Ridgefield High School Class Of 2023: Awards, Colleges & Scholarships

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Ridgefield High School Class of 2023 will hold its Commencement on Wednesday, June 21, at 6:00 pm at Tiger Hollow Stadium.

Ryan Patrick Williams is the valedictorian.

In alphabetical order, the class of 2023 top ten scholars are Sophie Scarlett Browning, Nathaniel Adams Carter, Liam Luke Edson, Timothy Grove, Ryan Joon Kim-Cogan, Joshua Lin, Kavya Podila, Jacob Kurt Voellmicke, Ryan Patrick Williams and Claire Yue Zhang.

Ridgefield High School Seniors Class of '23 Awards

Gretchen Baudendistel
Service Recognition to the American Sign Language Club
Service Recognition to Ridgefield Friends Club

Brayden Bloom
Service Recognition to Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)

Sophie Browning
Math Department Award

Nathaniel Carter
National Merit Scholarship Finalist

Emma Dawson
World Language Department Award - Mandarin

Anna Dinkel
Social Studies Department Award - Student Growth Award

Jackson Fiore
Service Recognition to Future Business Leaders of America
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Award

Elizabeth Garson
Western Connecticut Superintendents Association Award
Service Recognition to Student Government Executive Board

Avery Gay
Service Recognition to Unity Club

Nathan Gaynor
Service Recognition to Chamber Orchestra
Service Recognition to Science Olympiad
Science Department Award
Service Recognition to The Pit Orchestra

Aditi Gupta
English Department Award
Science Department Award

Paul Hickey
Math Department Award
Service Recognition to Drum Line

Ciara Hourihan
Visual & Performing Arts Department Award - Chorus

Audrey Huff
Visual & Performing Arts Department Award - Theatre Arts
Service Recognition to The Company
Service Recognition to Musical Production

Joseph Isaac
Technology Education Department Award
American Legion Boys State Award Delegate

Arthur Kardos
Service Recognition to Mock Trial

Georgia Keller
CAS-CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Justin Keller
CAS-CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Michelle Kim
National Merit Scholarship Finalist

Ryan Kim-Cogan
Math Department Award

Skylar Kleinman
Social Studies Department Award - Most Outstanding Student
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Award

Hayden Kokas
Service Recognition to the Astronomy Club

Diana Kovacs
Visual & Performing Arts Department award - Band

Kai Kuwata
Visual & Performing Arts Department Award - 3D-Design

Sophia Lescinskas
Reading Department Award

Asterix Lombardo
World Language Department Award - Italian
Project Lead the Way Department Award
Service Recognition to Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

Ruofei Ma
Service Recognition to Madrigals

Avery Marcus
Family and Consumer Sciences Department Award - Outstanding FCS Student

Kirthana Marepalli
World Language Department Award - Latin

Abigail McCormick
Service Recognition to Consoles for Kids Club

Keelan McQuilkin
Service Recognition to the Geoscience Club

Sydney Michel
Service Recognition to RHS Sings

Shane Miller
Service Recognition to Pep Band

Zoe Pecson
Service Recognition to Key Club
Service Recognition to RHS Save the Children

James Pereyra
Visual & Performing Arts Department Award - Digital

Tor Petersen
Social Studies Department Award - Most Passionate Student
Service Recognition to Model United Nations
American Legion Boys State Award Delegate

Kavya Podila
English Department Award
Service Recognition to The Ridgefielder

Sarah Rizzio
World Language Department Award - French

Zachary Rosenblatt
Health Department Award

Milo Rosenzweig
Health Department Award

Jacob Sakdinan
Service Recognition to Senior Class Council
Western Connecticut Superintendents Association Award

Ruby Saloom
Service Recognition to Debate Team

Amelia Schiffer
Visual & Performing Arts Department award - 2D-Design

Samantha Silvestri
World Language Department Award - Spanish

Kayleen Smith
Math Department Award
Service Recognition to Anyone Can Code
Service Recognition to Math Team

Tessa Steffens
Alternative High School Department Award

Matthew Uy
Visual & Performing Arts Department Award - Orchestra

Corrie Vakil
Business Department Award
Service Recognition to Investment Club
Service Recognition to the National Honor Society
Scholar Leader

Samantha Verdejo
Social Studies Department Award - Civic Participation
Science Department Award
Scholar Leader

Heather Wallace
English Department Award
Service Recognition to Robotics Club
Science Department Award

James Young
Family and Consumer Sciences Department Award - Outstanding Culinary Student

Ridgefield High School Seniors Class of '23 Scholarships

Ridgefield seniors were also the recipients of numerous scholarships:

