2024-2025 New Scholars Announced

August 19, 2024

Every year, American Savings Foundation celebrates its new scholarship recipients at a reception held at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. This year, the Foundation is celebrating 120 first-time recipients of an American Savings Foundation Scholarship.  Scholarships for these first-time recipients total $184,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year.  The American Savings Foundation Scholarship is renewable, and the reception also recognized the programs’ graduating seniors, who have received the scholarship for up to four years and are about to begin their final year of college.

American Savings Foundation scholars attend two-year and four-year colleges and technical/vocational programs in Connecticut and across the country. Including the sophomores and juniors eligible to apply for a renewal of their award, the Foundation expects to award $800,000 to nearly 400 scholars in total during the 2024-2025 academic year. Most scholars receive the award for all four years of college.

“We want this scholarship to be much more than just a check,” said Maria Falvo, President and CEO of the Foundation. “Of course, the goal is to make a financial difference, but on top of that, we provide support and resources to help our Scholars achieve their dreams.”

The theme of the 2024 Reception was Mentoring in Higher Education. Two guest speakers, both past American Savings Foundation Scholars, spoke about how mentors helped lead them to the mentorship roles each now plays at a University. Dr. Megan Dansby Russell is an Associate Dean at Brown University School of Engineering and a 2006 ASF Scholar from Waterbury. Megan spoke about the mentors who inspired and encouraged her to pursue education and engineering as a student at Brown University. In her current role at Brown, she inspires and advocates for the next generation of engineering students.  

Natalie Criniti is a Career Advisor at the University of New Haven and a 2015 ASF Scholar. A New Britain native, Ms. Criniti spoke about how mentors helped her navigate undergraduate and graduate studies as her career goals evolved.  She encouraged the scholars to visit the Career Center at their own college and to find mentors who will be a cheerleader for them throughout their careers. 

In addition to the scholars and their families in attendance, several local youth programs brought current middle-school and high-school students to the reception.  The Foundation invests in many local youth programs and after-school programs and noted that it is very important to help youth visualize and plan for their own future success. 

“Many of the youth programs we support work with students to explore various career paths and learn how to achieve their goals through college or career training,” said Heather Hokunson, American Savings Foundation Senior Program Officer for Scholarships. “We hope to see many of these younger students back here in a few years as future American Savings Foundation Scholars”

The American Savings Foundation is a permanent charitable endowment that also awards grants to area nonprofits. Since its inception in 1995, the foundation has contributed nearly $75 million in total grants and scholarships in central Connecticut. Scholarships are awarded to students from the 64 Connecticut towns served by the foundation. 

New 2024-2025 American Savings Foundation Scholars

Barkhamsted
               Alivia Geraghty

Berlin                                                 
              Aiden Blair
              Elijah Burgos
              Ranasia White

Bristol                                                
              Jordan Boysaw
              Aemun Burhan
              Rita Gao
              Jack Jones
              Mackenzie Jones
              Lynae Lewis

Centerbrook (Essex)
              Mulanga Drysile

Colebrook
              Mattea Young

Durham
              Ephraim Mosher

East Hartford                                                 
              Comfort Boateng
              Mya Bynoe
              Nicolette Reid

Farmington                                                     
              Joshua Daugherty
              Layan Jahaf
              Ivan Khrystenko
              Youseph Nassir
              Eve Randall

Haddam                                             
              Caleb Cappelli

Manchester                                                     
              Micaela Arenas
              Leah Nurse
              Layla Oquendo                 

Meriden                                                          
              Brian Gomez
              Simon Keen
              Kaoutar Tayoui Elidrissi
              Diona Watkins

Middletown                                                   
              Ayesha Aftab
              Tajahnae Brock
              Francheska Garcia
              Stylz Mitchell
              Kendahl Reynolds
              Nia Watson           

Naugatuck                                                      
              Brianna DeSousa
              Danielle McFarlin
              Evelyn Morse
              Isabella Mota
              Manase Mutshima
              Christina Roberts
              Hailey Stasik               

New Britain                                                   
              Magdi Abdulla
              Summer Algaasi
              Zainab Algamoos
              Kaid Algozy
              Maram Alsaifi
              Nasser Alselmi
              Jaiden Benitez
              Tanae Blackwin
              Susan Carrano
              Naimah Carter
              Celine Chreiha
              Danyelix Echevarria-Figueroa
              Jazmine Fontanez
              Laiba Jalil
              Gootah Jayash
              Xavier Joseph
              Jasmin Lopez
              Yadiel Melendez
              Alexavier Nunez
              Kacper Piotrkowicz
              Sophia Portillo
              Jonathan Rivera
              Emily Rodriguez
              Ethan Roy
              Manal  Saleh
              Rogaih Saleh
              Jaydaliz Santana
              Daniel Senior
              Mauricio Villegas

Newington                                                     
              Karim Alilatene
              Elizabeth Barron
              Jakara Fargas
              Gabriella  Molfetas-Duran
              Jezabeth Santic

Plainville                                                        
              Brianna Gridley
              Eryk Kapusta
              Valiantsin Kasabrukhau

Rocky Hill
              Alissa Perna

Southington                                                   
               Cooper Burdette
               Dylan Bouteiller
               Danielle Jacquemin
               Roman Suddenko             

Thomaston
              Amber-Lynn Steck-Quick

Torrington                                                      
              Lucas Whalen
              Herbert Pramono

Waterbury                                                    
              Amaya Anthony
              Chase Beck
              Ny ’Aira Caraway
              Maryanna De Almedia
              Anthony DiBona
              Noah Gagnebin
              Welsey Gagnon
              Allison Irizarry
              Jordan Jefferson
              Bryan Lamonaco
              Hauwa Mahe
              Sydney McIntosh
              Nicole Montalvo
              Justin Montanez
              Cassie Nohmy
              Tory Janell Olivieri
              Izais Padilla
              Angelica Pelaez
              Enkel Shkembi
              Antonio Stillitano
              Marie Syla
              Mirena Syla
              Christopher White

Wethersfield                                                  
              Christian Bonvisuto
              Ava Fuschi
              Paige Lightbourne

Winchester                                         
              Rebecca Dowling

West Hartford                                                
              Sophia Bavaro
              Chyann Daniel-Jackson
              Toni Nguyen

Wolcott
              Emily Garcia-Rivera
              Gloria Japs

Woodbury
              Rubie Lombardi