GUILFORD, CT — The Guilford Foundation awarded 38 scholarships and awards totaling $81,300 to graduating seniors from Guilford High School, marking a $10,000 increase from 2025.
More than $120,000 in scholarship support was distributed by the foundation in 2026.
The scholarships, funded through donor-established component funds at the foundation, support students pursuing a variety of educational paths, including four-year colleges, community colleges, vocational schools and specialized programs of study.
The awards were presented during Guilford High School's annual Scholarship Night.
"It is a tremendous honor to celebrate these students and the people who make these scholarships possible," Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra said, according to a news release. "Many of our scholarship funds were created to honor loved ones, preserve family legacies, or reflect a donor's passion for a particular field of study. Scholarship Night brings those stories to life while recognizing students who embody those same values and aspirations."
The Guilford Foundation works with the GHS Counseling Department throughout the scholarship selection process to match students with awards based on academic interests, career goals, achievements, community involvement and individual circumstances. The foundation said its endowment model allows donor contributions to continue supporting students over time.
"Connecting our fund holders and scholarship families with these remarkable young people is incredibly rewarding," Petra said. "The evening is about much more than financial assistance. It is a celebration of achievement, community, and the lasting impact of philanthropy."
In addition to the GHS scholarships, the foundation awarded $2,700 through the Allison Varian Scholarship Fund for students attending The Sound School and distributed $36,850 through the Guilford A Better Chance Scholarship Program, which provides multi-year support to graduates pursuing college degrees.
Several additional foundation funds also provide specialized scholarship opportunities outside the traditional application process in areas including music, vocational training and other fields of interest.
Information on establishing or supporting a scholarship fund is available here.
The scholarship recipients are:
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