Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame Awards Annual Scholarship

The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF, or the Hall) today announces it has awarded its annual Eileen Kraus Scholarship to Linda Thach of Danbury.

A graduate of Danbury High School, Linda Thach plans to attend Yale University in the fall to study pre-med/biomedical engineering. Her ultimate goal is to serve as a physician and genetic researcher to reduce fatalities from and improve the quality of life for those afflicted with congenital birth defects. Thach’s scholarship application was chosen from among 147 candidates from across Connecticut, and her essay focused on how her own life reflects Helen Keller’s determination and persistence.

“As I blindly search for my path to higher education without guiding direction, my tribulatory upbringing has crafted my unrelenting motivation,” writes Thach. “This determined characteristic is embodied in the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, Helen Keller.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to honor Linda as this year’s recipient of the Eileen Kraus Scholarship,” says Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame executive director Sarah Lubarsky. “As an emerging leader at the very beginning of her academic career, Linda is exactly the type of student for whom we created this scholarship. Linda is an excellent representative to honor the legacy of Eileen Kraus.”

Born in 1938, Eileen Kraus was the first woman to head a major regional financial institution, and the founding Chairman of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Board of Trustees. She believed in women leaders, and her legacy demonstrates her commitment to mentoring women and advancing the causes that most affect them. Eileen was inducted into the Hall in 2002. She passed away on July 1, 2017.

Established in 2016 in partnership with Kaman Corporation, the Eileen Kraus Scholarship is expected to support emerging women leaders well into the future thanks to the generosity of Kaman, the Kraus family, and friends. The scholarship awards $5,000 annually to an outstanding Connecticut woman beginning her first year of college. It honors Kraus’s legacy and ensures the next generation of women leaders are able to follow the trail she so capably blazed.

To be eligible for the 2019 Eileen Kraus Scholarship, applications must be:

• Female students currently residing in Connecticut
• Recent high school graduates or in the final year of secondary school
• Intending to enroll in first year of college or university
• Able to attend the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Hartford, CT for recognition (2019 recipient to be recognized at the 26th Annual Induction Ceremony in November 2019)

About the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame

The mission of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) is to honor publicly the achievements of Connecticut women, preserve their stories, educate the public and inspire the continued achievements of women and girls. Founded in 1994 in Hartford, the CWHF is a provider of innovative educational programs and tools that inspire women and girls to believe in their unlimited potential. The CWHF’s 118 Inductees are role models for women of all ages, and their stories are proof of all that women can accomplish. Leveraging those powerful stories, the CWHF makes history relevant through programs for educators, multi-media presentations, and traveling exhibits offered free-of-charge. The CWHF’s work fosters the courage and confidence women need to overcome barriers and advocate on their own behalf. Each year through the CWHF’s initiatives, 65,000 women and girls see what’s possible and become empowered to take an active role in shaping their future. The CWHF website, www.cwhf.org, is a “Virtual Hall” where visitors can explore all that CWHF has to offer. To join CWHF via social media, find and like ctwomen on Facebook and follow @ctwomen on Twitter.