Newtown Scholarship Association Awards For 2009 Graduates

Stephanie Gaston, the current Newtown Scholarship Association Awards Committee chairperson, recently announced that the total value of scholarships awarded this year to high school graduates was $175,000.

“In the last five years, scholarships have totaled $981,000, and supported 335 students from Newtown,” Ms Gaston said. “That makes our average award close to $3,000 per student.”

The association awarded scholarships to graduating high school seniors, and continues its awards throughout their undergraduate college career. Any student who is a resident of Newtown may apply; not just Newtown High School graduates.

2009 High School Graduates Awards

This year’s recipients, the school being attended, and the award granted were:

Katherine Bamberg, Clark University, Greg Chion Band and Color Guard and Greg Chion Memorial Scholarships; Daniel Berlingeri, Ithaca College, Virginia Lathrop 94th Birthday Honorary and Joseph Hammond Memorial Scholarships; Cara Colacurcio, Central Connecticut State University, Janice and David Rysz Memorial Scholarship.

Paulina Grzybowski, University of Connecticut, Taunton Press and Paul Smith Memorial Scholarships; Gretchen Hoffman, Princeton University, Treadwell Memorial Scholarship; Haley Keane, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Manisa Simoes Memorial Scholarship; Dylan Kelleher, Dickinson College, Rotary Club of Newtown and William Honan Memorial Scholarships.

Emma Knickerbocker, University of Vermont, Ruth Wuerthele Memorial and Virginia Burroughs Memorial Scholarships; Chris Matthei, Emmanuel College, Justin Potter Memorial and Mathew Luf Memorial Scholarships; Megan Pendagast, Rider University, Eileen Willig Honorary Scholarship; Renee Rushefski, Cornell University, Newtown Savings Bank Scholarship; Natalie Villa, University of Delaware, Smialowski Family Fund Scholarship.

Erik Wessel, Northeastern University, Lt Robert W. Vogel USN Memorial Scholarship; Edward White, University of Rhode Island, Newtown Savings Bank Scholarship; Andrew Woods, Eastern Connecticut State University, Brennan Merrick Memorial Scholarship; James Zarifis, Southern Connecticut State University, Paul McNamara Memorial Scholarship.

2009 Continuing Aid Awards

Students receiving continuing aid were:

Erin Clark, Colgate University, Mack Lathrop Memorial Scholarship; David Creaturo, University of Connecticut, Newtown Savings Bank Scholarship; Carly Curran, University of Connecticut, Garden Club of Newtown Scholarship; Ashley Ferris, University of Southern Maine, Norma Pierson Memorial Scholarship.

Sarah Gutbrod, Johns Hopkins University, Rotary Club of Newtown Scholarship; Mark Laslo, Bryant University, Jonathan Ullo Memorial Scholarship; Kaitlyn Levasseur, University of Colorado at Boulder, Lt Robert W. Vogel USN Memorial Scholarship; Tara Meehan, American University, Rotary Club of Newtown Scholarship.

Mary Grace Ober, University of Connecticut, Isabelle Murray Memorial Scholarship; Colin O’Connor, Central Connecticut State University, Stephen Mazuroski #73 Athlete Memorial Scholarship; Kyle Palo, Southern New Hampshire University, Bob and Pam Gleason and J.P. Maguire & Associates Scholarship.

Rebecca Slosson, Sienna College, Newtown Woman’s Club and Women Involved in Newtown Scholarships; Karla Spencer, Southern Connecticut State University, Ferne and Ed Nawrocki Memorial Scholarship; Karen Whippie, Western Connecticut State University, Smialowski Family Fund Scholarship; Kevin Davies, Western Connecticut State University, Newtown Savings Bank and Sippin Energy Products Scholarships.

Robert DeFilippe, University of Connecticut, Lt Robert W. Vogel USN Memorial Scholarship; Edward Gaddis, Merrimack College, Clifford and Gregory Richardson and Brett Pryor Memorial Scholarships; Seth Hull, Trinity College, Mr and Mrs Arthur Small Memorial Scholarship; Laura Konkos, University of Connecticut, Sylvea and Nelson Curtis Memorial Scholarship.

Amanda Krause, American University, Taunton Press Scholarship; Paige Meehan, Western Connecticut State University, Leonard J. Manz Memorial Scholarship; Hilary Moskowitz, Keene State College, Virginia Lathrop 90th Birthday Honorary Scholarship; Kaitlin Pendagast, Rider University, Rotary Club of Newtown Scholarship.

Amber Ruscoe, Castleton State College, Robert Y. Brown and Karen Anderson-Cole Memorial Scholarships; Alyssa Stendahl, Sacred Heart University, Newtown Woman’s Club Scholarship; Alexandra White, UMass at Amherst, Nancy Dudley Memorial and Women Involved in Newtown Scholarships; Lauren Busser, Sarah Lawrence College, Taunton Press and Newtown Woman’s Club Scholarships.

Alexandra Clement, University of California at Santa Barbara, Rotary Club of Newtown and Paul Dohrenwend Memorial Scholarships; Melissa Fracker, Western Connecticut State University, Nancy Dudley Memorial Scholarship; James Hilton, Western Connecticut State University, Greg Chion Band and Color Guard and Greg Chion Memorial Scholarships; Maia Jacoby, Hampshire College, Flora Lavery Memorial and Garden Club of Newtown Scholarships.

Katherine Kelleher, University of Connecticut, James Osborne Jr Memorial and Women Involved in Newtown Scholarships; Emily Lockhart, Western Connecticut State University, Dr Louis Wasserman and Lynn Platt and Lysbeth Platt Memorials Scholarships; Kevin McManus, University of Scranton, Brett Pryor and Stephen Mazuroski #73 Athlete Memorial Scholarships.

Cristina Parks, Eastern Connecticut State University, Mr and Mrs Jack Friel Memorial Scholarship; Jaclyn Petrasanta, St John’s University, Jason Edwards Family Honorary and Fayette Overholt Memorial Scholarships; Sara Pollock, Sacred Heart University, Lee Davenson Memorial and Eileen Willig Honorary Scholarships; Daniel Rahmlow, Marist College, Newtown Savings Bank and Toro Restaurant Scholarships.

Jaimee Rocca, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Robert Dean and James Taylor Garbarino Memorial Scholarships; Nicholas Rosa, University of Virginia, Lt Robert W. Vogel USN Memorial Scholarship; Genevieve Santayana, University of the Sciences Philadelphia, Karen Anderson-Cole Memorial Scholarship.

Shannon Seaman, Roger Williams University, Smialowski Family Fund and Joseph Borrello Memorial Scholarships; Ryan Silveira, Ithaca College, Obre Music Scholarship; Renata Villarreal, University of Connecticut, Edna Carling Memorial Scholarship; Candice Woods, Seton Hall University, Fred Frenkel Memorial Scholarship.

NSA Background

The Newtown Scholarship Association was founded in 1937. Funding and support comes primarily from local individuals and businesses.

The group holds an annual fund Drive Appeal, the Jack Friel Golf Tournament in June, and this year the association will be hosting a wine tasting event October 17.

There are currently 18 named and honorary scholarships and approximately 50 memorial scholarships. For more information on making a donation or establishing a scholarship call Ms Gaston at 426-2500.0