Wesley Village in Shelton honors student workers on their graduation

Wesley Village residents, staff celebrate student workers' high school graduations./ Contributed photo 

SHELTON – Wesley Village recently celebrated 12 student workers who have graduated from local high schools.  

Residents and staff gathered to honor the graduates at an afternoon party with cake and refreshments. 

CEO David Lawlor gave each student a special achievement certificate and congratulatory card. 

“I’m excited for the new chapter,” said Alaina Gaudet, 18, a graduate of Ansonia High School. “I’m going to school at Central Connecticut State University and I’m going to study radiology,” she said. 

With a long history of employing high school students, Wesley Village ensures their dining staff has a healthy balance between school work and job responsibilities. 

“I can come to work in a bad mood, but seeing the residents and talking with them makes me happy. I love what I do,” Gaudet said. 

The intergenerational experience means a lot to the staff and to the residents.  

“These kids are very good, I can’t find fault with any of them. I give them a lot of credit for what they do,” said Ken Steeves, 91, resident at Crosby Commons. 

The residents receive three well-balanced meals a day in the dining room and the strong service is impressionable on those who live in the community. 

The kitchen morale has a lot to do with the quality of service. “We tease, we laugh, we joke,” said Mike Franco, a cook at Crosby Commons. “The kids are good with the residents. They’re energetic and high-spirited,” he said.

The high school graduates who were celebrated are: Luca Belenchia, Kimoya Brown, Sreynin Chhoeun, Alaina Gaudet, Kaylin Guillaume, Anna Kichar, Anyssa Lopez, Autumn Ries, Larissa Rodriguez, Amanda Schafenburg, Ruth Sanon and Nicole Whalley. 

The Wesley Village Campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and includes Crosby Commons Independent/Assisted Living Community, Wesley Heights Independent/Assisted Living Community, Lifestyle Transitions Assisted Living/Memory Support Community, and Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

The campus is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a local, mission-based, not-for-profit organization. 

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.