Scholarship Class of 2026
This year’s scholarship class included 34 young people were were awarded a record total of $61,750 in financial support.
William P. Lyons Scholarship
Brendan Connors, Norwich, Beacon College
Andrew K. Dwyer Foundation Scholarship
Aarav Makadia, Shelton – University of Connecticut
Daniel Mirto, Wolcott Southern – Connecticut State University
Mark Poulin, Prospect Central – Connecticut State University
Africa Tolbert, Cheshire – University of Rochester
Donald E. Vacheron Scholarship
Daniel Asare, Windsor – Tufts University
Aetna Retirees Scholarship
Chase Dinunzio, East Hampton – St. Joseph’s College of Maine
Aidan Lang, Vernon – Northeastern University
Epstein Family Scholarship
Gabriella Abastillas, Southington – St. Bridget School
Sam Alzona, Southington – St. Paul High School
Nailah Asare, Windsor – St. Thomas the Apostle School
Katie Brandt, Fairfield – University of South Florida
Luke Brower, Middlebury – Fordham University
Catherine Cruess, Waterbury – Syracuse University
Thomas Cruess, Waterbury – Holy Cross High School
Elizabeth Dunn, Berlin – Texas Christian University
Samantha Dunn, Berlin – Providence College
Jessica Mancini, Waterbury – St. Bridget School
Christopher Mancini, Waterbury – Holy Cross High School
Jack McLean, Wolcott – St. Paul Catholic High School
Laniah Moffett, Waterbury – Howard University
Arianna Owens, Rocky Hill – St. John Paul II
Hunter Palleria, Thomaston – Rumsey Hall
Nicole Polites, Rocky Hill – Central Connecticut State University
Katherine Regan, Waterbury – Villanova University
Caleb Smith, Farmington – Liberty University
Olivia Sobota, Colchester – University of South Carolina
Leo Sparagna, Wethersfield – Montessori School of Greater Hartford
Dominic Yannielli, Manchester – Central Connecticut State University
Daniel Novarr Scholarship
A.B. Daniel, Bloomfield – University of Connecticut
19 Iron Scholarship (Downey Family Foundation)
Riley Ragan, Newtown – Coastal Carolina University
Mazumdar Family Scholarship
Sydnie Smith, Farmington – Liberty University
Shepard W. Baker Memorial Scholarship
Milo Moffett, Waterbury – Wentworth Institute of Technology
Henry Hughes Scholarship
Ishaan Bafna, Rocky Hill – University of Virginia
Scholarship Class of 2025
This year’s scholarship class included 30 young people were were awarded a total of $54,500 in financial support.
19 Iron Scholarship (Downey Family Foundation)
Katherine Regan, Waterbury – Villanova
Aetna Retirees Scholarship in memory of
H. Grant Thomas & Roger Lawson
Katherine Regan, Waterbury – Villanova
Dominic Yannielli, Manchester – CCSU
Nicholas McGonagle, Woodbridge – Florida Gulf Coast University
Andrew K. Dwyer Foundation Scholarship
Jack DeJoseph, Cheshire – UCONN
Samantha Dunn, Berlin – Providence
Joshua Raj, Naugatuck – Columbia
Donald E. Vacheron Scholarship
Will Berthiaume, Meriden – Middlesex Community College
Henry Hughes Scholarship***
Olivia Sobota, Colchester – University of South Carolina
Mazumdar Family Scholarship
Christina Cao, Trumbull – University of Pennsylvania
Shepard W. Baker Memorial Scholarship
Sebastian Matis, Stratford – Western New England University
William P. Lyons Scholarship
Catherine Cruess, Waterbury – Syracuse University
Epstein Family Scholarship
Benjamin Banton, Columbia – Classical Conversations (Elementary School)
Gabriella Abastillas, Southington – St. Bridget School (Elementary School)
Nailah Joyce Asare, Windsor – St. Thomas the Apostle (Elementary School)
Arianna Owens, Rocky Hill – St. John Paul II (Elementary School)
Hunter Palleria, Thomaston – Rumsey Hall (High School)
Brennan Smith, Farmington – Emmanuel Christian Academy (High School)
Christopher Mancini, Waterbury – St. Bridget Elementary School (Elementary School)
Sam Alzona, Southington – St. Bridget Elementary School (Elementary School)
Nicole Polites, Rocky Hill – CCSU
Caleb Smith, Farmington – Liberty University
Jack Wise, Cromwell – UCONN
Carys Dinunzio, East Hampton – Quinnipiac University
Ishaan Bafna, Rocky Hill – Kingswood Oxford (High School)
Thomas Cruess, Waterbury – Holy Cross High School
Katie Brandt, Fairfield – University of South Florida
Luke Brower, Middlebury – Fordham University
Elizbeth Dunn, Berlin – Texas Christian University
Laniah Moffett, Waterbury – Howard University
Selam Olson, Wallingford – Trinity College
Scholarship Class of 2024
This year’s scholarship class included 31 young people from 2nd Grade through Graduate School. These recipients were awarded a total of $50,500 in financial support.
19 Iron Scholarship (Downey Family Foundation)
Laniah Moffett
Aetna Retirees Scholarship in memory of
H. Grant Thomas & Roger Lawson
Laniah Moffett
Selam Olson
Andrew K. Dwyer Foundation Scholarship
Matthew Conelius
Nicole Polites
Caleb Smith
Ethan Torres
Donald E. Vacheron Scholarship
Zarya Hernandez Salto
Meghna Mazumdar
Henry Hughes Scholarship***
Emily Perrotta
Mazumdar Family Scholarship
Selam Olson
Shepard W. Baker Memorial Scholarship
Katie Brandt
William P. Lyons Scholarship
Patrick DiPace
Jay Vaughan
Epstein Family Scholarship
Gabriella Abastillas
Rolleen Sam Alzona
Daniel Asare
Nailah Asare
Ishaan Bafna
Benjamin Banton
Raphael Blocher
Luke Brower
Catherine Cruess
Thomas Cruess
Liv Hammer
Mario LaChance
Mathew Luponio
Christopher Mancini, Jr.
Arianna Owens
Joshua Raj
Katherine Regan
Luca Sousa
Leo Sparagna
The Class of 2023 features 27 recipients from across the chapter. A total of $52,000 was awarded to these deserving young people as they continue to pursue their educational dreams and goals.
The Class of 2021 features 45 talented, young people from across Connecticut. These recipients represent enrollment at the elementary, middle and high school and college level. This year’s class received a total of $48,000 in scholarships!
The Class of 2020 features 43 young people from across the state representing enrollment at the elementary, middle and high school and college level. This year’s class received a total of $45,750 in scholarships.
The Scholarship Class of 2019 featured 30 young people in elementary school, middle school, high school and college. The total amount awarded was nearly $40,000. Three participants were also recognized nationally as First Tee Scholars. Congratulations to Elena Anderson, Ben Poulios and Jon Kee Vose.
The First Tee of Connecticut and their scholarship partners announced the Class of 2018 scholarship recipients at the annual Patron’s Breakfast on Saturday, June 23 during the Travelers Championship.
Congratulations to all of our recipients and thank you to our scholarship partners for working with The First Tee of Connecticut to provide these wonderful opportunities for our participants.
The 2018 scholarship class included 38 young people who were awarded a total of $39,500. One of these students, Alexander Cavaliere, was also recognized nationally as part of The First Tee’s Scholars Program. Click here to read more.2016 Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to all of our recipients and thank you to our scholarship partners for working with First Tee – Connecticut to provide these wonderful opportunities for our participants.