Ansonia High School seniors visit Mead, Prendergast Schools

 

Derby Public Library to sponsor college planning program via Zoom

DERBY - Derby Public Library will sponsor a college planning program via Zoom from 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 16.

You will learn how the Expected Family Contribution is calculated, which assets are counted and which are ignored, and how to increase your chances for Financial Aid. 

Divorced parents and grandparents will learn the best way to structure savings for potential graduates.

This program is presented by Rebecca Miller and the Financial Awareness Foundation – a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of financial literacy.

Register here https://bit.ly/2IURxP0 or by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the program to receive the Zoom link and password.

YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR LIBRARY BARCODE NUMBER TO BE APPROVED. 

If you do not have a library card, email dplreference@biblio.org. 

Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton to host program on college funding

Advanced College Funding Solutions
Plumb Memorial Library
65 Wooster St., Shelton
April 23, 7 p.m.

Join this free, open to the public, program and learn about college funding. 
Learn about the various programs and methods to make college more affordable.

*This info is shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Seymour GOP offers 2 new scholarships

SEYMOUR - The Seymour Republican Town Committee has established two new scholarships in the amount of $500 each to be awarded to two students who are residents of Seymour and who will be graduating from any high school (public or private) in spring/summer 2019 and who will be attending college in fall 2019.

The Seymour Republican Town Committee voted to establish and fund the scholarships at its January 2019 meeting. 

According to Bill Paecht, SRTC Chairperson, the awards were established to recognize the achievements of Seymour residents who will be graduating from high school and entering college in 2019. Brian Koskelowski, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, added that the SRTC decided to make the competition for the scholarships open to graduating seniors from any high school as well as to those registered with any or with no political party.

Applications and information about the scholarships have been provided to the Guidance Offices at all of the high schools in the region. According to Mr. Koskelowski the SRTC Scholarship Committee will evaluate the applications submitted and select the winners based on a number of factors including academic achievement and school and community involvement. 
Winners will be announced and recognized at their high schools’ Awards Night ceremonies.

The Seymour Republican Town Committee acts as a vehicle for nominating candidates for town offices, as well as supporting the party’s activities and its elected officials.

For more information visit www.seymourgop.org.


Shared from the Seymour Republican Town Committee Facebook page.

Seymour/Oxford Rotary posts essay deadline for 2 scholarships

The Seymour/Oxford Rotary Club is proud to announce this year’s scholarships to two graduating high school seniors and/or continuing education college students residing in the Town of Seymour and/or Oxford.

High school graduating seniors and/or continuing education college students attending a four-year college or university full time in August/September 2019 are eligible.

Rotary International’s theme is “SERVICE ABOVE SELF.”

To submit an essay, it must address the theme of SERVICE ABOVE SELF: your personal experience, the importance of service in your community, the state, and throughout the world.

Essays are limited to no more than 500 words.

Scholarship is $500 to two individual students.  

Checks will be made payable directly to the college/university upon verification of student’s attendance, i.e, presenting an invoice from college/university indicating student’s name, address and ID number.

Deadline for essay submission is April 12, 2019 to be submitted via email to nvbv@hotmail.com.  
Essay must include your name, address, telephone, email address, college/university name, address and year of attendance.

Scholarship recipients will be notified by end of April and recipients will be requested to attend a club meeting to share their essay and college goals.

This is a press release from the Rotary Club.

Top 10 graduates in Ansonia High School Class of 2018 win plaudits

Ansonia High School's Top 10 students in Class of 2018. / Contributed photo

ANSONIA - Stephanie Umeugo is valedictorian of the Class of 2018 at Ansonia High School, Interim Principal Sara Crooks has announced. Stephanie and the rest of the Top 10 students of the class were honored June 6 at a banquet hosted by the Ansonia Board of Education at the high school. 
In addition, they led their classmates during the commencement exercises June 18 in the Thomas McQueeney Gymnasium at AHS.

