44 outstanding students from across CT were awarded a total of $44,000 in scholarships this year. The scholarships were presented during the July 19th CAR Board of Directors meeting.

Kelsey Braaten recently graduated from Ridgefield High School. She will attend Purdue University where she plans to major in Pre-Veterinary Science. In her junior year, Kelsey was accepted into the National Honor Society where she developed her love of charity work and helping others. Kelsey is the daughter of Richard & Diane Braaten. Diane is a REALTOR® at Keller Williams Realty and a member of the Ridgefield Board.

Cameron Brown recently graduated from Branford High School. He will attend the College of Charleston where he plans to major in Physical Education and Health with a minor in Science Education. Chosen as both the varsity soccer and sailing teams' Captain, Cameron has learned to lead and teach others with confidence and skill. Cameron is the son of Peter & Susan Brown. Peter is a REALTOR® at H. Pearce Real Estate Company and a member of the Greater New Haven Association.

Kristen Cardarelli recently graduated from Daniel Hand High School. She will attend the University of New Hampshire where she plans to major in Elementary Education. Kristen would like to specialize in this field, focusing on children with hearing and speech impairments. Having grown up with a hearing impairment, she can relate to the challenges it puts on a child in the classroom and would like the opportunity to make a difference in their education. Kristen is the daughter of Steve & Jane Cardarelli. Jane is a REALTOR® at William Raveis Real Estate and a member of the Midd-Shore Association.

Christian Cavaliere recently graduated from Stamford High School. He will attend Marist College where he plans to major in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. Recently, Christian won the prestigious Hobey Baker Character Award in recognition of his exemplary character, sportsmanship, academic and scholastic achievements. He is the son of Louis Cavaliere & Debra Rende-Cavaliere. Debra is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a member of the Stamford Board.

Kyle Cloutier is a sophomore at the University of Maryland College Park where she is majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Astronomy. She's interested in pursuing a career with an aerospace company using her talents to assist in developing new launch vehicles that are both economical and capable of delivering personnel and supplies to near-Earth orbit and beyond. Kyle is a frequent volunteer for her school's Women in Engineering outreach programs. She is the daughter of William & Maureen Cloutier. Maureen is a REALTOR® at Prudential CT Realty and a member of the Greater New Milford Board.

Matthew Consalvo recently graduated from Brookfield High School. He will attend the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston College where he is planning on doing a double major in Political Science with a focus on International Relations and Communications with a focus on Public Relations. His guidance counselor writes "Matt's motivation to succeed academically is evidenced in his being Student Council President and Captain of the football team, both while maintaining his current 4.2 GPA." Matthew is the son of Joseph & Karen Consalvo. Karen is a REALTOR® at ERA Goodfellow Homes and a member of the Northern Fairfield County Association.

Joseph Cusano recently graduated from Avon Old Farms School. He will attend Georgetown University where he wants to double major in Biology and Hispanic Studies with a minor in History and concentration in Pre-Med. Joseph attained "Headmaster's List" (GPA of 3.8 or higher) all four years of high school while being deeply involved school and community activities. Last year he earned the Trinity Book Award in recognition of his academic achievement and his service to the community. Joseph is the son of Robert & Maria Cusano. Robert is the Designated REALTOR® of Cusano Real Estate and a member of the Tri-County Board.

Emily Damon recently graduated from Ridgefield High School. She will attend Skidmore College where she plans to have a dual major of Economics and Environmental Science. As a member of her high school's Federal Reserve Challenge, her team competed against 80 teams during a competition at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, and ultimately came in third place! Emily is the daughter of James Damon & Kathleen Richards. Kathleen is a REALTOR® at Prudential CT Realty and a member of the Ridgefield Board.

Moria Desmarais recently graduated from Pomperaug High School. She will attend the University of Connecticut where she will major in Biology. Moria won the "Staff to Staff Excellence Recognition Award" as a junior volunteer at St. Mary's Hospital last August. It was at St. Mary's that she began believing that her dream of becoming an emergency room physician could become a reality. Moria is the daughter of Robert & Jacqueline Desmarais. Jacqueline is a REALTOR® at Bannon & Hebert Properties and a member of the Greater Waterbury Board.

