At its 35th reunion this year, New Canaan High School’s Class of ‘77 raised an impressive $6,500 for the NCHS Scholarship Foundation. The gift was presented on Monday, December 17, to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation by Cam Hutchins, NCHS '77 Reunion Committee’s Scholarship Fund Chair, and Erin Babrowicz, NCHS ’77 Reunion Committee Co-Chair.
Since 1967, the NCHS Scholarship Foundation has provided financial aid for NCHS graduates pursuing higher education. Last year, the Foundation distributed over $205,000 in the form of 81 need-based scholarships. Awards range from $500 to $10,000 based on financial need, with an average distribution last year of $2,533 per student.
“Every time we hold a reunion,” explained Hutchins, “we also ask our classmates to make a donation to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation in memory of our classmates who have passed away since graduation. It can help make a difference for current NCHS students, and it's a great way to remember our classmates who are no longer with us. We remember them all so vividly in the hallways, classrooms, and playing fields at New Canaan High, and it seems like a fitting way to help NCHS students today.”
This year’s reunion gift honors the memory of the following members of the Class of ’77: Stephanie Barnum, Kevin Cogswell, Rob Drinkwater, Luke Durber, Scott Hamilton, Hyatt Hunter, Bill Jayne, Ned Pickering, Reta Robbs, John Shepard, Bill Thurber, JV Vance, Glenn Varga, Darrell Washington, Eric Watson, and Lynn Whittenberg.
Each year, the NCHS Scholarship Foundation raises approximately two-thirds of its scholarship funds from local businesses, organizations and groups like the Class of ‘77. “This year's donation is our biggest yet,” continued Hutchins. “We hope all other NCHS classes will try this same approach whenever they have reunions, because that means the NCHS Scholarship Foundation will always get some needed funding from active alumni.”
Can other reunion classes top the gift from the Class of ‘77? The NCHS Scholarship Foundation would like them to try, and welcomes contributions at any time. Donations may be sent by mail to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation, New Canaan High School, 11 Farm Road, New Canaan, CT 06840, or made online at http://www.nchsscholarship.org. Checks should be made out to “NCHS Scholarship Foundation.”
