1st Recipient Of Fox Family Scholarship Announced In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford High School’s Max Owen has been named as the inaugural Fox Family Scholar and recipient of the Fox Family Scholarship for Fall 2026, the University of Connecticut and Town of Stratford announced.

Max, the son of Tyrone and Kim Owen, will attend UConn’s Storrs campus as a finance major in the School of Business with plans to study applied artificial intelligence as a special area of concentration, according to a news release.

“A dedicated student-athlete and accomplished golfer with a 1.5 handicap index, Max has worked at a local Stratford golf course while balancing academic achievement, athletic excellence, and community involvement,” the news release states. “Max was selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 250 Stratford applicants based on his academic accomplishments, leadership potential, character, and future promise.”

Read more from the news release below:

The Fox Family Scholarship was established on Feb. 19, 2026, through a partnership among the Fox family, the Town of Stratford, and UConn. The fully endowed scholarship provides support for Stratford students attending UConn and is awarded based on both merit and financial need. Selection criteria include academic achievement, community engagement, athletic participation, and an intended major in business, entrepreneurship, or a technical field.

The scholarship was created to recognize and support Stratford students who demonstrate academic achievement, character, leadership, community involvement, and the determination to create opportunities for themselves and others.

The scholarship is inspired by the values of Auran and Shirley Fox, who believed deeply in the importance of education, hard work, personal responsibility, and giving back to the community. Their example continues to guide the Fox family’s commitment to creating opportunities for future generations of Stratford students.

“Stratford has always been home for our family,” said Keith, Curt, and Craig Fox. “Our parents, Auran and Shirley Fox, taught us the importance of education, hard work, personal responsibility, and giving back to the community. This scholarship reflects those values. Max embodies them, and we are honored to welcome him as the first Fox Family Scholar. We look forward to supporting his journey at UConn and beyond.”

Mayor David Chess said, “Congratulations to Max Owen, the inaugural Fox Family Scholarship recipient from Stratford. We are incredibly grateful to the Fox family for unlocking the key to opportunity for students in our community by creating a meaningful pathway to higher education where anything is possible.”

Local educators also praised the initiative.

“This scholarship recognizes both achievement and character,” said Dr. Katie Graf, Principal of Bunnell High School.

Stratford High School Principal Jack Dellapiano noted that the scholarship represents “a meaningful investment in the future of Stratford’s students.”

As the inaugural Fox Family Scholar, Max Owen represents the first chapter in a long-term commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Stratford students and strengthening the connection between the Town of Stratford and UConn.

In addition to financial support, the Fox family plans to remain engaged with scholarship recipients throughout their college experience, providing mentorship, encouragement, and access to emerging technologies and professional development opportunities. The family looks forward to supporting Max’s academic and professional growth as he pursues his studies at UConn during a time of rapid technological change.

UConn administers the scholarship and selection process to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency. Outreach to Stratford schools is already underway to inform students and families about future scholarship opportunities.

“We hope this scholarship does more than help students pay for college,” said the Fox family. “We hope it encourages them to dream bigger, work harder, and recognize that others believe in their potential. Our parents, Auran and Shirley Fox, taught us that education creates opportunity. Supporting Stratford students in pursuing that opportunity is the purpose of this scholarship.”

UConn, the Town of Stratford, and the Fox family congratulate Max Owen on this achievement and look forward to his contributions on campus and beyond. His selection marks the beginning of what they hope will become a lasting tradition of supporting talented Stratford students for generations to come.