Ava Anderson
Lisa M. Rodden Memorial Guidance Scholarship

Heidi Atkins
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship

Gretchen Baudendistel
Bettie Jane Third Memorial Scholarship

Harrison Beckenstein
Michael Meltzer Memorial Music & Art Scholarship

Tyler Berman
Rena Principi Memorial Scholarship
Ridgefield Old Timers Association-Tom Belote Memorial/ROTA

Brayden Bloom
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship
Business & Finance Technology Department Award

Christopher Brown
Ridgefield Garden Club Scholarship

Sophie Browning
PTSA Scholarship Award-Math

Noel Burra
Ridgefield Police Benevolent Association Scholarship
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship

Jacob Cascioli
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship

Christian Catizone
Ryan Meegan Memorial Scholarship

Maya Chauhan
Ms President US Mentor Recognition

Ava Cohen
National Charity League Scholarship

Nathan Cohen
RHS Theatre Booster Club Scholarship

Ryan Cousins
PTSA Department Award-Art

Brendan Craigen
PTSA Scholarship Award

Ryan Crawford
Federal Reserve Bank Challenge Scholarship

Molly Crist
The Evelyn Peeler Memorial Scholarship

Isabella Crowley
Girls Field Hockey Booster Club Athletic/Citizen Scholarship
Bryan C. McCarthy Spirit of the Game Award
Cowin-Chapman Lacrosse Scholarship
Carey V. Depuy Kindness Scholarship-Lacrosse

Gabriel Da Costa Campos
PTSA Department Award-Project Lead the Way

Ryder Dadasovich
The Peter Helie Family Scholarship Award
The Jim Murphy Ridgefield Youth Wrestling Scholarship

Miles Deane
RHS Soccer Booster Club Scholarship Award
Soccer Club of Ridgefield (SCOR) Scholarship
Ryan Meegan Memorial Scholarship

Caroline Del Giudice
Robert & Catherine Wilder Fund
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship
Ridgefield Old Timers Association-Tom Belote Memorial /ROTA
Dr. Blaine Langberg Orthodontics Scholarship Award
RHS Theatre Booster Club Scholarship

Katelyn DeRaffele
The Max Michael Rosenfield Scholarship

Leila Devoe
PTSA Department Award - Family & Consumer Science

Anna Dinkel
The Dr. Stacey Gross RHS Spirit Award
RHS Service To Student Union Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-Science

Liam Edson
McGroddy-Goetz Scholarship
Ridgefield Teacher Recognition Award
RHS Athletic Advisory Council (AAC) Scholar Athlete Award

Brooke Elliott
Anne S. Richardson Award

Jack Federici
The Max Michael Rosenfield Scholarship

Jackson Fiore
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-English
Business & Finance Technology Department Award

Cora Fitzgerald
Anne S. Richardson Award

Deidre Flanagan
McGroddy-Goetz Scholarship
ROAR Animal Welfare
Elizabeth Bigelow Ballard Memorial Scholarship
Carey V. Depuy Kindness Scholarship-Cross Country

Teagan Flynn
Ridgefield Basketball Association Leadership Award

Andrew Forster
PTSA Department Award-Physical Education

Elizabeth Garson
RHS Student Government Scholarship

Avery Gay
Ridgefield Administrators Association Scholarship

Gabrielle Genna
Business & Finance Technology Department Award

Isaac Graber
Tutoring Club of Ridgefield Scholarship

Everett Greenwood
PTSA Scholarship Award

Aditi Gupta
Ms President US Mentor Recognition

William Hanna
Robert Scalzo Memorial Scholarship
Billy Fuess Memorial Scholarship
Rick Ligi Memorial Scholarship

Jack Hay
Roma Pizzeria Scholarship
Western Connecticut Military Officers Association Young American Award
Tutoring Club of Ridgefield Scholarship
The Logan Hale “Fight Like Hale” Memorial Ridgefield Youth Football & Cheer Scholarship

Paul Hickey
Richard DiSalvo Engineering Scholarship
Musical Theatre Scholarship

Robert Hinkle
Ridgefield Rotary Club Scholarship
Dimitri’s Academic Scholarship
Ridgefield Basketball Association Leadership Award

Motria Holian
Robert Stanger/Regan Memorial Scholarship
RHS Theatre Booster Club Scholarship
Musical Theatre Scholarship

Grace Hooker
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship
Ridgefield Guild of Artists Scholarship

Audrey Huff
RHS Theatre Booster Club Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-Theatre
The Company Honorary Scholarship
Musical Theatre Scholarship

Henry Idone
Ridgefield Old Timers Scholarship
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship
Lisa M. Rodden Memorial Guidance Scholarship
Pamela F. and Robert J. Morganti Memorial Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-Counseling Department
Erik F. Hoag Memorial Hockey Scholarship

