On Thursday, the Kiwanis Club of New Canaan awarded five 2016 New Canaan High School graduates with scholarships recognizing the students’ academic and extracurricular accomplishments.
Scholarship winners Andrew Chalon, Sophie Saloman, Claire Perry and Katie Marciano with Kiwanis Club members. Not Pictured: Ethan Geller
The Harold S. Kenney Scholarship award was named for a longtime Kiwanian and NCHS headmaster who retired in 1973, a summer camp business manager and hockey coach who was named a Hay Fellow in the Humanities by Williams College in 1961.
After receiving 10 applications described as “all worthy of support from the club” and “amazing on paper and in person,” the Kiwanis Club’s scholarship committee made a tough decision and chose these five applicants, according to club member Tucker Murphy. “We should all feel proud that we can help these students,” said Murphy.
Sophie Solomon
Sophie Salomon, entering DePaul University this fall with a possible Film Production area of specialization, compiled a cumulative GPA at New Canaan High School of 86. She was the co-captain of track and field, placing sixth in the state in high jump this past season; a volunteer soccer coach with the National Charity League; employee at Merle Norman; soccer referee and film director/editor for several sports teams. As an AP Latin student, Claire found the most satisfaction from NCHS’s Foreign Language department: “Taking Latin has given me a better perspective of the world, including learning about different cultures, its history both past and present.”
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Claire Perry
Claire Perry, entering Boston University this fall with a possible area of specialization of speech and hearing sciences, compiled a cumulative GPA at NCHS of 92.67. She was “behind the scenes” in varying roles in the NCHS theatre program for 17 shows; volunteered in the Mentors and More Club tutoring middle schoolers every week and worked as an Extended School Year Speech Pathology Teacher’s Assistant. Claire found the most satisfaction in NCHS’s child and human development classes: “There were many interests aspects of this class, however what I loved most was I was able to apply what I was learning in the classroom directly to my past, present, and future.”
Ethan Geller, entering Cornell University this fall with Economics as a possible area of specialization, graduated NCHS with a cumulative GPA of 99.12. Ethan participated in dozens of service projects, from clearing trails at the Land Trust and Nature Center to feeding the homeless in New York City, as an Eagle Scout; negotiated several conferences as a Model UN delegate, served as the Latin Club president, worked as a private tutor and medaled several times as a member of New Canaan Crew’s lightweight 8+ last year. Out of his high school career, Ethan is very proud of his role as an older scout mentor for younger scouts: “Although I’m honored to be an Eagle Scout, it’s not my rank or awards that make me who I am today. It’s my compassion and love for helping others day after day that makes me truly proud.”
Katie Marciano
Katie Marciano, entering Syracuse University this fall with Physics as a possible area of specialization, compiled a cumulative GPA at NCHS of 92.7. She participated as a member of Charity Link, Grassroots Tennis and the Garden Club; played for New Canaan Girls Ice Hockey; volunteered as part of the St. Aloysius Youth Group in the Breakthrough Options Program by attending the teen mass every Sunday and taking part in the biannual Emmaus retreat and has worked as a skating and art instructor during her high school career. Even moreso than her academic accomplishments, Katie is most proud of her personal transformation throughout high school from a “short figure skater with a voice just over a whisper” to a “confident [hockey] teammate”. “I was able to become a well rounded person through my extracurricular activities. I successfully went through my four years of high school while learning and growing each year.”
Andrew Chalon
Andrew Chalon, entering Clemson University this fall with Civil Engineering as a possible area of specialization, graduated NCHS with a cumulative GPA of 95.63. He obtained a starting position on the NCHS football team; went on ten day long mission trips as an active member of the Congregational Church of New Canaan’s Youth Group and works as both an independent video editor and a lifeguard at the New Canaan Pool. Andrew’s favorite subject at NCHS was math—specifically, AP Calculus: “Math is one class that I really enjoy going to everyday. This inspired me to consider studying engineering because I loved designing and creating objects but I also really enjoyed math.”
After the club described and commended the winners’ accomplishments in high school, Kiwanis Club member Joyce Sixsmith gave the students a piece of advice for their upcoming year. “It spoke to us that you’re all so dedicated and passionate and want to pursue that. Don’t let anything get in the way. Stand up for who you are,” said Sixsmith.