Two Brighton High School seniors were presented $1,000 scholarships toward their college educations at ceremonies held Wednesday evening.

The occasion was the 2019 Joseph Piersante Scholarship Dinner, held at the Lions Community Den on Main St. in downtown Brighton. The recipients were Brighton High School seniors Brooke Warren and Olivia Smith, who are both 18. Warren will attend Eastern Michigan University this fall, while Smith has plans to attend the University of Michigan, both preparing for careers in the medical field.

In order to be eligible for the scholarship award, each applicant was required to type a 250-word essay on one of two topics: how your life has been impacted by those with disabilities or describe a community service you performed and how it affected you.

The scholarships are awarded annually in honor of long-time former Lions Club member Joseph Piersante, a World War II veteran who was a Brighton Lions Club member for over 50 years. Piersante’s daughters, Jana Cordon and Jaye Smith, were both present at the ceremony. Pictured from left to right are Jaye Smith, Lion President Ken Hartford, Brooke Warren, Olivia Smith, Lion John Conely and Jana Cordon. (JK)