Nearly all of the top 10 students have earned 20 or more college credits by completing several college-level courses offered by Ansonia High School, and most of the students are going to potentially earn up to 26 more college credits for courses they recently completed. 
With each course ranging in value from $608 to $3,738 and higher, many of the top 10 graduates may potentially save over $30,000 thanks to courses taken at AHS.

The completed courses taken by the majority of the Top 10 include these Advanced Placement courses: Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Language and Composition, and U.S. History. 

Students have also taken advantage of numerous other courses, including Physics I and II, Calculus, Computer Science, Modern Western Traditions, Digital Electronics, Art III, Accounting, and Psychology. 
Many college-level courses are offered as a result of a partnership with the University of New Haven, UConn, and HCC (Housatonic Community College).

Stephanie C. Umeugo, valedictorian, is the daughter of Ikechukwu and Ijeoma Umeugo, and she is a leader in many academic and scholastic activities. She is president of the National Honor Society, vice president Student Ambassadors, and an executive board member with the Valley United Way School Volunteer Council. Stephanie is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, the Human Relations Club, the Yearbook committee, and the Cooperative International Studies Program. She has been a Julian Taylor Award recipient, is a PSAT Scholar and an SAT Scholar. She has volunteered in a mentoring program and was a volunteer at Yale-New Haven Hospital for two summers. Stephanie has helped at community events, such as planning book drives, promoting literacy with younger children, and helping to raise awareness for terminal illnesses. Stephanie has earned 26 college credits from numerous UConn and AP courses, and she is awaiting the results from several other courses that could add 21 more credits to her transcripts. 
She will be majoring as a Physician Assistant at Quinnipiac University in the fall.

Yao Dong son of Yu Hua Tiang and Hui Dong, is salutatorian. Yao is a member of the National Honor Society and the AV Club at AHS. He has earned 33 college credits and is awaiting the results from three courses that could add 15 more credits. He will major in Computer Science at the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Victoria Ortega, the daughter of Jenny Ortega and Winston Ortega, is ranked third. 
She is the historian for the National Honor Society, president of the National Art Honor Society and captain of the volleyball team. Victoria is a member of the Global Scholars Club, is a Sikorsky Credit Union intern at AHS and is an SAT Scholar. In the community, she is a candy striper volunteer at Griffin Hospital and has volunteered for American Red Cross blood drives, Read Across America and Pennies for Cancer. She is a graduate of the University of New Haven Gen Cyber Agent Academy and is the logo contest winner for the CT Police Chief’s Association. Victoria has earned 21 college credits and has taken additional courses that could provide 16 more credits. She will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. 

Jesse Brookins, son of Frank Brookins and Barbara Brookins, is fourth in his class.
Jesse is a member of the National Honor Society and Global Scholars Club. He has earned 22 college credits and may earn an additional 26 from courses taken this year. Jesse will be majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in the fall.

Benjamin Jesulaitis, son of Frances Jesulaitis and Eric Jesulaitis, is fifth in his class. 
Ben is a member of the National Honor Society, the Human Relations Club, Student Government, the Drama Club and the AV Club. He is an SAT Scholar and recipient of the Spanish Excellence Award. 
In the community, Ben works at Rite Aid, has volunteered for the Ron Foley Run, and participated in Bright Light Musicals for four years. Ben has earned six college credits for AP courses and may earn four more. He will major in Mathematics and minor in Education at Stony Brook University in New York.

Katherine Wojcik, daughter of Malgorzata and Miroslaw Wojcik, is ranked sixth. 
Vice-President of her class, Katherine is also co-president of the Human Relations Club, vice president of the National Honor Society and treasurer of the Student Ambassadors club. She is a member of the Global Scholars Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the United Way High School Volunteer Council. She is an SAT Scholar. 
In the community, she has participated in the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Program, where she served as vice president, is a volunteer CCD teacher on Sundays at St. Joseph’s Parish and a lector on Sundays. She has volunteered in a mentoring program at John G. Prendergast School and at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Katherine has earned 26 college credits and may earn at least 20 more for courses completed this year. 
This fall, she will major in business at SCSU, in the honors college.

