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Matthew Kuroghlian, 16, a junior at Trumbull High School, is hugged by Doug and Terry Sutherland after receiving the Kevin J. Sutherland Inspiration in Democracy Award on Sunday.

Matthew Kuroghlian, 16, a junior at Trumbull High School, is hugged by Doug and Terry Sutherland after receiving the Kevin J. Sutherland Inspiration in Democracy Award on Sunday.

Senator Chris Murphy speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Senator Chris Murphy speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Senator Chris Murphy speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Senator Chris Murphy speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Rep. Jim Himes speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Rep. Jim Himes speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Trumbull Town Treasurer Anthony Musto at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Trumbull Town Treasurer Anthony Musto at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Trumbull Board of Finance member Vicki Tesoro speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Trumbull Board of Finance member Vicki Tesoro speaks at the 2017 Keys to Democracy Trumbull Democratic Town Committee Awards Dinner at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Conn. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Trumbull High junior receives Sutherland Inspiration in Democracy Award

TRUMBULL Matthew Kuroghlian, a Trumbull High School junior, was presented Sunday with the Kevin J. Sutherland Inspiration in Democracy Award, named after the intern of Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., who died in a knife attack on a subway in Washington nearly two years ago.

The 16-year-old Trumbull High student was singled out for dedicating himself to public service and engaging young people in local and state elections while still in high school, according to the Trumbull Democratic Town Committee which bestowed the honor. He is vice president of his class and a leader in the Model United Nations THS club.

When I was in high school, I began a Young Democrats organization, too, and its still active, said Sen. Chris Murphy. I know many of you have a sense of anxiety over whats happening in Washington, but its not something that cant be cured by political action.

Rep. Jim Himes recalled Sutherland as a young man who could bring about change though thoughtful expression, rather than bombast and insults.

To me he was a little brother, Himes said. We should all be in awe of the strength of his character. I didnt always agree with him, but I always wanted to hear his thoughts.

He said turning back efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act was a major victory for Americans.

This was a week in which we pushed back to protect a whole bunch of people, he said of Congress decision not to repeal the law commonly known as Obamacare.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal told the gathering Democracy was in peril and the nation is careening toward a Constitutional crisis because of Russian meddling in the fall elections.

I will block any nominee for deputy attorney general until and unless he commits to a special prosecutor , he said, someone who can perform an aggressive, impartial inquiry, and bring charges and prosecute whoever is responsible up to and including the president.

Matthew was a volunteer for Himes in his 2016 campaign and held a leadership role in the unsuccessful 2016 campaign of Lino Costantini for Trumbulls 126th District seat in the Legislature. Matthew also created a group, the Eastern Fairfield County Young Democrats.

Doug Sutherland, Kevins father, was choked with tears when he approached the lectern. He thanked Kuroghlian for starting a Young Democrats group in Trumbull.

This was something that Kevin tried to to when he was at Trumbull High but of course there was no Donald Trump back then, he said. So I guess there is a silver lining in this after all.

Also honored by the TDTC Sunday night were Timothy A. Cantafio, vice president of engineering for Northeast Electronics, Corp., Milford, for his four decades of involvement in local political and social issues, and Beryl Kaufman for furthering the participation of citizens in our government and protecting the rights and education of people with special needs.

Cantafio ran unsuccessfully for a Town Council seat when he was 18. He is a lifelong Trumbull resident and with his wife, Dawn, reared two children here.

Kaufman, as a young mother, became executive director of the Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficits, or CACLD, which was active from the early 1970s until recently. She also organized the first conference in Connecticut on issues faced by high school graduates with special needs.

More than 250 turned out for the dinner event at the Tashua Knolls clubhouse, and those in attendance included former first selectmen Paul Timpanelli and Ray Baldwin, former Bridgeport Mayor Tom Bucci and Tom McCarthy of the Bridgeport City Council.

The attack on Kevin Sutherland occurred on July 4, 2015, in a Washington Metro train. Police said Sutherland, 24, died of numerous stab wounds.

Jasper Spires, then 18, has been charged with the crime, and the case is continuing. Police said the attack began when Spires tried to steal Sutherlands cel phone and that the suspect may have been high on synthetic drugs at the time.

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Trumbull High junior receives Sutherland Inspiration in Democracy Award - CT Post