Jason DiPietro recently graduated from Valley Regional High School. He will attend Wentworth Institute of Technology where he plans on majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology. In addition to a challenging academic schedule, Jason has a strong sense of civic duty and has logged hundreds of volunteer hours in the community. Jason is the son of Joseph & Carolyn DiPietro. Carolyn is a REALTOR® at Prudential CT Realty and a member of the Midd-Shore Association.

James Fayal is in his senior year at the University of Maryland College Park where he is majoring in Finance. Last year, James was one of only 11 undergraduate students chosen out of 100 applicants to participate with MBA students in a highly selective Private Equity & Venture Capital course. His professor writes "He demonstrated an intellectual level commensurate with the MBA candidates and excelled at analyzing venture investments in a portfolio totaling over $65 million." James is the son of James Fayal & Anne Haag. Anne is a REALTOR® at RE/MAX Coast & Country and a member of the Eastern CT Association.

Michael France recently graduated from Wolcott High School. He will attend the University of Connecticut Academic Center for Exploratory Students as a Pre-Pharmacy major. In school and in the community, Michael leads by example. He has a strong work ethic and always looks to see how he can make life better for people around him. Michael is the son of Stuart France & Linda Lambert. Linda is a REALTOR® at Fercodini Properties and a member of the Greater Waterbury Board.

Maxwell Freccia is a sophomore at Tufts University where he is majoring in Economics with a possible double major in Spanish and minor in Entrepreneurial Leadership. Currently Maxwell has a cumulative 3.88 GPA after taking a demanding freshman class load. A college professor writes that "He's unfazed by the countless challenges of freshman year, demonstrating the self-confidence one would expect of a student much later in his college career." Maxwell is the son of Vincent & Missy Freccia. Missy is a REALTOR® at The Real Estate Information Center and a member of the Stamford Board.

Catherine Grasso is a sophomore at Stonehill College where she is majoring in English with a possible Spanish or Communications minor. In addition to a rigorous academic schedule, she is the supervisor at the campus sports complex and is involved in both the English and Creative Writing Clubs. Catherine is the daughter of Ralph & Mary Beth Grasso. Mary Beth is a REALTOR® at Keller Williams Realty Trumbull and a member of the Greater Fairfield Board.

Katelin Grieco is a junior at Saint Joseph's University where she is majoring in International Business with a minor in Italian. While at Saint Joseph's, Katelin has achieved Dean's List three semesters and has been inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Not only does Katelin excel academically, but her extracurricular activity includes being elected an All-Star and team officer in field hockey. Katelin is the daughter of Mark & Becky Grieco. Becky is a REALTOR® at Prudential Premier Homes and a member of the Litchfield County Board.

Abigail Hahn recently graduated from Ridgefield High School. She will attend Colgate University where she plans to major in Environmental Economics. Abigail has been an active member and officer of Ridgefield's National Charity League dedicating over 200 hours to this group. In addition, she is actively involved in several other community organizations, is an exceptional dancer and a member of the National Honor Society. Abigail is the daughter of William & Sally Hahn. Sally is a REALTOR® at William Pitt Sotheby's International and a member of the Ridgefield Board.

Bridget Hegarty is a junior at Cornell University where she is majoring in Environmental Engineering. As a member of the Society of Women Engineers, she has volunteered at countless activities including acting as Chair for two Girl Scout Days. Her involvement allows Bridget to apply knowledge that she's gained in the classroom, as well as excite others about engineering and science in general. Also noteworthy, Bridget received a perfect SAT score in Critical Reading. She is the daughter of Jim & Donna Hegarty. Jim is a REALTOR® at Hegarty & Company Real Estate and a member of the Northern Fairfield County Association.

Jake Hennessy recently graduated from New Canaan High School. He will attend the University of Miami where he plans to double major in Mathematics and Secondary Education. Taking predominately Honors and AP classes, he is no stranger to academic challenges. Jake excels in just about everything and even got a perfect SAT score in math! Jake is the son of James & Janis Hennessy. Janis is a REALTOR® at Brotherhood & Higley and a member of the New Canaan Board.

