Submitted by Amanda Falcone, Liberty Bank
(July 23, 2025) — Liberty Bank President and CEO David W. Glidden is pleased to announce the recipients of the Bank’s Third Annual Kindness Scholarships.
This $5,000 scholarship recognizes eligible students who attend high school in a city or town served by Liberty Bank. To be considered, graduating high school students must consistently demonstrate kindness in everyday moments while maintaining an ongoing and significant impact in their community.
This year, three recent high school graduates were each awarded a $5,000 scholarship. The 2025 recipients are as follows:
- Saige Merwin of Haddam. A graduate of Haddam-Killingworth High School, Saige will attend Central Connecticut State University in the fall to study climate science and mechanical engineering. Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a toddler, Saige has spent years mentoring younger children, organizing support programs and volunteering at national events to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes and money for the cause. Merwin supports and empowers others who are living with this diagnosis and has volunteered with organizations like Breakthrough T1D and Riding on Insulin.
- Elijah Barnhart, of Wallingford. A graduate of Xavier High School, Elijah will attend Villanova University in the fall. He plans to participate in the ROTC program and pursue a career in the U.S. Army as a nurse. Barnhart received this scholarship because of his remarkable dedication to global service and compassion. He has completed six mission trips to the Dominican Republic, helping to build homes and provide care to underserved communities. He has also volunteered at his church’s Vacation Bible School and served as a peer minister.
- Kyleigh Sutula of Bristol. A graduate of Bristol Eastern High School, Kyleigh will study nursing at Regis College in the fall. She was diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency at age two and has spent her life navigating serious health challenges. Inspired by the care she personally received, Kyleigh dreams of becoming a pediatric hematology oncology nurse. Despite her health challenges, Sutula has dedicated herself to helping others through fundraisers, mentoring and advocacy and has raised more than $3,000 for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
“Team Liberty is so proud of this trio. They demonstrate perseverance. They have not let their personal struggles get in the way of their dreams. In fact, their ambitions, kindness and selfless commitment to their communities are shaped by what they’ve gone through in life,” Glidden said. “At Liberty Bank, we encourage everyone to Be Community Kind, and that’s exactly what Elijah, Kyleigh and Saige do every day. It’s what makes them so deserving of a Kindness Scholarship.”
To learn more about Liberty Bank’s Kindness Scholarship, visit liberty-bank.com/kindness-scholarship.
Established in 1825, Liberty Bank has $8.4 billion in assets, 54 retail banking offices across Connecticut and Massachusetts. As a full-service financial institution, Liberty offers consumer and commercial banking, cash management, home mortgages, business loans, insurance and investment services. Named a ‘Top Workplace’ by the Hartford Courant every year since 2012; designated a 2021, 2022 and 2023 Best-In-State Bank in Connecticut by Forbes Magazine; and received J.D. Power award for Best Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction in the New York Tri-State Region in 2025. For more information on Liberty Bank, visit www.liberty-bank.com.
Photos provided by Liberty Bank
