A longstanding component of the DCA mission is providing college scholarships to Darien High School (DHS) graduates.
Celebrating our 80th year of granting scholarships, the DCA awards at least $50,000 each year. Since its inception, the DCA scholarship program has provided over $2 million in funding to more than 1400 DHS graduates. The DCA is the largest provider of scholarships to DHS graduates — with funding for both new and returning college students — and the only DHS scholarship program offering recipients the opportunity to reapply for all four years of college.
Scholarships are based on both merit and need, and are funded by a wide range of DCA programs – from our Thrift Shop to our Academic Lecture Series to house rentals — and with the support of donations including those of our named scholarship sponsors. Congratulations to all our recipients!
Congratulations to Our 2021 Darien High School Scholarship Winners!
Congratulations to the Darien High School (DHS) Class of 2021 and those who are DCA scholarship awardees. The DCA is proud of the accomplishments of DHS graduates, and pleased to help contribute toward their college education. Scholarships are funded by a wide range of DCA programs – from our DCA Thrift Shop to Academic Lecture Series to house rentals – and with the support of donations including those of our scholarship sponsors listed below.
DHS Class of 2021 Scholarship Winners
| Darien Sport Shop “Mr Z” Scholarship | Sofia Bender | IE University, Madrid Spain |
| DR Bank Scholarship | Isabella Delazerda | CA College of the Arts |
| Emmons Family Scholarship | Charlotte Van Ingen | Virginia Tech |
| Jeff Schlachtenhaufen Scholarship | Valeria Henao | UCONN |
| Nielsen’s Florist Scholarship | Valeria Henao | UCONN |
| Palmer’s Market Scholarship | Isabella Delazerda | CA College of the Arts |
| Patricia Buchanan Scholarship | Madeleine Conte | Merrimack College |
| PJ, Caroline and Phoebe Maglathlin Scholarship | Maximus Racanelli | US Air Force Academy |
| P. van den Broek Scholarship | Grace Martini | Sacred Heart University |
| P. van den Broek Scholarship | Lucy Collins | Coventry University, UK |
| Ring’s End Scholarship | Laura Monsalve | Fordham University |
| Rodriguez Family Scholarship | Charlotte de Weaver | Roanoke College |
| Teddy Gray/Steuert Family Scholarship | Kinga Srednicka | Elon University |
| The Heights at Darien Scholarship | Isabella Wilkinson | St. Lawrence University |
| US Chemicals, A Woman-Owned Business Scholarship | Laura Monsalve | Fordham University |
Current College Students Receiving Continued Scholarship Funding
| Anne C. Cary Scholarship | Heather Grant | Loyola University Maryland |
| Anne C. Cary Scholarship | Michaela Loura | Western New England University |
| Anne C. Cary Scholarship | Julia O’Brien | University of Wisconsin – Madison |
| Anne C. Cary Scholarship | Samantha Wagner | University of Vermont |
| Brendan Shay Scholarship | Ben de Weaver | Sacred Heart University |
| DCA Path to the Future Scholarship | Emma Greco | University of South Florida |
| DCA Path to the Future Scholarship | John Paul Harron | Roger Williams University |
| DCA Path to the Future Scholarship | Nick Giotis | Georgetown University |
| DCA Path to the Future Scholarship | Kareem Kassem | Northeastern University |
| DCA Path to the Future Scholarship | Jacob Won | Savannah College of Art & Design |
| Dr. James V. Joy III Scholarship | Emily Findlan | UCONN |
| Elizabeth and Peter Moley Scholarship | Ken Zheng | Rhode Island School of Design |
| Marie Gallagher Scholarship | E’Sachi Smalls | Boston College |
| Murphy Family Scholarship | Kaitlin Manghirmalani | Bryant University |
| Murphy Family Scholarship | Colleen Cassidy | Boston College |
| Nielsen’s Florist Scholarship | Brielle Racanelli | University of Miami |
| P. van den Broek Scholarship | Justin Jordan | Sacred Heart University |
| P. van den Broek Scholarship | Lilah Grant | Loyola University Maryland |
| P. van den Broek Scholarship | Tyler O’Brien | University of North Carolina – Wilmington |
| Performance Optimal Health Scholarship | Victoria Klarer | University of Rochester |
| Ring’s End Scholarship | Jack Gordon | Gettysburg College |
| Rodriguez Family Scholarship | Olivia Srednicka | Loyola University Maryland |
| Rodriguez Family Scholarship | Christopher Conte | Sacred Heart University |
| Scott and Jane Pelley Scholarship | Amanda Loura | Drexel University |
| US Chemicals, A Woman-Owned Business Scholarship | Kenneth Klarer | UCONN |
| Vogel Family Scholarship | Eilanna Dolan | Gettysburg College |
Click here for the full list of our 2021 DCA Scholarship winners.
Samantha Wagner
DHS Class of 2021 Award
Anne C. Cary Scholarship
University of Vermont
Charlotte de Weaver
DHS Class of 2021 Award
Rodriguez Family Scholarship
Roanoke College
Tyler O’Brien
DHS Class of 2021 Award
University of North Carolina
Wilmington
P. van den Broek Scholarship
Kinga Srednicka
DHS Class of 2021 Award
Teddy Gray/Steuert Family Scholarship
Elon University
Isabella Delazerda
DHS Class of 2021 Award
DR Bank Scholarship
California College of the Arts
Heather Grant
DHS Class of 2021 Award
Anne C. Cary Scholarship
Loyola University Maryland
The Darien Times article “DCA Scholarships Assist with Rising Tuition Costs” provides additional detail on DCA scholarships, and the significant need in our community. To hear what some of our recipients have to say about the impact of a DCA scholarship, please see our Testimonials page.
The scholarship program, including interviews and selection of recipients, is managed by the dedicated volunteers on our Scholarship Committee: Kate Larson (Co-chairman), Susan Vogel (Co-chairman), Kristen Harnisch, Ulla Kremer, Judi Linskey, Elizabeth Moley and Pat van den Broek.
For more information, please contact scholarships@dariendca.org.
Click here to see our DCA Scholarship brochure.
DCA Recognizes Named Scholarship Sponsors
‘Scholarship Stories’ event celebrates 77 years of DCA scholarships
The DCA recently hosted an evening reception thanking the local businesses, families and foundations who sponsor named college scholarships through the DCA.
Our college scholarship program for Darien High School (DHS) graduates is a longstanding philanthropic tradition, now in its 77th year. The DCA is the largest provider of scholarships at DHS. This past spring, the DCA awarded over $60,000 in scholarship grants.
The highlight of the evening was remarks from three past DCA scholarship recipients, representing a range of ages and backgrounds. These speakers included Althea Perley (DHS Class of 2011), Tricia Rogers Prokop (DHS Class of 2001) and Susan Harrington Hamill (DHS Class of 1976). Rogers, who now has her doctorate and teaches at the University of Hartford in their doctoral physical therapy program, said “As a college student, I was grateful for the DCA scholarship. As a professor who is working with graduate students who are academically successful but may be struggling with the costs, I have an even greater appreciation for the support I received.”
Several special guests were recognized during the evening as well, including DHS Principal Ellen Dunn.
Click here to read the full press release about our event.
