Nathan Hale-Ray High School 2026 scholarship recipients

Sarah Evans was awarded the $7,500 East Haddam Scholarship by Patti Stricker.

Nathan Hale-Ray High School has officially released the complete list of recipients for its 2026 scholarship and senior awards. The annual honors celebrate the exceptional academic achievements, artistic talents, athletic excellence, and civic leadership of this year's graduating class.

School administration and faculty extend their deepest gratitude to the local civic organizations, legacy foundations, and individual families whose generous sponsorships make these awards possible. Through their continued investment, the East Haddam community provides vital support for these students as they take their next steps toward future academic and professional goals.

Delila Herold is congratulated by Bob Casner, president of East Haddam News. Herold was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the newspaper during senior awards night June 4.

The 2026 awards and their respective recipients include:

Civic, Town & Community Honors

D.A.R. Good Citizens Award: John McVerry

American Legion Good Citizenship Award: Joshua Ricard

American Legion Aux. #156 Helen Hoffman Scholarship: Isabella Laban

Sons of the American Legion Award: Julia Hallowell & Joshua Ricard

East Haddam Bicentennial Award: Ethan Robinson

East Haddam Republican Town Committee Award: Faith Kalisz

Mary Ellen Klinck - Democratic Town Committee Award: Isabella Laban

Knights of Columbus Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

American Red Cross – Blood Drive Award: Isabella Laban

Altrusa International of Central CT 2026 Senior Award: Faith Kalisz

East Haddam Free and Public Library and Reading Room Scholarship: Colleen Hagerty

East Haddam Historical Society Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

East Haddam News Scholarship: Delila Herold

Anchor Lodge Scholarship: Faith Kalisz & Joshua Ricard

Foundation & Community Organization Scholarships

L. Douglas Nolan Foundation Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

Carl Guild & Associates Scholarship: Isabella Laban

Moodus Sportsmen’s Club Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

East Haddam Land Trust - Anita Ballek Memorial Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

East Haddam Garden Club – Anita Ballek Memorial Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

East Haddam Community Lions Scholarship: Allison Gregory & Joshua Ricard

Memorial & Legacy Scholarships

Benedict E. Novinski, Sr. Memorial Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

The Novinski Brothers World War II Award: Joshua Ricard

Richard A. Gable, Sr. Memorial Scholarship: John McVerry

Winakor/Haslam Memorial Scholarship: John McVerry

Dr. Philip Berwick Scholarship: Elyanna Sorey

Hunter Daniels Memorial Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

Jamie Shugrue Memorial Scholarship: Julia Hallowell

Abbie L. Purple Scholarship: Addison La Marr

Dan Maus, Jr. & Margaret G. Maus Memorial Scholarship: Elyanna Sorey

William & Lillian Berner Memorial Scholarship: Collin Campagna, Colleen Hagerty, & John McVerry

Dr. Isidor & Sylvia Sprecher Scholarship: Allison Gregory

Ashworth Family Scholarship: Elyanna Sorey

Anthony J. Persutti, Sr. Memorial Scholarship: Cole Darrow

Amos Shepard Memorial Scholarship: Joshua Ricard

Alan Kirk Roberts Scholarship: Sara Evans

Shelley Latrell Mosig Memorial Scholarship: Sara Evans

The Connor Meaney Young Memorial Scholarship: Allison Gregory & Joshua Ricard

The Michelle Friel Scholarship: Aubrey O’Connor

The Laura Truncali Corbett Memorial Scholarship: Elyanna Sorey

School, Alumni & Multi-Recipient Foundation Awards

Music Boosters Scholarship: Faith Kalisz

East Haddam Art League: Faith Kalisz

Nathan Hale-Ray Alumni Association Scholarship: Isabella Laban & Joshua Ricard

June K. Thomas Artistic Award (Sponsored by the NHRA Assoc.): Delila Herold & Gianna Royer

Beverly & John Caparco Scholarship: Colby Bryant

LNABC Honor Athlete Awards: Colby Bryant, Sara Evans, Jenna Hochdorfer, Aubrey O’Connor, & Joshua Ricard

LNABC Charles Boynton Memorial Scholarship: Colleen Hagerty, Faith Kalisz, & Elyanna Sorey

East Haddam Scholarships, Inc. Awards

Edgar D. Williams, Sr. Award: Charlotte Hedberg

Everett Herden Memorial Biology Scholarship: Elyanna Sorey

Lillian M. Herden Memorial Scholarship: Lily Jahne

Jack Banner Award: Ethan Robinson

Charley Hnilicka Award: Sara Evans

General Scholarships: Colleen Hagerty, Isabella Laban, Faith Kalisz, & Joshua Ricard

Frederick Ray Awards and Scholarships

Frederick L. Ray Memorial Subject Awards: Charlotte Hedberg, Connor Kittelmann, Anthony LaPila, Aubrey O’Connor and Jayden Posas

Frederick L. Ray Vocational-Technical Two Year Scholarships: Christopher DeLisa

Frederick L. Ray Vocational-Technical Four Year Scholarships: Colleen Hagerty (Recipient 1), Joshua Ricard (Recipient 2)

Lions Club & Memorial Subject Standards

East Haddam Lions Club Subject Awards: Londyn DiPasquale, Nora Howley, Colleen Hagerty, Isabella Laban, Ethan Robinson, Faith Kalisz, Joshua Ricard, Sara Evans, & Dylan Miller

East Haddam Lions Club Educational Grants: Colleen Hagerty, Isabella Laban, Sara Evans, Faith Kalisz, & Addison La Marr

East Haddam Lions Club Fred Gagnon Scholarship: Allison Gregory