Newtown High School (NHS) students and parents gathered in the school's auditorium for its annual Awards and Scholarship Night on Thursday, May 28. The event recognized 119 different juniors and seniors for academic achievement and scholarship distribution.

The evening opened with a warm welcome from NHS Principal Dr Kimberly Longobucco, who noted the event is “invite only” and is meant to honor “the best of the best.”

Paul Ribeiro, the event’s emcee, then moved on to introduce each award. Many community organizations were also there to present their scholarships. Ninety different awards and scholarships were presented.

In total, more than $120,000 in scholarships was awarded to seniors, and juniors who won college book awards have the opportunity to claim nearly $900,000 in scholarships if they choose to apply and are accepted to the respective schools.

The following students received awards and scholarships, or were recognized for academic achievement, at the event:

Ian Akbas: Society of Women Engineers (certificate)

Lauren Allen: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, National Merit Commended Student Recognition

Kesslyn Alvarez: American Legion Post 202 Marie Canfield Award, CAP Club Scholarship, Newtown Visiting Nurses Association Scholarship

Atley Ammerman: The Science and Math Award — RIT

Macey Arcario: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, Fairfield Country Fish and Game Eddie Wescott Memorial Scholarship, FUN Tyler Jones Memorial Scholarship, Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Meghan Bailey: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award, Newtown Cultural Arts Scholarship

Gavin Bazuro: American Legion Post 202 John C. Taylor Award

Andrew Beylouni: Principal’s Award

Henry Blatter: Excellence in Science — Seniors

Olivia Bossio-Dotolo: Big Y Community Scholarship, Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, Class of 2026 Valedictorian, Kathy Swift Book Award, Newtown Board of Realtors Scholarship, Newtown Middle School PTA Scholarship, Newtown Soccer Club Scholarship

Gillian Boughan: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student

Jolene Brackett: Society of Women Engineers (certificate)

Elena Burdo: American Legion Post 202 Catriona Randle Award, Newtown High School Teachers Scholarship

Jack Carta: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, National Merit Commended Student Recognition, Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Emma Chappa: Fairfield Country Fish and Game Eddie Wescott Memorial Scholarship

Maya Chaudhary: Music Department Principal’s Award, Newtown Cultural Arts Scholarship

Finn Clancy: St Michaels Book Award

Marcela Corral: Endicott Book Award

Siobhan DaMato-Martinez: Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Leticia DeOliveira: Newtown Visiting Nurse Association Scholarship, Newtown Youth Football & Cheerleading Scholarship, Science Department Principal’s Award

Gabriella DeNicola: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, Nighthawks Theater Spotlight Scholarship

Samantha Diaspro: Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Claire DiNoto: Big Y Community Scholarship, Career Center Scholarship, Lt James A. Goodrich Scholarship, Middle Gate PTA Scholarship, Newtown Middle School PTA Scholarship

Kaitlyn Doyle: Harvard University Book Award

Sonya Feder: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, Head O’Meadow PTA Scholarship, National Merit Commended Student Recognition

Jacob Fitzgerald: English Department Principal’s Award

Braydon Forzano: Culinary — Good Egg Award

Ellie Garbowski: Harold DeGroat Award

Ava Geiger: Sacred Heart University Book Award

Marcus Gerace: Newtown Youth Football & Cheerleading Scholarship

Kate Gies: Tommy Rodbell Memorial Scholarship

James Glynn: Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Rebecca Goldman: Principal’s Award

Olivia Grasso: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award

Gianna Grigas: Art Department Principal's Award

Corynn Hettenbach: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award, Reed Intermediate PTA Scholarship

Nathan Hoag: Excellence in Science — Seniors, Robert Swart Engineering Award

Sophie Hull: University of Michigan Book Award

Sam Irving: University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award

Madeleine Jones: AATF French Award

Caroline Kaufmann: Art Department Book Awards

Connor Patrick Kelly: Excellence in Science — Seniors, Reed Intermediate PTA Scholarship

Kendal Khazadian: Newtown HS PTSA Scholarship, Newtown Visiting Nurse Association Scholarship

Duncan Kolb: Rensselaer Medal

Elias Kolb: Dartmouth Book Award

Victoria Kordik: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award

Matiya Kouassi: Mary Neilson Memorial Scholarship, Newtown Board of Realtors Scholarship, Pay it Forward Scholarship

Lahja Kurjiaka: University of Rochester F. Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award

Indigo Land: Art Department Book Awards

Leah Laughlin: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award, Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Taylor LeRow: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award

Cameron Linnetz: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student

Kayla Locke: Eleanor F. Moore Business Award, Fairfield Country Fish and Game Eddie Wescott Memorial Scholarship

Melanney Lordeiro: Hawks Nation Scholarship, Math Department Principal’s Award

Orion Lowery: Excellence in Science — Juniors, University of Chicago Book Award

Aidan Lourenco: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, Dylan Hockley Promising Futures Scholarship