Christopher Hunter recently graduated from Newtown High School. He will attend Columbia University where he plans to study Music Theory and Composition. A National Honor Society members since his junior year, Christopher excelled in his coursework consisting of all AP and Honors classes. His passion, however, is music which has been clearly demonstrated through the opening of his own music studio (as a sophomore in high school) and his numerous credits as a singer, accompanist, ensemble member and music teacher. Christopher is the son of Brian & Maureen Hunter. Brian is a REALTOR® at Home Hunters CT Realty and a member of the Newtown Board.

Emily Kessler recently graduated from The Ethel Walker School. She will attend Muhlenberg College where she will be taking a variety of classes in the next few years to determine her major. Displaying the ideal mixture of academic excellence and school/community involvement, Emily's enthusiastic approach to every aspect of her life is evident. Emily played a sport every season in high school and was Captain of both varsity soccer and varsity basketball. She's an active member of several campus clubs and attained High Honors during every marking period. Emily is the daughter of Raymond & Linda Kessler. Linda is a REALTOR® at William Raveis Real Estate and a member of the Greater Hartford Association.

Cecillia Lee recently graduated from Darien High School. She will attend Cornell University where she plans to pursue her interest in medicine within their College of Human Ecology with a major of Human Biology, Health and Society. Cecillia is a certified EMT and member of Post 53, her school's student run ambulance first responder group. In addition, she has a distinguished academic record and is a first chair violist in the orchestra. Cecillia is the daughter of David & Sue Lee. David is a REALTOR® at RealtyQuest and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Michael Louie recently graduated from Brien McMahon High School. He will attend the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences where he plans to major in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Past President of the National Honor Society, leadership is Michael's middle name. His goal is to be a leader in researching alternative fuels. Outside of academics, Michael is Section Leader in both marching band & jazz band. Michael is the son of Paul & Katie Louie. Paul is a REALTOR® at Prudential CT Realty and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Megan Mabee is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut where she is majoring in Pre-teaching. Her professor writes "Megan has already demonstrated enormous commitment to working with children, as a classroom aide, childcare provider, Big Sister, and much more. Her impressive academic record speaks to her strong work ethic and academic ability, and her record of public service and community involvement is remarkable." Megan is the daughter of Michael & Leigh Mabee. Leigh is a REALTOR® at Connie Murawski REALTORS® and a member of the Greater Bridgeport Board.

Danielle Marshak is a junior at Brown University where she is majoring in Applied Mathematics & Economics. At Brown, she is Finance Director of their daily newspaper with the task of organizing and improving their books. Her advisor is in awe of her ability to plan and says "she should teach courses to professionals on time management!" Danielle also achieved perfect 800 SAT scores in both writing and critical reading. She is the daughter of Craig Marshak & Lynn Walkoff. Lynn is a REALTOR® at William Pitt Sotheby's International and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Bryan Murphy recently graduated from Wilton High School. He will attend Northwestern University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences where he plans to study Engineering. No only did Bryan receive a perfect SAT score in Math, he attended the highly selective Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics program. One of only 40 students nationwide to be invited, he was encouraged to think creatively, appreciate the beauty of mathematics and discover new concepts. Bryan is the son of Jim & Gail Murphy. Gail is a REALTOR® at Higgins Group and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Kristin Musser is a sophomore at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University where she is majoring in Illustration and Graphic Design. As an accomplished artist, Kristin often uses her talents to help the community. She has designed pins sold at a fundraiser for Haiti and ceramic bowls sold as a fundraiser at local soup kitchens. Between classes and work, she continues to find many different outlets to volunteer including giving food to the homeless, raising money for AIDS charities and assisting students with special needs. Kristin is the daughter of Vance & the late Kathleen Musser. Her Aunt, Delaine Trahan, is her legal guardian. Delaine is a REALTOR® at Browning & Browning Real Estate and a member of the Eastern CT Association.

Shana Namm recently graduated from Brien McMahon High School. She will attend Brandeis University where she plans to major in Psychology with a minor in French. A member of buildOn, a service organization working to enhance education and empower youth to make a positive difference in their communities, Shana has logged hundreds of volunteer hours raising money to help build schools in underdeveloped countries. A past member of buildOn's Youth Advisory Council, Shana hopes to continue to shape buildOn's success in the region while at Brandeis. Shana is the daughter of Mark Namm & Wendy Engel. Mark is a REALTOR® at Prudential CT Realty and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Taylor Noel recently graduated from Robert E. Fitch High School. She will attend Northeastern University where she plans to major in Industrial Engineering. Her advisor considers Taylor to be the "total package". "She's a phenomenal student, great athlete and has a dynamic and respectful personality/character. She is by far one of my top students on many different levels." Taylor is the daughter of Michael Noel & Joni Harper. Joni is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a member of the Eastern CT Association.

