Nine Newtown Students Awarded Meserve Scholarships

For more than two decades, The Albert W. and Helen C. Meserve Memorial Fund has been helping students interested in the environment follow their passions by earning college degrees through its scholarship program.

In Newtown, there were nine students who recently received scholarships, or had their existing scholarship renewed.

This year, the fund’s scholarship program reached two milestones during its most recent series of awards. Since 1985, the program has provided $1,007,500 through 487 scholarships to 286 students in the greater Danbury region. This year’s awards of $90,000 in $3,000 scholarships to 30 area students not only broke the $1 million mark, but also represented the broadening of the program, offering scholarships not only to students interested in environmental studies, but also those hoping to pursue educations in a variety of medical and health-related fields.

Along with the scholarships, the Meserve Fund also provides grants to community organizations. Over the past 25 years, 710 grants totaling $3,138,000 have been provided to more than 100 Danbury area nonprofits.

“The gift of a $3 million estate by Albert and Helen Meserve represented their commitment to the greater Danbury region, and their hope that the area’s youth could continue the family’s passion of protecting and preserving the environment,” said Karl Epple, chairman of the fund’s Distribution Committee. “Broadening the focus to include medical and health-related fields will provide our region with the future leaders in medical innovation and care.”

In Newtown, five students received new scholarships and four had their existing scholarships renewed:

Chris Fragosa, son of Carlos and Jolanta Fragosa, Jennifer Tichon, daughter of Pamela Tichon, Jillian D’Eramo, daughter of Eric and Suzanne D’Eramo, Rachel Rockwell, daughter of George and Patricia Rockwell, and Claire Ober, daughter of Gary and Jennifer Ober, are all Newtown High School 2008 graduates that are new to this year’s Meserve Memorial Fund scholarship list.

Quincey Blanchard, daughter of Kirk and Judy Blanchard, Kristie Uniacke, daughter of Kim and Elizabeth Uniacke, Teresa Taylor, daughter of Michael and Mary Taylor, and Maricate Conlon, daughter of Laurence and Joan Conlon, are Newtown residents who are on the renewal list for their Meserve Memorial Fun scholarships.

The Meserve Memorial Fund was established in 1983, a legacy of the late Mr and Mrs Albert W. Meserve, to support charitable organizations that benefit the greater Danbury region. The region served by the Meserve Fund encompasses the towns of Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Sherman, and Bridgewater. Decisions on grants are made by the Distribution Committee comprised of community representatives.

The fund is administered by the Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF) in Norwalk.

(For further information or a copy of the application and scholarship guidelines, call Jeanette Allam at FCCF at 203-750-3200.)