Killingworth Students Continue to Excel

Since its establishment in 1976, the Killingworth Scholarship Association has been awarding scholarships to qualified graduating Killingworth seniors, regardless of family income.  Students are selected based on academic achievement, character, leadership, and community involvement. 

With the recent downturn in the economy, and the inevitable belt–tightening that goes hand in hand, some might wonder why they should donate to the Killingworth Scholarship Association.  Regional School District 17 reports that over 2,400 Killingworth young people attend our primary and secondary schools.  If even half of those families were to donate $10 each to the fund, this would provide half a dozen generous scholarships for the next graduating class!  Please read on to see how some of our hometown students are representing our district.

Future high school history teacher Sarah Bartosiak used her scholarship to help pay tuition at Eastern Connecticut State University.  In just two years, she has been accepted into two honor societies and the secondary education certification program.  She is looking forward to studying abroad in Ireland this summer.

Michelle Fillion has dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a freshman in high school.  In May 2012, she expects to graduate with a degree in Nursing from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT.  Michelle is ”grateful that the scholarship from KSA provided financial help to make her goal of going to college more attainable.”

Amy Pabst just completed her senior year at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.  In May, she will graduate Cum Laude with an Associate’s Degree of Science in Hotel Management, and a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Hospitality Management.  She was able to use her award to help pay for her books each trimester of her freshman year.  She felt she was “able to start her college career out on a good note”.  States Amy, ”Thank you for seeing potential in me four years ago,” and for “investing in my college career.” “The money was well spent and very much appreciated.”

Class of 2009 Sacred Heart Academy graduate Victoria Hogan is enjoying her Health Science studies at Boston University.  She is concentrating on pre-med courses, with hopes of attending medical school or earning a physician assistant/master of public health dual degree.  She was able to use her scholarship award to purchase textbooks for her spring semester.

Now in his fourth year of study in a 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Eric Hoynack is staying focused on his program and the many hours of study required keeping up with his 18 credits per semester schedule.  He states “it is organizations like the Killingworth Scholarship Association which make scholarships available to high school seniors that help with their college expenses.”

UConn student Tara Cordner anticipates graduating in May, 2012 with a double major in History and English.  Tara says, “Awards like KSA reduce the amount of money needed to attend school”.  Thanks to ours and a few other scholarships she was ”able to complete her first year of school without taking out a single loan.”

Ryan Blewett was “able to attend the school with the best program for my specific major, and took some of the financial pressure off going to a private university versus an in-state school.”  Blewett says, “any and all scholarship opportunities are good ones, and Killingworth is very fortunate to have this outlet for students.” 

HKHS 2009 salutatorian Colleen Phelan will graduate from the University of Connecticut honors program in 2013 as a New England and Presidential Scholar, with degrees in Economics and Spanish.  Colleen credits her receipt of scholarship money with allowing her to participate in many rewarding experiences she might have had trouble funding without the awards.  Among other things, she was able to spend the summer at Middlebury College studying Spanish, and she is applying to spend her fall semester in Granada, Spain.   Says Phelan, “The community I grew up in is one that I love, and to be recognized by community members was touching and rewarding.   I am thankful for the scholarship I received from KSA … and to lessen the burden on my parents’ wallets.”

Donations to the Killingworth Scholarship Association are tax-deductible.  Please consider a donation to help us continue this tradition for our 2011 graduates.

KSA, P.O. Box 653, Killingworth, CT  06419.