Jodie Mozdzer Gil photo
From left to right: Citizens Engine Co. Vice President John Gaudiosi, Grace Gui Me Brangwynne, Hannah Tricarico, Daniel Zygadlo, Julia Marie Loverci, Citizens Engine Co. President Mike Russell
Citizens Engine Co. No. 2 continued a long tradition of helping Seymour students pay for college this week, when it handed out $2,900 in scholarships.
The memorial scholarship program has been ongoing since at least the 1960s, according to Timm Willis, Seymour’s assistant fire marshal and a member of the scholarship committee. Two additional scholarships, named in memory of former members Ray Marshall and Ted Lewis, were added in the 1980s and 1990s.
Each year, the scholarship committee selects four graduating high school students from Seymour, and gives a second year of funding to two students from the previous year.
More than 60 students applied this year.
“We wish all of you luck in your future endeavors,” Willis said to the four recipients at a brief awards ceremony at the fire house on DeForest Street Wednesday. “You all deserve it.”
The following scholarships were awarded:
2018 Citizens Engine Company #2 Memorial Scholarship ($500 for each of two consecutive years)
Daniel Zygadlo, a Seymour High School graduate who will study statistics and economics at UConn in the fall
Grace Gui Me Brangwynne, a Seymour High School graduate who will study political science at UConn in the fall
Ted Lewis Memorial Scholarship ($500)
Julia Marie Loverci, an Emmett O’Brien Technical High School graduate who will study criminal justice at University of New Haven in the fall
Ray Marshall Memorial Scholarship ($400)
Hannah Tricarico, a Seymour High School graduate who will study pre-pharmacy at Western New England University in the fall
“I’m very grateful to the Citizens Engine Company,” Brangwynne said. “I really appreciate the money and I’d like to put it to good use.”
Zygadlo noted the large applicant pool, and said he was honored to have been selected for the scholarship.
The committee considers financial need, community service and unique details outlined in an application essay when deciding, Willis said.
The two students who will receive a second $500 payment this year, as they enter their sophomore year in college, are Romando Davidson and Jennifer Lynn Forsyth.
