Brit-tiana Francis, a graduating senior at Marble Hill HS for International Studies in the Bronx, could barely contain her excitement when she saw the laptop and printer she won at the UFT’s first Bronx HS District and Pathways to Graduation Recognition Awards Ceremony and Dinner. “The printer is a fax, copier and scanner all in one,” said Brit-tiana, who will attend Mercy College in Manhattan in September. “I’m so excited.” She’s planning to become a hotel manager on the island of Jamaica and wants to create a program to help women launch careers in the hospitality industry. “I want to help women better their lives,” said Brit-tiana, one of 17 students chosen out of 101 who submitted essays to a committee of college students and teachers. In addition to the laptops and printers, the honorees received backpacks to stow the equipment. The ceremony on June 20 at the UFT’s Bronx borough office was the brainchild of Eliu Lara, the UFT district representative for Bronx high schools, who wanted to do “something to bring people together.” Lara said, “Everyone has the same goal — the community, teachers, elected officials — everyone wants to see our students graduate.” He obtained community donations for the awards and invited local officials to celebrate the winners and to honor Frances Midy, a union activist and former chapter leader at Evander Childs HS. “We wanted to recognize people who help our students,” Lara said. It was a memorable night for educators, too. “It was just a great event for Bronx students to be acknowledged,” said Patrick Bernal, the chapter leader at Marble Hill. Linda Key, the chapter leader at Fordham HS for the Arts, hopes it becomes an annual event. “I really loved that it was bringing all these Bronx high schools together to celebrate achievement, and students were getting absolutely useful and expensive items they would not otherwise have,” she said. Brendan Kolbay, the chapter leader at Bronx International HS, conveyed the emotion of the evening in a thank-you note to Lara: “There were definitely moments during the evening — while the students were sharing their stories and accomplishments and their gratitude — when I’m sure it would have been impossible to find a dry eye in the whole room.”