Joseph Isaac
PTSA Department Award-Technology

Michael Jamieson
RHS Soccer Booster Club Scholarship Award

Jordan Katz
Ridgefield Basketball Association Leadership Award
Tyler Ugolyn Award

Georgia Keller
Dimitri’s Athletic Scholarship
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship

Justin Keller
Ridgefield Youth Football Scholarship
Dimitri’s Athletic Scholarship
Steven M. Scott Excellence in Economics Award

Charlotte Kemp
Pamela F. and Robert J. Morganti Memorial Scholarship
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-Social Studies
RHS Soccer Booster Club Scholarship Award
Soccer Club of Ridgefield (SCOR) Scholarship
Ryan Meegan Memorial Scholarship
Carey V. Depuy Kindness Scholarship-Science Research

Michelle Kim
Rose M. Antonnuci Scholarship
Ridgefield Arts Council Scholarship

Skylar Kleinman
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship
Bettie Jane Third Memorial Scholarship

Sara Klosowski
Girls Field Hockey Booster Club Athletic/Citizen Scholarship
Harold Hval Scholarship

Andrey Kosygin
The RHS Wrestling Booster Club Scholarship
Southridge Technology Gary Tiger Memorial Scholarship

Diana Kovacs
Robert Stanger/Regan Memorial Scholarship
RHS Theatre Booster Club
Northern Fairfield County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship
Musical Theatre Scholarship

Charles Krsulich
Tutoring Club of Ridgefield Scholarship

Zoe Lockard
PTSA Scholarship Award
Wadsworth Lewis Fund Scholarship

Asterix Lombardo
RHS Theatre Booster Club Scholarship
Musical Theatre Scholarship

Gabriel Martin
Anne S. Richardson Award
Marguerite Regan Nursing Award

Auden Masotta
Dr. Blaine Langberg Orthodontics Scholarship Award

Abigail McCormick
Ridgefield Women’s Club Scholarship
Rose M. Antonnuci Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-Reading

Regan McGrath
The Sandy Hoddinott Scholarship

Keelan McQuilkin
Anne S. Richardson Award

Kai Meier
Tiger Touchdown Club Scholarship Award

Kruz Meier
RHS Athletic Advisory Council (AAC) Scholar Athlete Award
Ridgefield High School Boys Lacrosse Booster Club Scholarship

Jack Michalowski
Ridgefield Basketball Association Leadership Award

Sydney Michel
Robert & Catherine Wilder Fund
Ridgefield Youth Cheer Scholarship

Shane Miller
American Legion Essay Contest
RHS Theatre Booster Club Scholarship

Emma Minardi
Exchange Club of Ridgefield Youth of the Year

Sean Mulhall
Caudatowa Garden Club Scholarship

Colin Nash
Ridgefield Police Benevolent Association Scholarship

Abigail Nelson
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship

Ryan O’Connor
Diane Caggiano Memorial Scholarship

Lianie Ochoa
NCL Nutmeg Scholarship

Arianna Odette
Friends of Weir Farm National Historic Site

Matthew Olkoski
Frances Demrick Scholarship

Henry Osher
PTSA Department Award-Health
Tutoring Club of Ridgefield Scholarship

Catherine Patterson
Business & Finance Technology Department Award

Zoe Pecson
Roma Pizzeria Scholarship

Jackson Penn
Tiger Hollow Scholar Athlete and Community Leadership Award
Cowin-Chapman Lacrosse Scholarship
The John Moriarty Memorial Scholarship

James Pereyra
RHS Theatre Booster Club Scholarship
ACT of Connecticut’s RHS Theatre Scholarship
Musical Theatre Scholarship

Tor Petersen
Army ROTC Scholarship
Tiger Touchdown Club Scholarship Award

Gianna Petroccio
The Diamond in the Rough Scholarship

Kavya Podila
The Creagh Family Scholarship
Emma Sandhu Memorial Scholarship Award
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship

Alexander Prokopczyk
Tutoring Club of Ridgefield Scholarship

Christopher Reinhardt
The John Moriarty Memorial Scholarship

Savannah Reyes
Leona Bedient Crouchley & Charles D. Crouchley Jr. Scholarship

Ava Rodgers
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship

Sophia Rodriguez
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship

Francesca Rossi
PTSA Department Award-Music

Jacob Sakdinan
RHS Student Government Scholarship

Briony Sekelsky
Dimitri’s Academic Scholarship

Samantha Silvestri
National Charity League Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-World Language
Ridgefield Ladies Golf Association Award in Memory of Ann Powers

Jalen Simpson
Ridgefield High School Boys Lacrosse Booster Club Scholarship
HORD Foundation Scholarship

Kayleen Smith
Rena Principi Memorial Scholarship

Marek Sobocinski
Armando “Matty” Pambianchi Memorial Scholarship

Kyle Sonders
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship
The Ed Brennan Memorial Ridgefield Youth Football Scholarship

