The Branford Community Foundation (BCF) is pleased to announce the distribution of over $49,000 in 37 individual scholarship awards to graduating seniors at Branford High School (BHS) following the annual Scholarship Awards Night on June 6.

BCF manages just under 30 funds designated to provide scholarships to BHS students, with areas of focus ranging from graduating seniors pursuing a degree in nursing, or the arts, or education, to those who excelled in sports while at school or meet other specific criteria. While the funds are managed by BCF, the scholarship selection process is managed by the BHS Guidance Office.

“It is very exciting to return to the senior awards night each year to present the annual Kendra Martin Scholarship for local volunteerism where I share with the graduating class that I too am a graduate of Branford High School and that I still live in Branford and work in the surrounding community,” said donor Kendra Martin. “I hope this inspires them to become active participants in the communities along their journey.”

The Class of 2024 scholarship recipients include the following:

• BACA Scholarship Fund for the Arts
  • Morgan Selander & Nicholas Myers
• Philip A. DeLise Scholarship Fund
  • Hunter DaRos
• Bob Dow Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Fund
  • Mia d’Amuri
• PJ Ferriolo Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Grace Riccardelli
• Vincent S. Giordano Sr. Scholarship Fund
  • Joe Robinson & Grace Riccardelli
• GSB Charitable Scholarship Award
  • Kaylee Tracy & Matt Law
• Joseph E. Higgins Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Nate Stackpole
• Margie L. Hughes Scholarship Fund
  • Stella DiMassa
• Kendra Martin Scholarship Fund
  • Cecile Hazen
• D. William Owens Jr. and Attorney Robert M. Owens Scholarship Fund
  • Deivis Bejleri
• Jeanette L. Palluzzi Scholarship Fund
  • Richard Pham
• Joyce Watson Potts and Carl E. Potts Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Eric Zielinski
• Jim and Carol Redden Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Lauren Foster
• Mari-Ellen Reed Nursing Scholarship Fund
  • Chayse Gueco
• Cathyann Roding Performing Arts Scholarship Fund
  • Dylan Kealey
• Austin Ryer Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Emmanuel Brown
• William Schwanfelder Scholarship Fund
  • Benjamin Mayne & Jake Luciana
• John B. Sliney Scholarship Fund
  • Lucas Jara & Emma O’Connor
• Peggy Welch Scholarship Fund
  • Sadie Zalewski
• Celia Whorf Wheeler Scholarship Fund
  • Hari Amin
• Linda Edsall Winward Scholarship Fund
  • Samuel Coppola
• Ryan Fielding Wynne Scholarship Fund
  • Parsa Malahiazar
• George Barone Scholarship Fund
  • Jeter Decusati
• George D. Malcolm Memorial Award
  • Ryan Andrus
• James MacVeigh Scholarship
  • Nathan Florio
• Mareen Gustafson Scholarship
  • Nicole Garcia
• Palumbo & Robbins Scholarship
  • Michelle Lin, Caroline Chasse, Jaffar Syed Zaidi & Patrick Lalonde
• Sally Slater BHS Scholarship Fund
  • Malak Elweheshy
• Dr. Harold D. Levy, M.D. Scholarship Fund
  • Rachel Esposito

“I’m beyond honored to have received the Cathyann Roding performing arts scholarship,” said Dylan Kealey, BHS graduating senior and scholarship recipient. “I’ve always been very passionate about the performing arts since a young age, so I am thrilled to have received this scholarship – it really means a lot to me!”

BCF is profoundly grateful to the generous donors who have contributed over the years to make these scholarships possible. If you or someone you know is interested in establishing a scholarship fund with BCF, please contact Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra at (203) 444-4898.