St. Paul HS Students from Berlin, Oakville Awarded Major Scholarships

BERLIN/WATERTOWN/BRISTOL, CT — Two graduating seniors from St. Paul Catholic High School have been awarded college scholarships through the Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation.

The Bristol-based foundation announced Monday, May 11, that Liam Gaffney of Berlin and Samuel Sirica of Oakville were selected as this year’s scholarship recipients.

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The awards total $60,000 over four years.

Gaffney, a member of St. Paul Kensington Parish in Berlin, plans to attend the University of Connecticut and major in engineering.

His mentor through the foundation will be Nick Rieger, a 2025 St. Paul graduate and rising UConn sophomore studying engineering.

Sirica, who belongs to Holy Disciples Parish in Watertown, also plans to attend UConn to study engineering.

His mentor will be Brian Luis, a 2014 Sacred Heart High School graduate who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Boston University and now works as a senior research and development engineer at Boston Scientific Corporation.

The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation was established in 1996 by the couple’s children to continue what organizers described as their parents’ “helping hand” approach.

The scholarship program pairs recipients with former scholarship earners who provide mentorship throughout college and beyond.

St. Paul Catholic High School President James J. Cooper said the school appreciates the continued partnership with the foundation.

“We are grateful to continue our partnership with the Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation and deeply appreciate their generosity in supporting our graduates as they pursue their academic endeavors,” Cooper said. “Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients on this outstanding achievement.”

St. Paul Catholic High School, founded in 1966, serves about 400 students from more than 30 communities in central Connecticut and internationally through the Archdiocese of Hartford.