Meet our 2024-25 Founder’s Fellows

In the 2024-25 school year, ten 8th grade KSF scholars were nominated by their school principals. From this impressive group of students, the Founder’s Fellows Committee selected five finalists to receive fellowship awards that are applied directly toward their 9th grade tuition at the high school of the family’s choice.

Top Winner: Isabella
Christian Heritage School, Trumbull

“Izzy is a wonderful young woman,” principal Karl Simon says. “Energetic, caring, humorous, and considerate of all.” As a “high-honors student,” Isabella is “absolutely superb in the classroom.” Mr. Simon says that Isabella “is a worker. . . . She is the motor behind the scenes” who “wants to win as a team.”

“With my KSF scholarship, I was able to attend Christian Heritage School from kindergarten until now, 8th grade. This scholarship has helped me stay in a community with friends and teachers who have helped me become who I am today. . . . With the help of this KSF scholarship, I became a responsible student athlete, with a heightened desire to grow in faith and pursue the next 4 years in a high school that provides academic excellence.”

First Runner Up: Ella
Catholic Academy of Waterbury, Waterbury

“Ella is the most gracious young lady,” shared Principal Christa Chodkowski. “She greets all peers and adults with a smile and offers her help to everyone around her, including our little ones in the school.”

Ella shared that her KSF scholarship will help her continue to work toward her goals of becoming “an architect, landlord and interior designer, and maybe a professional basketball player. I will use the skills and lessons learned as a KSF Scholar to achieve my goals by studying very hard and making sure I succeed academically.”

Runner Up: Bryan
St. Theresa School, Trumbull

Principal Barbara Logsdail said that Bryan “is a strong student” who “has a kind, joyful nature that always stays calm and helpful.”

Bryan shared that “the KSF Scholarship has helped me work harder, to always get good grades, and to always give my best effort to prepare me for my future in high school and college.” Bryan’s goals “are to continue going to a good Catholic school and learning life skills . . . to help me with my future and help me find a profession where I can help many other people.”

Runner Up: Erica
St. Theresa School, Trumbull

Principal Barbara Logsdail shared that Erica has excellent grades, “is an unwavering sister and friend,” and “is a true team player and always strives to be better.”

Erica said that her KSF scholarship helps her “continue to do well and focus on my grades.” Erica’s plans for the future are “to get into a good school so that I can receive a good education and get a good job, become closer to God, and to make my parents proud in life.”

Runner Up: Akiva
Yeshiva K’tana of Waterbury, Waterbury

Principal Rabbi Yehuda Brecher shared, “Akiva is always very forgiving to anyone who has wronged him, he is always offering a helping hand to a fellow friend in need, volunteering his time to local causes, offering kind words of encouragement to someone going through a tough time, and overlooking someone’s mistakes without holding a grudge; essentially, Akiva is always showing kindness and compassion even when it isn’t expected or ‘owed’ to someone.”

Akiva said that “the Kids’ Scholarship Fund helped me . . . become successful in my studies because without it I would have a hard time attending my school, which has teachers that motivated me to learn and progress in my studies.” In high school, Akiva plans “to tutor younger kids, to help them reach their goals and excel in their studying.” Akiva plans “to give back to the community by joining the medical industry and helping children.”