Submitted by Amy Giarnella
(June 5, 2024) — Haddam Killingworth High School held its annual Scholarship Night on June 3, 2024. Forty-seven members of the community joined Principal Donna Hayward, Assistant Principal Adam Apicella and Athletic Director Lynne Flint to award more than $92,000 in local scholarships to HKHS students! Two ROTC scholarships also were awarded, for a grand total of $581,416! Please see the entire list of presenters and awardees below.
2024 Award Winners
● HKHS Citizen of the Year Award was awarded to Cindy Pitts ~ presented by Donna Hayward (read more about Cindy below)
● Connie Bombaci Service Award was awarded to Nicolette Hines ~ presented by Heather Ferrer
● Haddam Historical Society Scholarships were awarded to Samantha Pach with a Special Service Award given to Jaimey DiNapoli ~ presented by Elizabeth Malloy and Sarah Neal
● HK Little League Scholarships were awarded to Anabelle LaTorre, Blake Kamoen, Ivy McNiel and Keira Czarkowski ~ presented by Cailey Anderson and Lauren Perley
● Nathaniel B. Field Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Bryce O’Linn, Cole Bruno, Catharine Therrien, Ella Commerford, and Nathan Natanzon ~ presented by Christiana and Marie Field
● Killingworth Ambulance Association Scholarships were awarded to Bryce O’Linn, Luke Dooley, Ella Commerford, Leah Walton, Nicolette Hines and Peyton Tyler ~ presented by Clark Judge
● Ed Staskelunas IV Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Christopher Palmieri and David Sargent ~ presented by Amy, Luke and Owen Staskelunas
● Killingworth Scholarship Association ~ presented by Tracy Plumley
○ Kathy Weiss Scholarships were awarded to Blake Kamoen and Anabelle LaTorre
○ George & Mary Keithan Scholarships were awarded to Elizabeth “Liza” Murphy, Peyton Tyler, Nicolette Hines, Ella Commerford, Rebecca Rosenblum-Jones, Samantha Minickene and Jaimey DiNapoli
● Killingworth Scholarship Association Essay Contest winner was Anna Wessinger-Neumann ~ presented by Tracy Plumley
● HK Soccer Club Scholarships were awarded to James Marchetti and Leah Walton ~ presented by Derek Torre
● HK Travel Basketball Scholarships were awarded to Bryce O’Linn, Blake Kamoen, Ella Commerford, Cheyenne LaTouche and Kaleigh Nelligan ~ presented by Cailey Anderson and Joe Giaccone
● Shoreline Math Scholarship was awarded to Luke Celentano ~ presented by Wendy Adamczyk
● Math Medic Foundation “Fund Your Future” Scholarship was awarded to Luke Celentano ~ presented by Wendy Adamczyk
● John McCormack Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Abigail Marciniec ~ presented by Wendy Adamczyk
● The inaugural Gene W. Porter Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ava Harriman ~ presented by John Porter, Marjorie Porter, Keith Porter and Elizabeth Craig
● HK Touchdown Club Scholarships were awarded to Cooper Pitts and Jake McGoey ~ presented by Laura Napierkowski
● Peter M. Taft Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Leah Walton ~ presented by Craig Taft and Rich Couture
● Killingworth Evergreen Garden Club Scholarship was awarded to Jillian LaRosa ~ presented by Lise Brule
● The inaugural Huscher Team “Love My Hometown” Scholarship was awarded to Layla Hayward~ presented by Tanya Bottaro
● Connecticut Street Rod Association Scholarship was awarded to Peter Guarino ~ presented by Tom Lambert, Hans Schwers and Don Dybick
● Jason Lantieri Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ivy McNiel ~ presented by Kelly Haeckel
● Paul Dostie KARE Foundation Scholarship was awarded to Bryce O’Linn ~ presented by Donna Hayward on behalf of Jeanne and Brian Dostie of Jerry’s Transmissions
● Terrie Lusis Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Tarin Degnan ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Gianna Rose Vincelett Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Samantha Ruimerman ~ presented by Donna Hayward on behalf of Skip and Debby Vincelett
● The inaugural Laura Englebright Scholarship offered through the Community Foundation of Middlesex County was awarded to Luke Dooley ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Marjorie Kirk Ullrich Scholarship for Excellence in the Fine Arts offered through the Community Foundation of Middlesex County was awarded to Nicolette Hines ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Melissa J. Schlag Good Citizenship Education Award offered through the Community Foundation of Middlesex County was awarded to Caitlin Kukta ~ presented by Tanja Moriarty
● Haddam Women’s Club ~ Amanda June Listitano Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ivy McNiel ~ presented by Kate Brencher
