Middle schooler presented first ever Bobby Garten Memorial Award

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – Ben Bronz Academy has named a special middle school award in honor of fallen Detective Robert “Bobby” Garten, an alum of the school.

Education Director Christina Lamphere said Garten was an active student when he attended the academy as a fifth and sixth grader from 1999 to 2001.

“He had the brightest smile and an amazing attitude for learning,” Lamphere said. “(Garten) took each challenge in stride with a sense of humor. He found ways to make his peers and mediators (teachers) laugh each day.”

She said Garten was a people person and was kind and always involved in school activities. When new students joined the school, he was there to welcome and help them.

This year, the school wanted to honor his legacy by renaming the “award for most improved in middle school” to the “Bobby Garten Memorial Award.”

The first award was presented to a student named Maya on Tuesday. Lamphere said Maya showed the most academic and personal growth as a person.

“This growth was similar to Bobby’s growth academically and personally as a middle school student and this award will allow Bobby’s legacy to continue at the Academy and has identified a person that our students can look up to and emulate,”

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