Celebrating Leadership, Service, and Opportunity

The Norwalk Community College Foundation celebrated leadership, service, and community impact at its 2026 Leadership Celebration on October 22 at Shore & Country Club. The evening honored the legacy of Ann S. Mandel through the inaugural presentation of the award bearing her name and recognized Joan Barksdale, Bob Arnold ’72, and the Ritter Family Foundation for their contributions to educational opportunity.

A special moment of the evening was the inaugural presentation of the Ann S. Mandel Award for Distinguished Leadership and Service. Named in recognition of Ann Mandel’s extraordinary legacy of leadership and service, the award honors the enduring contributions of individuals whose dedication has helped advance educational opportunity. Joan Barksdale was recognized as its first recipient.

Additional Honorees:

• Bob Arnold ’72, recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award
• Ritter Family Foundation, recipient of the Outstanding Community Partner Award

The celebration also featured an address from Maria Fernanda Torres ’26, a first-generation college student who graduated summa cum laude from CT State Norwalk with an associate degree in Marketing and is now pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Fairfield University.

Reflecting on her educational journey, Torres described the role that scholarships, faculty, family, and community support played in helping her achieve her goals. She shared how receiving a scholarship gave her greater freedom to focus on her education and helped her build a future in a country that was not originally her home.

“Sometimes what people need in order to flourish is for other people to believe in them, to support them before they even see that potential in themselves.”

— Maria Fernanda Torres ’26

Her remarks offered a powerful reminder of the impact behind the Foundation’s mission: that an investment in a student’s education can create opportunities extending far beyond the classroom.

Throughout the evening, the Foundation celebrated the collective impact of individuals, families, and community partners whose support helps remove barriers, expand access to education, and create pathways to brighter futures.

The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to this year’s honorees, sponsors, supporters, and everyone who joined in celebrating the power of leadership, generosity, and educational opportunity.