Joshua Rodrigues, son of Jazmin Benavides, is ranked seventh. 
Treasurer of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Global Scholars club, Josh is a Sikorsky Credit Union intern at AHS and a CAPT Scholar. In the community, he has completed more than 100 hours of volunteer service at Griffin Hospital and 50 additional hours at a variety of community programs. Joshua has earned 21 credits and can potentially earn another 20 for courses taken this year. He will be majoring in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University in the fall. 

Dr. Carol Merlone, Superintendent of Schools, conducted an interview with Joshua in early June. 
The interview can be viewed on YouTube, https://youtu.be/6Zl686EG-Wk.

Elizabeth Cavanaugh, daughter of Melissa and Steve Cavanaugh, is eighth in her class. 
She is a member of the After School Chorus, Drama Club and the National Honor Society. An SAT Scholar, she was selected as a winner of the CT Association of Public School Superintendent’s Award this year. In the community, Elizabeth is active in the Reclaim Christian Church, where she has volunteered in the church nursery, as a member of the church praise team, and with the sports camp. Elizabeth will major in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Haven.

Tamarrah Haynes, daughter of Yvonne Gonzalez, is ranked ninth. 
She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. In the community, Tamarrah has been a volunteer for Hope for the Warriors and is an Ansonia Pop Warner Cheerleading coach and co-coordinator. She has earned 18 credits and may earn an additional 12 from courses taken this year. 
Tamarrah will be attending St. John’s University in the fall.

Kelly Zarka, daughter of Kenneth and Martha Zarka, is ranked 10th. 
She is a president of the Class of 2018 and captain of the Softball and Volleyball teams. She is co-president of the Human Relations Club and a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Global Scholars Club. In the community, Kelly volunteers at the Church of the Assumption and works at Rita’s Italian Ice. Kelly has earned 10 college credits and may earn another 12 this year. 
She will major in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Rhode Island.


This is a press release from Ansonia Public Schools.  

Congratulations and best wishes!

Seymour-Oxford Rotary Club seeks applicants for 2 scholarships

The Seymour/Oxford Rotary Club is proud to announce this year’s scholarships to two graduating high school seniors and/or continuing education college

students residing in Seymour and/or Oxford.

High school graduating seniors and/or continuing education college students attending a four-year college or university full time in August/September 2018 is eligible.

Rotary International’s theme is “SERVICE ABOVE SELF.”

To submit an essay, it must address the theme of SERVICE ABOVE SELF: your personal experience, the importance of service in your community, the state and throughout the world.

Essays are limited to no more than 500 words.

Scholarship is $500 to two individual students.  Checks will be made payable directly to the college/university upon verification of student’s attendance, i.e, presenting an invoice from college/university indicating student’s name, address and ID number.

Deadline for essay submission is April 6 to be submitted via email to nvbv@hotmail.com.  Essay must include your name, address, telephone, email address, college/university name, address and year of attendance.

Scholarship recipients will be notified by end of April and recipients will be requested to attend a club meeting to share their essay and college goals.

This is a press release from the club.

Seymour Lions Club accepting scholarship applications

SEYMOUR- The Seymour Lions Club is accepting scholarship applications for 2018. 

This scholarship is open to all high school seniors that are residents of Seymour planning to attend any college or course of study. 
Four $500 scholarships are awarded each year.

You can fill out your application online, at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/seymourct. After filling out the application under the scholarship tab, simply print it out along with the application cover sheet also found online. 
You can mail your essay, application, and cover sheet to:

The Seymour Lions Club
26 George St.
Seymour, CT 06483

All applications must be postmarked by April 1 of the current year. 
The check will be made payable directly to the college/course of study upon verification of students' acceptance into the college/course of study.

Congratulations to Ansonia High School's Top 10 graduates

Top 10 graduates of the Ansonia High School Class of 2017. / Contributed photo

ANSONIA – Jamie Karas is valedictorian of the Class of 2017 at Ansonia High School, Principal Terri Goldson has announced. 