Karyna Perez recently graduated from Shelton High School. She will attend the University of Connecticut where she plans to pursue Chemistry as a major with a focus on Engineering or Research. In an effort to help save her favorite extracurricular program, color guard, Karyna coordinated a summer camp to increase interest in the activity. This was a huge success and even began coaching several girls after school in an effort to build a strong foundation for the activity's future. Karyna is the daughter of Antonio & Camille Perez. Camille is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Frascatore and a member of the Valley Association.

Michael Perugini recently graduated from The Taft School. He will attend Yale where he will study Economics, Political Science and Computer Science with a dual major in two of the three. Valedictorian of his class, Michael is no stranger to academic excellence. Not only did he achieve a perfect SAT score in writing, he's also a National AP Scholar. Most impressive, Michael's GPA is the highest on record at his school for the last 13 years. Michael is the son of Michael Perugini Sr. & Kimberly Gamble-Perugini. Kimberly is a REALTOR® at Showcase Realty and a member of the Greater Waterbury Board.

Elizabeth Poeltl recently graduated from Newtown High School. She will attend Iona College where she plans to major in Psychology. Not only does Elizabeth have a strong academic record earning high honors every marking period, she was also Captain of the varsity swim & dive team. Over the last several years, Elizabeth has sought ways to assist those in need by fundraising for AIDS awareness, giving free swimming lessons and helping other students with difficult situations through her school's peer Guidance Honors Association. Elizabeth is the daughter of John Poeltl & Bobbie Poeltl Abagnale. Bobbie is a REALTOR® at Halstead Property and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Samantha Rehr recently graduated from Weston High School. She will attend the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance where she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts within their acting program. Her counselor writes she "has developed into a talented musician, accomplished artist and awe inspiring actress. She has a true appreciation for fine literature, an extensive art portfolio and confidence in expressing herself artistically (in both visual and performing arts)." Samantha is the daughter of Lawrence & Deborah Rehr. Deborah is a REALTOR® at Camelot Real Estate and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Michael Rinaldi recently graduated from Ridgefield High School. He will attend Northeastern University, College of Business Administration where he plans to double major in Accounting and Finance. Michael is a natural leader and served as the state Future Business Leaders of America Vice-President. A well-rounded individual, he is a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the varsity hockey team, has a part-time job and even writes weekly articles for the sport section of the local paper. Michael is the son of Stephen Rinaldi & Annmarie Del Franco. Annmarie is a REALTOR® at Prudential CT Realty and a member of the Ridgefield Board.

Lauren Salvatore recently graduated from Brookfield High School. She will attend the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources where she plans to study Food Science and Technology. A foodie at a young age, Lauren's goal is to learn about the foods we eat and about the role food plays in different cultures. Lauren is the daughter of Pasquale & RuthAnne Salvatore. RuthAnne is a REALTOR® at ERA Goodfellow Homes and a member of the Northern Fairfield County Association.

Monica Seguro recently graduated from East Catholic High School. She will attend the University of Hartford Barney School of Business where she plans to major in Marketing. Her motto is "Enjoy life, be happy." This holds true for everything Monica does from being a Student Ambassador to volunteering at parish retreats. As a Portuguese folk dancer, Monica is able to spread her motto of happiness to different communities throughout the state. Monica is the daughter of Lucio & Susan Seguro. Susan is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a member of the Greater Hartford Association.

Richard Senft is in his senior year at Rochester Institute of Technology where he is majoring in Game Design and Development. Facebook is a big part of his education and work. In addition to receiving a summer scholarship for work in a Facebook environmental awareness game, he was part of a top-contender group for the Hidden Agenda contest - where they created educational Facebook games. From there, Richard was offered a summer job with the makers of Facebook's Farmville. After graduation he plans on becoming a lead programmer to a triple-A title project. Richard is the son of Richard & Vivian Senft. Vivian is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a member of the Midd-Shore Association.

