CHARTER OAK AWARDS $100,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
50 LOCAL STUDENTS EACH RECEIVE $2,000 FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ronald Wertz
VP-Director of Marketing
860.446.3254
Waterford, CT – May 30, 2025 – Charter Oak Federal Credit Union hosted a reception on Thursday, May 29th, to formally award $100,000 in scholarships to 50 deserving high school and college students from the New London and Windham counties.
These students were chosen by a committee that reviewed over 155 applications to Charter Oak’s 2025 Community Giving Scholarship Program. Students were required to submit a detailed essay to demonstrate their commitment to their scholarly efforts, as well as to showcase how they plan to give back to their local community. Topics included improving local park and recreation centers, creating services for the homeless population, as well as creating/helping food pantries within the region.
“Since starting the Scholarship Program in 2009, we’ve given over $1,000,000 in scholarships to support students who lead through service and excellence,” said Brian Orenstein, Charter Oak’s President, and CEO. “This year’s 50 recipients continue that legacy, reflecting the core values of our mission.” he said.
Congratulations to the following 2025 Community Outreach Scholarship Winners:
This year’s high school student scholarship winners (sorted by school) are: Amber Hostetler, Bacon Academy; Tyler Eng, East Lyme High School; Amanda Wood, East Lyme High School; Nathan Rommal, East Lyme High School; Adrian Bouchard, Ella T. Grasso Technical High School; Cortland Ruggiero, Griswold High School; Johanna Blanchette, H.H Ellis Technical High School; Norah DiMartino, Killingly High School; Emma Desrosiers, Killingly High School; Lucy St. Germain, Killingly High School; Myles Streckfuss, Ledyard High School; Cody Rahmann, Lyman Memorial High School; Micah Bass, Lyme – Old Lyme High School; Justin Griffiths-Lam, Marianapolis Preparatory School; Ada Gauthier – Marine Science Magnet High School; Katheryn DelGrosso, Marine Science Magnet High School; Kyra Slack, Montville High School; Nathan Dhillon, Montville High School; Evan Casola, Norwich Free Academy; Aidan Corcoran, Norwich Free Academy; Rae Coombs, Norwich Free Academy; Harmony Freed, Parish Hill High School; Owen Pothier, Plainfield High School; James Rice, Pomfret School; Evan Mailloux, Putnam High School; Elias Slocum, Robert E. Fitch High School; Isabel Gustavson, Robert E. Fitch High School; Camille Monsale, Robert E. Fitch High School; Abigail Malone, Robert E. Fitch High School; Zoe Cosmopoulos, Robert E. Fitch High School; Shem Adams, Saint Bernard High School;
Maeve Surprenant, Saint Bernard High School; Kerri Loughlin, Saint Bernard High School; Anna Sundman, Stonington High School; Matthew Hryn, Stonington High School; Arnell Peck, The Williams School; Xandar Miller, Woodstock Academy; Sofia Thurber, Tourtellotte Memorial High School; Jax Higgins, Waterford High School; Sophia Sit, Waterford High School; Jonathan Nave, Wheeler High School; Madison Pinto, RHAM High School.
College award winners include: Angelina Williams, Northeastern University; Jordon Dunkerley, Providence College; Neil Mistry, Purdue Global; Sophie Caron, Quinebaug Valley Community College; Sofia Feroce, Rhode Island College; Sophia Duarte, Three Rivers Community College; Jonah Weber, University of Connecticut; Bryn Miller, University of Vermont.
Charter Oak awards scholarships on an annual basis and will begin accepting applications again in January 2026 for the 2025-2026 school year. To learn more about the Credit Union’s scholarship program, please visit: CharterOak.org.
Charter Oak Federal Credit Union is Connecticut’s largest credit union with assets of $1.662 billion as of March 31, 2025. They’ve proudly been serving Eastern Connecticut since 1939 and offer great checking, deposit, lending, and investment services. For more information about Charter Oak’s broad range of products and services, visit any of their convenient branches, call their Contact Center at 860.446.8085, or visit their website online. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.