Katherine Lye: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, National Merit Commended Student Recognition

Henry Lynch: RIT Excellence in Computing Award

Gwyneth Lyon: Clarkson University Achievement Award

Bryce Maddox: Lt James A. Goodrich Scholarship, Rotary Student of the Month

Stephen Mammola: Career Center Scholarship

Sierra Marx: Columbia University Book Award, RIT Engineering and Technology

Riana Mason: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, National Merit Commended Student Recognition

Margaret Mattera: Newtown HS PTSA Scholarship

Deirdre McCleary: Tulane Book Award

Jack Meade: Barton L. Weller Project Scholarship Finalist Award

Jack Mendez: World Language Department Principal’s Award

Noel McLeod: Newtown Soccer Club Scholarship, Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Harlee Morici: Norman D. McConnell Award

Ana Morris: St Michaels Book Award

Leah Morris: Military Recognition (US Navy ROTC)

Teddy Moxham: FUN Tyler Jones Memorial Scholarship, Horticultural Club of Newtown Scholarship

Nikita Mukka: Class of 2026 Salutatorian, Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, National Merit Commended Student Recognition, Sandy Hook School PTA Scholarship, William Smith Memorial Scholarship

Grace Newsom: Art Department Book Awards, Newtown Soccer Club Scholarship, Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Khadijah Noori: RIT Humanities and Social Sciences Award

Allie Nowacki: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award

Lillian Padilla: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award, Newtown Cultural Arts Scholarship, Nighthawks Theater Spotlight Scholarship, Theater Department Principal’s Award

Patty Parker: Culinary — Good Egg Award

Nick Pavia: Hawks Nation Scholarship

Gabby Payne: Clarkson University Leadership Award

Ryan Payne: National Merit Commended Student Recognition, Newtown Soccer Club Scholarship

Jamie Piccuillo: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, DAR American History Medal, Dylan Hockley Promising Futures Scholarship, Richard Sperling Award

Henry Quirk: Yale Book Award

Riley Ragan: Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Travis Rekos: Ernest Badillo Scholarship

Eleni Roussas: Suffolk University Book Award

LJ Ruggerio: PE Department Principal’s Award

Aarav Shetty: University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Science Award

Nick Silva: Social Studies Department Principal’s Award

Kayla Sinapi: American Legion Post 202 Salute to Service Award, Fairfield Country Fish and Game Eddie Wescott Memorial Scholarship, Ginger Kick Memorial Scholarship, Middle Gate PTA Scholarship

Stephen Singlak: Big Y Community Scholarship, FUN Tyler Jones Memorial Scholarship, Hawley School PTA Scholarship, Newtown Soccer Club Scholarship

Aditya Singh: Barton L. Weller Project Scholarship Finalist Award

Andrew Stango: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, Hiram Lodge Mason’s Scholarship

Madison Slater: Head O’Meadow PTA Scholarship, Senior Science Award

Maria Souza: Cornell University Book Award

Luke Steward: Brandon Hensel Memorial Scholarship

Ainsley Stott: Barnard College STEM Book Award

Hannah Stowe: Class of 2026 Top Demi-Decile Student, Hiram Lodge Mason’s Scholarship, Newtown Board of Realtors Scholarship

Lia Suarez: Bowdoin Book Award

Lucia Suarez: Excellence in Science — Juniors, Tommy Rodbell Memorial Scholarship

Finn Sullivan: Vincent Voccia Vocational Award

Mason Symes: Culinary — Good Egg Award

Nichole Tabor: Military Recognition (US Air Force Academy), Western Connecticut Military Officer’s Association

Noah Tashjian: Dylan Hockley Promising Futures Scholarship, Kind Works Scholarship, Sandy Hook School PTA Scholarship, Vincent Voccia Vocational Award

Cali Taylor: Newtown Historical Society — Dan Cruson Scholarship

Paige Thierer: Newtown Visiting Nurse Association Scholarship

Veronica Trapani: Art Department Book Awards

Aidan Tucker: National Merit Commended Student Recognition

Skylar Urbina: Barnard College Book Award — Humanities, University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation and Technology

Erik Utsogn: Excellence in Science — Juniors

Annika Van Sickle: Registration of Voters Association of CT (ROVAC) Scholarship

Ella Viau: Kevin’s Community Scholarship, Newtown Visiting Nurse Association Scholarship

Teagan Waaler: Kevin’s Community Center Scholarship, Newtown Federation of Teachers Scholarship, Newtown Visiting Nurse Association Scholarship

James T. Walsh: BEAT Department Principal’s Award

Caleigh Ward: Brandeis University Book Award

Michayl Wilford: Ben’s Lighthouse Isle of Skoo Outstanding Mentor Award

Summer Wilson: Paul W. Broggi Communications Award

Cooper Williams: Newtown Youth Basketball Association Scholarship

Ryan Yong: Counseling Department Principal’s Award