The 2017 CEF scholarship winners pictured are from left, Hayley Bobok, Spencer Kinyon, Colleen Carroll, Mateen Karimi, Benjamin Rand, Ryan Novia, Brendan Hogan, Kaitlyn D'Andrea, Christina Middendorf, and Roger Chen.
Photo Credit: Ken Howland, Howland Photography

 
Thirteen Cheshire High School scholarship winners and their families were honored by the Cheshire Education Foundation at a reception June 5 at the Dodd Library, where they were presented awards totaling nearly $30,000.

“This year’s total of scholarship money is a record for the foundation,” said CEF Chair Jane Leukart. “Helping make these scholarships possible for deserving Cheshire High seniors is one of the most important things we do at the Cheshire Education Foundation.”

The CEF administers the funding of each scholarship and organizes review committees to select the winners. This year there were 179 applicants for the nine different awards programs.

Roger Chen of Harrison Road and Christina Middendorf of Currier Way will each receive $7,000 toward their higher education from the Mark S. Jardim Memorial Scholarship. Roger will attend Princeton University and intends to study political science & government. Christina will attend the University of Connecticut to study animal science.

The Meaghan Welch Memorial Artistic Scholarship of $2,000 was awarded to Hayley Bobok of Vanessa Court. She will be attending Bryant College this fall where she plans to study business and be part of the college dance team.

Four CHS seniors were selected as recipients of the John E. DeLane Memorial Scholarship, and each will receive a $1,500 grant. They are Kaitlyn D’Andrea of South Pond Circle, who will study health sciences at the University of Hartford; Brendan Hogan of Stacy Court, who has been accepted to the UConn Honors College and plans to study political science and law; Lauren Clements of Glenbrook Drive who will attend Clemson University this fall; and Christina Middendorf of Currier Way, who also shared the Mark S. Jardim Scholarship.

Two winners of the Greg Schena Memorial Scholarship were honored: Ryan Novia of Charter Oak Drive and Benjamin Rand of Maple Avenue. Ryan will attend Providence College and plans on studying business administration. Benjamin is planning to study accounting at Quinnipiac University. An award of $1500 was presented to each recipient.

Mateen Karimi of Inverness Court was honored with the second annual Greg J. Florio, ED.D. Scholarship, endowed by Cheshire’s former superintendent of schools. Mateen will receive $1,000 toward his education at the University of Connecticut where he will be studying international relations and music performance.

The recipient of the $1,000 Cheshire Education Foundation General Scholarship is Colleen Carroll of Peck Lane. She will be attending the University of Vermont following her graduation from Cheshire High School.

The Lombardo Family Scholarship for 2017 was presented to Anthony Cifarelli of Maple Avenue. Anthony will use the $1,000 award as he enrolls at Fairfield University where he is planning to pursue a career in accounting.

Two graduating seniors will each received $500 from the Daniel P. Martinook Scholarship. They are: Katherine Bartlett of Redwood Lane and Colleen Carroll of Peck Lane. Katherine plans to attend Sacred Heart University to study health science. Colleen also won the Cheshire Education Foundation General Scholarship.

Each year an outstanding former Chapman Elementary School student is selected to receive the Chapman School Scholarship. Spencer Kinyon of Round Hill Road was awarded $500 for his studies at UConn where he plans to major in political science and economics.

Dr. Barry Feldman, who oversees the Cheshire Education Foundation scholarship effort each year, extended his sincere thanks on behalf of the CEF to all the generous contributors, “who have made it possible for us to provide these awards each year to Cheshire High seniors as they continue their educations.” These include the families and organizations for which each scholarship is named along with the Balso Foundation and the friends of Jane Calabro.

The Cheshire Education Foundation has been raising private funds to enhance the programs and offerings of the Cheshire Public Schools since 1995.