AVON DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS PRESENTS 2014 EDUCATIONAL GRANTS
Over 80 Avon high school graduates are continuing their education this Fall, thanks to scholarship funds from Avon Dollars for Scholars. The local volunteer-based, non-profit organization hosted an Awards Night on June 2, 2014 and presented a total of nearly $70,000 in scholarships to 83 local students for post-secondary education.
"We are extremely grateful that so many organizations, families and individuals donated funds this year to enable us to present so many scholarships," explained John C. Carmon, President of the nonprofit organization. "Since our establishment 36 years ago, Avon Dollars for Scholars has awarded a total of more than $1,177,450 in scholarships to 1,451 local students."
At the awards event, many of the Avon Dollars for Scholars funds were presented to the recipients by the donors themselves, through scholarships that have been established in honor or memory of specific individuals.
One of the scholarships awarded was in memory of Colleen Martin, a longtime physical education teacher at Avon Middle School whose death from cancer last fall was a blow to many people in town. Martin's family and friends raised money for a scholarship in her memory.
A total of 10 new personalized scholarships were created during the 2013-2014 school year. They are:
John & Linda Carmon
Coldwell Banker Real Estate
Colleen Martin Scholarship
Dollars for Scholars President's Scholarship in Honor of Margaret & Charlie Mayer
Garden Club of Avon Scholarship
In Honor of dean Lionberger given by Joan Monts
Joseph Woodford Scholarship
McNeil Family Wrestling Award
The Rosato Family in Memory of Edith Macnamara
William H. & James A. Harris Memorial Scholarship
Members of Avon Dollars for Scholars work year-round with local residents, businesses and foundations to raise money so scholarships can be provided to qualified students. To be eligible to apply for funds from Avon Dollars for Scholars, students must be residents of Avon, regardless of which high school they attend: public; private; magnet; parochial; or technical school. Scholarship funds are awarded based upon exceptional community service, citizenship and merit, or financial need.
Established in 1978, the Avon chapter of Dollars for Scholars is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and contributions are considered tax-deductible. Volunteers involved with the community-based organization work year-round with local residents, businesses and foundations to raise money to provide scholarships to qualified high school students who are pursuing post-secondary education.
To be eligible to apply for funds from Avon Dollars for Scholars, students must be residents of Avon, regardless of which high school they attend: public; private; magnet; parochial; or technical school. Most of the scholarships awarded are based upon financial need and merit, but some are given to students who display exceptional levels of community service and academic achievement.
Contributions of any size are accepted year-round by Avon Dollars for Scholars. Donations may be made on line at http://www.avon.dollarsforscholars.org or mailed to: Avon Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 706, Avon, CT 06001.
To learn more about Avon Dollars for Scholars, visit http://www.avon.dollarsforscholars.org
The 2014 Avon Dollars for Scholars scholarships and their student recipients:
Amici Italian Grill Scholarship - Pamela Fetzer
Mellissa Anne Andrew Memorial Scholarship - Cassandra Campagna
Robert B. August Memorial Scholarship - Sophie Greenebaum
A.V.O.N. Club Scholarship - Catherine Ponziani
Jane Ellen Peregrin Scholarship given by the Metersky Family - Olivia Messina
Avon Boys Travel Basketball Association Scholarship - Stephen Griffin
Avon-Canton Rotary Scholarship - Kylie Whalen
Avon-Canton Rotary Scholarship - Cameron Nelson
Avon-Canton Rotary Scholarship - Asante Grant
Avon Dental Group Scholarship - Marissa Tripodi
Avon Girl Scout Scholarship - Alice D'Arcangelo
Avon Junior Women's Club Scholarship - Sarah Katherine Mascoli