Tessa Steffens
PTSA Alternative High School Award

Kathleen Tebbe
Ridgefield Old Timers Scholarship
American Legion Essay Contest
SPHERE Leadership Award
Ridgefield Historical Society Scholarship
Tiger Hollow Scholar Athlete and Community Leadership Award
Carey V. Depuy Kindness Scholarship-Lacrosse

Isabella Tuccio
RHS Athletic Advisory Council (AAC) Scholar Athlete Award

Ian Uecker
RHS Soccer Booster Club Scholarship Award
Soccer Club of Ridgefield (SCOR) Scholarship

Matthew Uy
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship

Corrie Vakil
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship
Business & Finance Technology Department Award
Nia H. Simpson Memorial Scholarship

Rebecca Vanni
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship
Soccer Club of Ridgefield (SCOR) Scholarship

Samantha Verdejo
RHS Service to Student Union Scholarship
Ms President US Mentor Recognition

Jacob Voellmicke
Christopher M. Manno Memorial Scholarship for Academic & Athletic Excellence
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Scholarship

Jude Vucci
Nia H. Simpson Memorial Scholarship

Cheyla Williams
Anne S. Richardson Award
HORD Foundation Scholarship

Nicole Winkeleer
PTSA Scholarship Award

Kimberly Wirth
Carey V. Depuy Kindness Scholarship-Art Award

Kayla Yi
Ridgefield Police Benevolent Association Scholarship
Tutoring Club of Ridgefield Scholarship

Tiffany Yin
David E. Nichols Memorial Fund

Nubia Fonseca Zamudio
Ridgefield Police Benevolent Association Scholarship
PTSA Department Award-Business
RHS Athletic Advisory Council (AAC) Scholar Athlete Award
Business & Finance Technology Department Award

Julia Zvon
Business & Finance Technology Department Award

Members of the class of 2023 will be continuing their academic careers at numerous prestigious colleges, which include:

• American University
• Arizona State University-Tempe
• Auburn University
• Bard College
• Bentley University
• Boston College
• Boston University
• Brandeis University
• Brigham Young University-Provo
• Bryant University
• Bucknell University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Clemson University
• Coastal Carolina University
• Colgate University
• College of Charleston
• Cornell University
• Culinary Institute of America
• Dartmouth College
• Drexel University
• Duke University
• Elon University
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
• Emmanuel College
• Emory University
• Emory University-Oxford College
• Fairfield University
• Florida State University
• Fordham
• Franklin and Marshall College
• Hamilton College
• Hobart William Smith Colleges
• Indiana University-Bloomington
• Iona University
• Ithaca College
• James Madison University
• Kenyon College
• Lafayette College
• Lake Forest College
• Le Moyne College
• Lehigh University
• Louisiana State University
• Loyola Marymount University
• Loyola University Maryland
• Marist College
• McGill University
• Miami University, Oxford
• Michigan State University
• Middlebury College
• Moravian University
• Morehouse College
• Mount Holyoke College
• Nascar Techincal Institute
• New York University
• North Carolina State University at Raleigh
• Northeastern University
• Nova Southeastern University
• Oberlin College
• Ohio State University-Main Campus
• Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Main Campus
• Providence College
• Purdue University-Main Campus
• Quinnipiac University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rhode Island College
• Rhode Island School of Design
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Roger Williams University
• Rollins College
• Rutgers University-New Brunswick
• Sacred Heart University
• Salve Regina University
• San Diego State University
• Santa Clara University
• Savannah College of Art & Design - SCAD
• Siena College
• Skidmore College
• Southern Connecticut State University
• Southern Methodist University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Syracuse University
• Temple University
• Texas Christian University
• Texas State University
• The George Washington University
• The University of Alabama
• The University of British Columbia
• The University of Tampa
• The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
• Trinity College
• Trinity College Dublin
• Tufts University
• Tulane University of Louisiana
• University at Albany, SUNY
• University of Applied Sciences-Netherlands
• University of Arizona
• University of California-Berkeley
• University of California-San Diego
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Connecticut
• University of Delaware
• University of Denver
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia
• University of Hawaii at Manoa
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Maine
• University of Maryland-College Park
• University of Massachusetts-Amherst
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• University of Minnesota
• University of Mississippi
• University of New England
• University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina Wilmington
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
• University of Rhode Island
• University of Richmond
• University of South Carolina-Columbia
• University of South Florida
• University of Utah
• University of Vermont
• University of Virginia-Main Campus
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Ursinus College
• Villanova University
• Virginia Tech
• Wake Forest University
• Washington and Lee University
• Washington College
• Washington University in St Louis
• Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Western Connecticut State University
• Widener University
• William & Mary