Shelton, CT — The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley proudly awarded nearly $46,000 in scholarships to 20 deserving members during its 2025 Scholarship Awards Night on May 14.
After nearly two decades of leading the Scholarship Committee, longtime Club Director and board member Linda Welch officially passed the baton to Brian Marcucio, fellow board member and Alumni Hall of Fame inductee. Inspired by his time as a Youth of the Year judge, Marcucio stepped into the role with enthusiasm and led the evening with heartfelt energy and inspiration.
Welch’s impact continues to be felt through the Coram Gardens Civic Association Scholarship, the Club’s longest-standing endowment, established 35 years ago in 1991. She and her husband James were instrumental in directing proceeds from the sale of the Coram Gardens Civic Association property to the Boys & Girls Club. To date, the scholarship has contributed nearly $218,000 to the Club’s youth, including $9,400 awarded this year.
Thanks to the generosity of our dedicated donors and endowment partners, these scholarships help our graduating Club kids take the next step toward bright, successful futures. Donors — your support continues to change lives, and we thank you for believing in our youth.
This year’s scholarship support came from a mix of long-standing and new sources, including:
-
Celebrate Shelton Community Impact & Opportunity Scholarship (NEW in 2025)
-
Marcucio Scholarship Fund (NEW in 2025)
-
Jimmy Olayos Jr. Scholarship
-
Fred Dapp Scholarship
-
Juliana Mazza Memorial Scholarship
-
Karen & Twan Bentlage Scholarship Fund
-
Beth Fortin Family Foundation
-
George & Beatrice Ryan Scholarship (via Valley Community Foundation)
-
Raymond P. Lavietes Trust
-
George & Margaret Smith Scholarship
-
Coram Gardens Civic Association Scholarship
2025 Scholarship Recipients:
-
Hailey Overton
-
Veronica Bialczak
-
Gabrielly Ribeiro
-
Leneri Snow
-
Marilyne Gilbert
-
Raisa Karim
-
Samuel Rondon
-
Mikayla Simon
-
Amaryllis Medina
-
Brandon Palmer
-
Brynn Roscoe
-
Evie Montalvo
-
Alicia Curry
-
Emily Vargo
-
Bailey Wheeler
-
Ava Bottone
-
Carly Cipriano
-
Kalie Cipriano
-
Emily Wallace
-
Alleyanna Figueroa
As Marcucio kicked off the scholarship presentations, he quoted the late Jimmy Olayos Jr. — whose legacy continues through his namesake award — and said, “Let’s have a big day!”
To support our scholarship fund or learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, visit bgc-lnv.org/donate.
View the Facebook photo album here.