Dedicate personalized plaques in memory or honor of veterans
Join in reflection with music and community presence
Offer prayers of thanks and remembrance |
| Jaynalis Rivera |
"Jaynalis Rivera, the subject of our May 8th post, has been located and is safe. Thank you to everyone who shared the post."
Shared from the Ansonia Police Department Facebook page.
SHELTON -The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley proudly awarded nearly $46,000 in scholarships to 20 deserving members during its 2025 Scholarship Awards Night on May 14.
After nearly two decades of leading the Scholarship Committee, longtime Club Director and board member Linda Welch officially passed the baton to Brian Marcucio, fellow board member and Alumni Hall of Fame inductee.
Inspired by his time as a Youth of the Year judge, Marcucio stepped into the role with enthusiasm and led the evening with heartfelt energy and inspiration.
Welch’s impact continues to be felt through the Coram Gardens Civic Association Scholarship, the Club’s longest-standing endowment, established 35 years ago in 1991.
She and her husband James were instrumental in directing proceeds from the sale of the Coram Gardens Civic Association property to the Boys & Girls Club. To date, the scholarship has contributed nearly $218,000 to the Club’s youth, including $9,400 awarded this year.
Thanks to the generosity of our dedicated donors and endowment partners, these scholarships help our graduating Club kids take the next step toward bright, successful futures. Donors — your support continues to change lives, and we thank you for believing in our youth.
This year’s scholarship support came from a mix of long-standing and new sources, including:
Celebrate Shelton Community Impact & Opportunity Scholarship (NEW in 2025)
Marcucio Scholarship Fund (NEW in 2025)
Jimmy Olayos Jr. Scholarship
Fred Dapp Scholarship
Juliana Mazza Memorial Scholarship
Karen & Twan Bentlage Scholarship Fund
Beth Fortin Family Foundation
George & Beatrice Ryan Scholarship (via Valley Community Foundation)
Raymond P. Lavietes Trust
George & Margaret Smith Scholarship
Coram Gardens Civic Association Scholarship
Hailey Overton
Veronica Bialczak
Gabrielly Ribeiro
Leneri Snow
Marilyne Gilbert
Raisa Karim
Samuel Rondon
Mikayla Simon
Amaryllis Medina
Brandon Palmer
Brynn Roscoe
Evie Montalvo
Alicia Curry
Emily Vargo
Bailey Wheeler
Ava Bottone
Carly Cipriano
Kalie Cipriano
Emily Wallace
Alleyanna Figueroa
As Marcucio kicked off the scholarship presentations, he quoted the late Jimmy Olayos Jr. — whose legacy continues through his namesake award — and said, “Let’s have a big day!”
To support our scholarship fund or learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, visit bgc-lnv.org/donate. View the Facebook photo album here.
This is shared from the club's Facebook page.
Congratulations and best of luck to all of the scholarship recipients!
This is shared from a Facebook event page.
This is shared from the PD's Facebook page.
Pictured is the Soldiers Monument for the Civil War.
Monuments are also located on the Derby Green for local veterans of both World Wars as well as of Korea and Vietnam.
Thank you for your service!
[First posted on May 15, 2018.]
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.