Jamie and the other top 10 students of the class were honored June 6 at a banquet hosted by the Ansonia Board of Education at AHS. 
They led their classmates during commencement exercises June 12 at the Nolan Field complex.

All top 10 students have earned 20 or more college credits by completing several college-level courses offered by Ansonia High School, and all 10 are currently completing two or three additional college-level classes, which may add up to six more credits for their post-secondary education. 
The completed courses taken by the majority of the top 10 include these Advanced Placement courses: Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Language and Composition and U.S. History. 
All 10 have also successfully completed HCC (Housatonic Community College) Algebra II and HCC Pre-Calculus. For their senior year, the top 10 enrolled in two, three, or four AP courses, including AP English Literature, AP Calculus, AP Psychology and/or Early College Experience Modern Western Traditions. 
Several students also took advantage of taking the new on-line learning modules through the business department.

Jamie Karas, valedictorian, is the daughter of Gregory and Priscilla Karas, and she is a leader in many academic and scholastic activities. She is president of the National Honor Society, secretary of the Student Ambassadors Club, and a member of DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Garden Club. 
She is a Governor’s Scholar finalist, a recipient of the Yale Book Award, and the Silver Award with the Girl Scouts of America. Jamie has been a figure skater for nine years and is a member of the Laurel Ridge Skating Club. She will be majoring in nursing at Salve Regina University in the fall.

Amy Elizabeth DeStefano, daughter of Frank and Kim DeStefano, is salutatorian. Amy is president of the Student Ambassadors Club, co-president of the Garden Club, parliamentarian of the National Honor Society and secretary of DECA. 
She is also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the Hiking-Biking Club, and served as a peer mentor at Prendergast School during her junior year. Amy will major in nutrition and dietetics at the University of New Haven, where she will study to become a Registered Dietititian.

Kaitlyn Sengphilom, the daughter of Sanorack and Ge Sengphilom, is ranked third. She is vice president of the National Honor Society, a member of the new National Art Honor Society, a Student Government representative and a member of FBLA. 
Kaitlyn is a CAS Scholar Athlete, one of the captains of the Girls Varsity Soccer team and a member of the All NVL, All New Haven Register and All-State Girls Soccer teams. She is a recipient of the Harvard Book Award and is an AP Scholar. She will major in computer engineering at the University of Rhode Island.

Emma Jane Rosa, daughter of Jane Liscio and Paul Rosa, is fourth in her class. Vice President of the Class of 2017 and Yearbook editor, Emma is also a member of Student Governance, the United Way Youth Leadership Class 2016-17 and the PTSO. She is also one of the captains of the Girls Varsity Soccer team. 
In the community, Emma is a volunteer at the Seymour Evangelical Baptist Church. She will be attending UConn at Storrs in the fall.

Carly Toth, daughter of William and Denise Toth, is fifth in her class. She is vice president of DECA and a member of the National Honor Society, FBLA, the PTSO, and the Girls Varsity Soccer team. 
In the community, she is a member of the Boy Scouts of America Venturing Crew and has been a member of the Girl Scouts of America for 13 years and the International Order of the Rainbow in Ansonia for seven. She has won the Girl Scouts Bronze and Silver Award. Carly will be majoring in engineering at Quinnipiac University in the fall.

Joseph Forleo, son of Vincent and Carol Forleo, is ranked sixth. Editor in Chief of the Yearbook, Joseph is also treasurer of the National Honor Society. He is captain of the Boys Varsity Soccer team and a member of FBLA, DECA, the PTSO, Hiking-Biking club, the Garden Club, Spirit Club, and Student Ambassadors. 
In the community, Joseph has participated in the clean-up day at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. He is majoring in biology at the University of New Haven in the fall.

Leila R. Saleh, daughter of Sahed and RoseMarie Saleh, is ranked seventh. Secretary of the National Honor Society and a Student Government Class Representative since sophomore year, Leila is also a six-year member of the Human Relations Club, serving as the elementary education coordinator this year. She is also a yearbook editor and a member of the Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge team. 
In the community, she is a volunteer at Holy Rosary Church. Leila will major in elementary education at Mount Saint Mary College.

