Rotary Club of Stamford Awards $120,000 in scholarships to 12 Seniors in Stamford Schools

Stamford – The Rotary Club of Stamford Trust Fund recently awarded 12 seniors in Stamford public schools a $10,000 scholarship each as part of the club’s commitment to furthering education. The students were honored at a luncheon with guest speakers Mayor Caroline Simmons, CT Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tamu Lucera as one of her last public events before leaving for her new position in Nairobi.

The yearly scholarships awards follow a long history with the club that dates back decades and started with awards that were only $250. Recipients are selected each year through an application process and typically only 10 are chosen, except for this year. “We were incredibly impressed with the students who applied this year,” said Matt Stendardi, Stamford Rotary Trust Fund Chair. “When we narrowed it down to 12, we just couldn’t find two to omit, so we decided the right thing to do was to go ahead and award 12 scholarships. These young people are simply amazing.”

Each student spoke briefly regarding their future education plans and their commitment to community service, a key factor for the Club which values “Service Above Self.”

Scholarship, which are named for outstanding Rotarians in the Club’s history, were awarded to the following: Ruby Jimenez, Westhill High School, Marcel Corbat Award; Fernanda Herrera, Stamford High School, Patrick Deluca Award; Darlin Rivera, J.M. Wright Technical High School, Ernest A. DiMattia, Jr. Award; Tanisha Alilaikannan, AITE, Kingsley Gillespie Award; Cal Gillin Stamford High School, Falgun Jariwala Award; Taylor Roncoroni, Stamford High School, Charles Judd Award; Tamryn Lee Williams, Stamford High School, Richard McKnight Award; Marvi Pabrekar Westhill High School, Susan Rich Award; Kathryn Diem, Stamford High School, Richard E. Taber Award; Aidan Mulcahey, Westhill High School, Dominick W. Telesco Award; Sheryln Diaz, AITE, Harry Wilkov Award; and Mia Neigler, AITE, Trustee Award.

Members of the Scholarship Trust Fund Committee are Rotarians Matthew Stendardi, Chair, Joseph Armah, Christopher Farrugio, Alexandre Nance Santos, William Tone and Allan Lang.