Avon Lions Charities Scholarship - Valentina Colletti
Avon Lions Charities Raymond Zacchera Memorial Scholarship - Emily Nagel
Avon Little League - Brian Collings Memorial Scholarship - Kevin Rosato
Avon Police Association Scholarship - Sean Neagle
Avon Police Association Scholarship - Jessica Kravet
Avon Prime Meats Scholarship - Fabrizio Tropea
David S. Baily Scholarship - Leah Tanner
Stanley Barnett Memorial Scholarship - Stephen DelGallo
Reverend Paul & Eleanor Battenhouse Memorial Scholarship - Laura Grosso
David & Lisa Bauer Scholarship - Hannah Clark
Bearingstar Insurance Scholarship - Rachel Rosow
Michael Brighenti '74 Scholarship - Erin Heston
Douglas Shallcross Brown, Jr. & Marilynne Foster Brown Scholarship - Youn-Jae Baek
Richard C. Candels Memorial Scholarship - Lauren Miller
Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center Scholarship - Cailyn Boothroyd
Cole Family Scholarship in memory of Bernard Cole - Elise Curcio
Cole Family Scholarship in memory of Bernard Cole - Anamaria Nori
Cole Family Scholarship in memory of Bernard Cole - Victoria Haskins
Cole Family Scholarship in memory of Bernard Cole - Marissa Gaudiana
Cole Family Scholarship in memory of Bernard Cole - Samuel Shapiro
Dubiel Family Scholarship - Jessica Wert
The John Dulla Memorial Scholarship - Maya Regalado
E.N.E. Realty Associates Scholarship - Giselle Reyes
Ensign Bickford Realty Scholarship - Kelsey Burton
Farmington Bank Scholarship - Erin McLaughlin
Farmington Valley Mudhog Scholarship - Nicholas Zacchio
In Honor of Claire Fisher Bonti '08 Scholarship - Michael Karski
Dr. Edwin J. Foley Memorial Scholarship - Isabella Pellino
Reflexite Corporation Scholarship/ORAFOL - Jeffrey Lyle
Garden Club of Avon Scholarship - Alexa Lisevick
Gobell Family Scholarship - Caitlin Culligan
Caryl & Leonard Goldberg Education Scholarship - Natasha Sebestyen
Christine Pappalardo Greif Scholarship - Kiera Jury
Kelly Ann Hahn Memorial Scholarship - Madison Mains
Steven and Gwen Hahn Family Scholarship - Maxton Connor
Kate Harding Memorial Scholarship - Matthew Julian
Jill A. Hopper Memorial Scholarship - Julia deSimas
Jacobson Family Scholarship - Julia Schrecengost
Betty Karampelas Memorial Scholarship - Jennifer Kushner
James Kearney Memorial Lacrosse Scholarship - Patrick Logan
Ruth Hogan Kotler Memorial Scholarship - Elizabeth Rodier
Leonard LaMonica Memorial Scholarship - Jack Wendler
Diane Lieberfarb Scholarship - Mary Ponziani
Dan & Lauralyn Matos Scholarship in honor of Claire Loiselle Krupa - Anna Grant
Thomas J. McGuff Memorial Scholarship - Elizaveta Lavrova
Dollars for Scholars President's Scholarship in Honor of Steve & Cheryl McGuff - Sierra Politz
McNeill Family Community Award Scholarship - Diana Wojciechowski
Moran, Shuster, Carignan & Knierim Scholarship - Chenyang Liu
Mother-Daughter Tea Party Scholarship - Carolyn Detora
Thomas Murphy, Jr. Memorial Scholarship - Alexandra McDonald
Peña Family Scholarship - Anna Schrecengost
Peña Family Scholarship - Amanda Gerosa
PMP Corporation Scholarship - David MacInnis
Jill and Eric Polinsky Scholarship - Nicole Rubenstein
Mark Roberts Memorial Scholarship - Jordan Levine
Andrew & Garrett Roell Scholarship - Eric Kirk
Laura Vivian Santiago Memorial Scholarship - Carlye Poff
Scalise Family Scholarship - Marissa Grillo
William J. & Patricia C. Shea Memorial Scholarship - Bradley Fisher
Donald B. Studley Memorial Scholarship - Courtney Zelasny
Amy E. Toyen Memorial Scholarship - Alexis Lin
Margaret Walsh & Louis Venditti Memorial Scholarship - Mary Kaminski
Newly Established Scholarships:
John & Linda Carmon - Nathan Kotler
Coldwell Banker Real Estate - Sarah Stokesbury
Colleen Martin Scholarship - Anna McCormick
Dollars for Scholars President's Scholarship in Honor of Margaret & Charlie Mayer - Taylor Havens
Garden Club of Avon Scholarship - Alexa Lisevick
In Honor of dean Lionberger given by Joan Monts - Elizabeth Wozniak
Joseph Woodford Scholarship - Lauren Bayersdorfer
McNeil Family Wrestling Award - Nicholas Briere
The Rosato Family in Memory of Edith Macnamara - Madeline Clark
William H. & James A. Harris Memorial Scholarship - Kaelin Ballard