● HK Youth Lacrosse Association Scholarships were awarded to Jaimey Dinapoli and Cooper Pitts ~ presented by Mike Civiello
● James S. Larkin Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Nathan Natanzon ~ presented by Lynne Flint
● Patsy Kamercia Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Téa Norman ~ presented by Lynne Flint and Michael Kamercia
● Jenna Seward Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Vyvyan Laurenza ~ presented by Michael Seward
● Haddam Civic League Scholarships were awarded to Julia Mitchell and Samantha Pach ~ presented by Ed Munster
● Haddam Garden Club Scholarships were awarded to Jillian LaRosa and Johanna Thelen ~ presented by Lynda Birch, Deb Karpf and Kate Hull
● Killingworth Women’s Organization Scholarship was awarded to Elizabeth “Liza” Murphy ~ presented by Laura Traver
● Haddam Scholarship Fund Awards ~ presented by Chris Courtright and Joanne Lund
○ Belden Cougar Cafe Award was awarded to Elijah Carone
○ Gary Courtright Award was awarded to Alyson Campbell
○ Dr. Kate Mead Award was awarded to Abigail Marciniec
○ John A. Bertolini Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ivy McNiel
○ Haddam Scholarship Fund grants were awarded to Alyson Campbell, Layla Hayward and Ivy McNiel
● HK Hall of Fame Student Civic Achievement Award were awarded to Abigail Marciniec, Catharine Therrien and Samantha Pach ~ presented by Elaine Jackson
● Joseph Parmelee Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Emma Green ~ presented by Gail Parmelee, Melissa Steinhilper and Jonathan Grasso
● Killingworth Lions Club Service Achievement Awards were awarded to Anabelle LaTorre, Leah Walton and Blake Kamoen ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Henry Hollister Robinson Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ivy McNiel ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Haddam Club 60 Scholarship was awarded to Layla Hayward ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Purdy Family Technology Education/Engineering Scholarship was awarded to Nathan Natanzon ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Advance Designee three-year National Army ROTC Scholarship that will cover the full cost of tuition at Lafayette College for Sophomore, Junior and Senior years, along with the March and Decker Scholarship that will cover room and board for the same period was awarded to Cooper Pitts ~ presented by Donna Hayward
● Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Scholarship that is awarded through a highly competitive national selection process and provides full tuition for all four years to the student’s college of choice, in this case Drexel University, was awarded to Andres Montes ~ presented by Captain Benjamin Wallace and Sergeant Ricardo Sanchez
HKHS Citizen of the Year
Haddam Killingworth High School is proud to announce that the recipient of the 2024 Citizen of the Year award is Cindy Pitts.
Cindy has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to our school and community through various leadership roles and volunteer efforts for many years. Cindy has coached Eagle Scout candidates, helping them identify acceptable projects, guiding them through project proposals, the planning process, and then summarizing their work.
This work ultimately culminates with the Eagle Board of Review, and helps students attain the rank of Eagle Scout. She has also created a Leader’s Guide for other scout coaches to utilize, detailing the steps, actions, and processes they should use in their role.
Additionally, Cindy has served as our most recent Touchdown Club President. During her tenure, she has utilized her organizational development skills to redefine the club’s mission. Cindy created an operational guide for all events, board positions, home games, volunteer roles, game scripts, fundraising, and more. Her efforts have increased volunteer participation and community
involvement.
Cindy has worked with our local Relay for Life, directing the planning committee’s efforts. She oversaw committee recruitment, tasks, and timelines for the 24-hour event. Now as the co-chair for Project Graduation, Cindy spearheads the coordination of fundraising, entertainment, publicity, gifts, food, and chaperones for our post-graduation party, ensuring a memorable and safe
celebration for both our community and graduates. Cindy has also volunteered as a therapy dog handler and has been a guest speaker at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Cindy is the ultimate HK supporter. She cheers on all of our programs and is always willing to lend a hand. We are incredibly grateful for everything she has done to support our school family and proudly name Cindy Pitts the HKHS 2024 Citizen of the Year!
