July, 2007 - The Westbrook Foundation gave $59,900 in scholarships to 27 seniors graduating from Westbrook High School last month, awarded two local students graduating from other high schools $2,000 in scholarships and provided $15,500 in awards to eight local residents either pursuing education beyond high school or currently attending college. The total outlay from the Foundation to town residents and students was $77,400.

Barbara Spencer Memorial Scholarships were awarded to 20 High School students. Andrew Wilson, Joshua Szakal and Ryan Pape each received $4,000 awards. A Leadership Award of $2,000 went to Jeremy Buck and Alison Parman won a Good Citizenship Award of $2,000. Special Awards of $1,000 each were given to Matthew Trasacco, Scott Coffrin, Carlos Ortiz, David W. Rutty, Mary Valiante, Samantha Spencer, Maria A. Gambini, Anthony Nardi, Nicholas R. White, and Kathryn Pielli. Receiving $500 awards were Katherine Dubuc, Robert Frawley, II, Amanda Bagley, Lindsey Riley and Joshua Sousa.

Three students earned $7,000 each from the Henry Ortner Jr. Memorial Scholarship, which supports students intending to pursue a career in engineering, the sciences or nursing. Recipients were Scott C. Fredrickson, Jacob Dean and Ryan Gallacher. The Elliot A. Spencer Memorial Scholarship of $5,000 was awarded to Kristina Clark.

The Raymond L. Wilson Scholarship of $1,000, given to a student pursuing a career in teaching, went to Meghan L. Taylor. James M. Wininger received the Calderari-Hoxsie- Schubert-Steinson Veterans Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 award that supports a student with a strong interest in science or nursing. The Josephine S. Crump Scholarship of $500, for a student who will teach business education, was given to Kristina Clark. The Ellen S. Murphy Scholarship of $500 was given to Ryan Pape. Lindsey Riley and Katherine Dubuc each received $500 from the Dorothy Christopher Hoyt Scholarship fund and Amanda Bagley was awarded $500 from the Pat Mazeau & Myrtie Gareau Scholarship. The Oscar Manstan/Richard Nolf Memorial Industrial Arts Scholarship, which rewards a student pursuing industrial arts with a $300 award, went to Carlos Ortiz. The Herbert A. Muller, Jr. Memorial Scholarship of $400 was given to Brian Moore. A new $200 scholarship in the memory of Gene I. Wills, went to Robert Frawley, II.

Local students graduating from other high schools who received scholarships were James M. Ronnie, Xavier, $500; and Elizabeth A. Calderoni, The Gunnery,$1,500. Residents attending college who received scholarships were Lyndsey Persutti, UCONN, $1,500; Elsa Fennelly, University of Rhode Island, $3,000 and Ashley Rourke, Southern Connecticut State University, $1,500.

The newly formed Messerschmidt Scholarship Fund for local residents pursuing education beyond secondary school gave $3,000 to Catherine Marino, $2,500 to Benjamin White, $2,000 to George Bell, $1,500 to Ryan Killion and $500 to Nicholas Crosby.

Since 1985, the Foundation, a non-profit organization, awards scholarships to Westbrook students and grants to qualifying town organizations.