Gregory Banki wins Franklin award

Franklin — Gregory Banki was named this year’s winner of the Franklin Historical Society’s Franklin High School Annual Memorial Achievement Award. The criteria to qualify for the award are patriotism, citizenship, responsibility and community service. Banki is a 2009 graduate of Wallkill Valley High School. He has been active in all phases of community, school, sports and his church. He was a four-year member of the Future Business Leaders of America. His sports participation included lacrosse, bowling, soccer, baseball and basketball while in high school, earning varsity letters in lacrosse, bowling and soccer. He was a member of the U.S. Bowling Congress. His church activities included working with the Partnership of Social Services. He raised $6,000 for the March of Dimes fund raising campaign. Banki will be attending St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa., this coming fall and plans to major in sociology and criminal justice. The founder of the Memorial Scholarship, Colonel Albert S. Fischgrund, established the award to pay tribute to the teachers at Franklin High School who contributed to his own education and success in life. Col. Fischgrund, a platoon leader in the invasion of Normandy, had been awarded the silver star during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he decided to make the military his career, retiring in 1969 after many years of service. In 2007, he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.