Brianna Hurd, daughter of Robert and Cheryl Hurd, is eighth in her class. Vice President of the AHS Band, she is a member of the National Honor Society, the Audio Visual Club and the Video Game Club. 
She is a member of the Global Scholars Club, which toured Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland this year. During her junior year, she was a member of the Drama Club. For the past five years, she has helped out with photography at a Pre-K program in Seymour. 
For the past 10 years, she has taken lessons at Danz Magic in Derby and is a member of the dance team. Brianna will major in film and photography at Ithaca College in the fall.

Rebecca Cafaro, daughter of Christopher and Carole Cafaro, is ranked ninth. Historian of the National Honor Society, she is also a member of the PTSO. 
Rebecca is a recipient of the CAPSS Superintendent’s Award this year, the St. Michael’s Book Award, and the Girl Scouts Bronze and Silver Award. Rebecca is involved in several community organizations. She has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and is a member of Troop 60500 in Ansonia. She is also member of the Venturing Crew 77, which is sponsored by the Holy Rosary Men’s Club. 
At Holy Rosary Church, she has been a member of the Youth Group for four years and a teacher for religious education for two years. Rebecca is also a junior docent for the Derby Historical Society. She will major in marine biology at the University of New Haven in the fall.

Taryn Eileen O’Neill, daughter of Geoffrey and Laura O’Neill, is ranked 10th in her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the new National Art Honor Society, the Audio Visual Club, the Global Scholars Club, Guitar Club and the Drama Club. 
Taryn also plays bass guitar and has taken lessons at Banko’s in Ansonia for five years. She will major in marine biology at the University of New Haven next year. 


This is a press release from Ansonia Public Schools.

Crisco announces scholarship awards for area students

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, announced today that 1,087 Governor’s Scholarship Program awards valued at $2,414,972 were made last year to students living in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge – every town in Crisco’s 17th District.

That’s an average award of $2,200 – money that parents don’t have to give to their child, or that a student doesn’t have to borrow from a bank and re-pay with interest.

“With the rising cost of higher education, parents and students are turning to a variety of sources to fund their advanced education, and I am proud to say that for more than 1,000 bright, young kids in the Valley, that funding source includes the State of Connecticut,” Crisco said. 

State Sen. Joseph Crisco

“I am proud of every single student who met the stringent qualifications for these competitive awards, and I wish them the best of success in college and beyond.”

Statewide, a total of 20,300 awards were made last year to Connecticut students totaling over $43 million. The student financial awards are funded through the state budget and are part of the Governor’s Scholarship Program, which began in 2013.
The goal of the Governor’s Scholarship Program is to give every college student living in Connecticut a fair chance at affording a college education. 

In doing so, the award dollars are the same no matter what school they choose to attend in Connecticut, so that students at both public and private institutions are treated the same.

The Governor’s Scholarship Program is divided into three categories: merit-based, need-based, and academic incentive awards.

· Merit-based awards are offered to any Connecticut resident who is a high school senior or graduate with a high school junior year class rank of 20% or better and/or SAT scores of at least 1800 or ACT score of at least 27. The recipient must attend a state public or non-profit private college. They are eligible for up to $5,000 a year for full-time attendance in a four-year program of study; up to $3,500 a year for full-time attendance in a two-year program of study.

· Need-Based Awards of up to $3,000 for full-time study in a two- or four-year program of study are offered to any Connecticut resident who attends a Connecticut public or non-profit private college. The recipient must have a federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC) within the allowable range (the EFC is based on a family’s taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits such as unemployment or Social Security.)

Academic Incentive Awards are for any Connecticut resident who has completed 30 or more credits in the prior year; has received a Governor's Scholarship Need-Based Award in the prior year; and has a GPA equal to or greater than the required minimum. For the 2014-15 academic year, the award was $1,200 for students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and $1,000 for students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.49.



This is a press release from Crisco's office.