Brandon Sherrod recently graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall. He will attend Yale where he plans to major in Political Science. He has been on several state basketball championship teams and won several Player of the Year & MVP awards. In his "spare" time, Brandon is a mentor and volunteers at his local food pantry. His counselor writes that Brandon is much more than a star athlete. He's "an enthusiastic scholar, dedicated thespian and impressive baritone singer." Brandon is the son of Ricky & Cassandra Sherrod. Ricky is a REALTOR® at Keller Williams and a member of the Greater Bridgeport Board.

Alissa Silber recently graduated from Newtown High School. She will attend Western Connecticut State University where she plans to major in Professional Writing. Alissa is the founder and President of her school's Animal Concerns Club where she uses her compassion for animals to lead a team of students to help many of the local animal organizations. They've helped find lost cats, donated hundreds of pounds of dog and cat food and even helped feed the birds during harsh winter months. Alissa is the daughter of Dave & Lorrie Silber. Lorrie is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and a member of the Newtown Board.

Devin Skolnick recently graduated from Staples High School. She will attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she plans to pursue a degree in Family, Consumer and Community Education. Staples High School newspaper, Inklings, where Devin was the Editor-in-Chief, gained national recognition this past year by winning the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's Gold Crown Award! Accepted into the prestigious Yale Daily News Summer Journalism program, last summer Devin honed her skills during this week-long intensive course study. Devin is the daughter of David & Linda Skolnick. Linda is a REALTOR® at Prudential CT Realty and a member of the Mid-Fairfield County Association.

Joseph Testa recently graduated from Cheshire High School. He will attend the College of The Holy Cross where he plans to study Pre-Med with a major in Biology. Joseph was "town manager" in the YMCA Youth & Government program. Receiving academic high honors all semesters, Joseph successfully balanced a rigorous class schedule, volunteer commitments and multi-season sport teams. He played varsity volleyball, was Captain of varsity soccer, and was even recognized as a Record Journal Scholar Athlete. Joseph is the son of Joseph & Ione Testa. Ione is a REALTOR® at Sally Bowman Real Estate and a member of the Greater New Haven Association.

Laura Tibbetts recently graduated from Darien High School. She will attend Principia College and currently has an undecided major. As a sophomore, Laura was inducted into the French Honors Society and the following year into the National Honor Society. She does a yearly fundraiser, a Haunted House, which benefits Unicef and is highly anticipated and a huge success. On top of this, Laura hasn't missed a day of school since fourth grade - when she only missed one day! Laura is the daughter of John and Caroline Tibbetts. John is the Designated REALTOR® of Connecticut Waterfront Properties and a member of the Darien Board.

Lara Tiramani recently graduated from Greenwich High School. She will attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she plans to pursue courses in Biology. She balanced a challenging course schedule with an even more demanding extracurricular calendar, including about 14 hours a week doing crew. She was the Crew Captain and lead the team to a national competition. Her many achievements include induction into the National Honor Society, the United States Achievement Academy and winning the American Sign Language Foreign Language award Lara is the daughter of Fiona Tiramani. Fiona is a REALTOR® at William Raveis Real Estate and a member of the Greenwich Association.

Laura Wagner is finishing up her final year at the University of Connecticut where she is majoring in Biology. This semester, Laura is taking part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a "Semester At Sea". She'll travel by boat to fourteen countries taking part in service projects at each port. After graduation, she plans to work as a medical researcher in a laboratory setting and then enroll in a science graduate program. Laura is the daughter of John & Debra Wagner. Debra is a REALTOR® at Neumann Real Estate and a member of the Ridgefield Board.

Nicole Yetke recently graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall. She will attend Boston University's College of General Studies where she plans to study Psychology or Sociology. Nicole has developed a passion for doing service work and has traveled several times to Mexico to work with children at an orphanage. They make structural improvements to the facility as well as distribute food to remote locations. She's a friend to many of these young children, and their joy in screaming her name is something she'll never forget. Nicole is the daughter of Lorraine Yetke. Lorraine is a REALTOR® at The Real Estate Gallery of CT and a member of the Greater New Haven Association.