 61st year, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas — academic and artistic success, accomplishment in career and technical fields, leadership, strong character and involvement in school and the community.
Allen recently committed to Dartmouth College. At WHS she was Debate Team co-captain, Model UN president, Key Club co-president and co-captain of the varsity girls tennis team. She is a member of the National Honor Society and French Honor Society and has been a Link Crew mentor for the past two years.
Outside of school Allen is a mentor and Junior Advisory Board president for the Lower Fairfield County chapter of Ms. President US, a research intern with the Wilton Historical Society, a member of the Student Advisory Council for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and an intern at the Westport Book Shop.
According to a release from U.S. Department of Education, the final selection of high school seniors to be named 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars will take place in the coming months and will be announced by U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
WHS Senior Lena O’Malley Achieves Gold Award in Girl Scout
Lena O’Malley, a Wilton resident and high school senior at The Hopkins School, recently achieved the Gold Award, the highest award in the Girl Scouts. She is one of 35 Scouts in Connecticut who will be acknowledged at the official ceremony on Jun. 8 in New Haven. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts in the United States achieve the Gold Award.
O’Malley started Girl Scouts in first grade and continued her scouting journey in the Wilton Girl Scout community. To achieve the Gold award, she had to complete her Bronze and Silver award first, before devising and running her own project that required her to lead a team, create a lasting impact on the local community, and perform at least 80 hours of community service. For her project, O’Malley created an art therapy program and taught residents at The Greens at Cannondale retirement community.
Her Gold Award project helped increase awareness and implemented actions that brought about positive effects of engaging in art therapy. She educated residents and staff on the mental and physical benefits of art and led painting classes during the summers of 2023 and 2024 that introduced techniques and improved motor skills.
She adapted art techniques to manage some of the issues affecting residents, including physical disabilities, tremors, paralysis, arthritis, hearing loss and more, by simplifying projects, offering one-on-one assistance, and adjusting class structure to accommodate their needs.
This fall, O’Malley will attend Boston University to study journalism and business.
From Career-Ending Injury to Top 10 in New England
Wilton High School freshman Sabina Molnar has loved gymnastics since she was 3 years old, but two years ago she suffered an injury that would have left most athletes incapable of fully returning to the sport.
After two surgeries, including the most recent one just nine months ago, Molnar’s expectations for this year’s competitive USA gymnastics season weren’t very high. She had to regain and then build strength, as well as relearn many of her skills.
Not only did she finish top-three in the state but on Apr. 26 she competed in Level 8 Regionals against athletes from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York and finished fourth in her age group and in the top-10 gymnasts overall.
Molnar gives much credit for a tremendous season to her coaches Ashley Anton and Mihael Anton at Kratos gymnastics who believed in her ability to not just come back but to thrive, and said their positive coaching approach enabled her to believe in herself.
WHS Student is Youngest to Advocate on Capitol Hill for National Muslim Advocacy Day
Wilton High School sophomore Maimuna Jallow was the youngest of three students selected to represent the State of Connecticut at the National level for the 10th Annual National Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
The trip, which took place Apr. 28-29, was an opportunity for students to engage directly with members of Congress and other key stakeholders to advocate for on behalf of their communities at the national level. Organized by the state chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations in partnership with national Muslim organizations included meetings on Capitol Hill, workshops, and networking with Muslim activists and leaders from across the country.
After moving to Wilton two years ago, Jallow is now an active member of WHS’s Advocacy and Diversity Club and participates in sports and public speaking clubs.
“I don’t want to go to Washington DC simply because I care about the issues; I want to go because I need to act. Because here, I have privilege. I have a voice that will be heard, a presence that will be noticed, a seat at a table where decisions are made. And what is the point of privilege if it isn’t used to fight for those are less fortunate,” Jallow said.
Correction: The story has been updated to correct the reference to Dartmouth College. The story originally stated it was a university.