Past Recipients

2009 Scholarship Recipients a total of twenty-two very deserving students were awarded $63,000. We'd like to share these great kids stories with you.

	DANIELLE ALPERT Newtown, CT Western Connecticut State University Danielle has been a recipient of Susan Fund scholarships throughout her undergraduate and graduate career. She will be completing her Master of Fine Arts Degree this year. She describes art as her passion. Danielle’s career goals include illustrating paperback novel book covers and teaching on the college level. She is a teaching assistant for an advanced drawing class at WestConn.		JACKSON CONNOR Fairfield, CT Northeastern University Jackson is a first-time Susan Fund scholarship recipient. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 shortly after entering his freshman year and had to leave Northeastern to undergo extensive treatment. During this time, he began writing – first to a singer fighting leukemia and then a 4, 000 word essay about cancer. Jackson is now in good health and has returned to Northeastern where he is enrolled in their 5 year journalism program. His hope is that his writing will inspire others who are coping with cancer.
	LAUREN BUSSER Newtown, CT Sarah Lawrence College Lauren is a first-time Susan Fund scholarship recipient. She is entering her sophomore year at Sarah Lawrence and is interested in forensic science. For her first year studies seminar Lauren did research on the history and development of the Israeli Intelligence apparatus. Her instructor described her as a highly disciplined and resourceful human being who will make a difference in whatever she does.		MARISA DABICE Westport, CT University of Colorado, Boulder Marisa will be receiving her BA in International Affairs in December and is a four-time scholarship recipient. As part of her education, Marisa had the opportunity to study and work in Seville, Spain with the Council on International Education Exchange. She has become fluent in Spanish and developed a connection to the Spanish culture. After graduation, Marisa is planning to travel to Latin America and possibly work there as a member of the Peace Corps.
	DAMIEN CAMPBELL Bridgeport, CT Housatonic Community College Damien is an ambitious person who is determined to earn his college degree in Business.He is entering his second year at Housatonic and is a returning Susan Fund recipient. Damien is employed as a caddy at a local country club and works for a moving company. In his limited free time he enjoys cooking and playing video games. Damien is a soft-spoken, courageous human being who has survived the many challenges life has thrown his way.		CHRISTINA ERCOLE Newtown, CT Fairfield University During this past year Christina has discovered her passion for psychology. She has transferred to Fairfield University where she plans on getting a BA in Psychology and going on to graduate school. Christina would like to work with children and teens who have had cancer, helping them adjust to school and to their lives once they have completed their treatments. She is a four-time Susan Fund Scholarship recipient.
	JOSEPH CARUSO Trumbull, CT Roger Williams University Joe is a graduate of Trumbull High School and a first-time Susan Fund Recipient. He plans to major in Business and receive both a BA and MA. Joe received the “Attitude is Everything” award from the first selectman of Trumbull in recognition of the way he coped with Leukemia when he was 13 years old. Joe reflected that the most important lesson he has learned is that the love and support of family and friends is the most powerful medication of all.		ANDREW FEDOR Norwalk, CT Southern Connecticut State University Andrew is a three-time Susan Fund recipient. He is majoring in Anthropology and History and hopes to pursue a career at a museum or historical site in the future. A recent trip to Colorado on an anthropology trip cemented Andrew’s interest in the field. He is also enthusiastic about skateboarding and works at the skate park in Norwalk. He has been described as a person who brings positive energy into his studies, work and life.
	MARC FRIEDMAN Monroe, CT Marist College Marc is a first-time Susan Fund recipient and a recent graduate of Masuk High School. He is described as being an enthusiastic and excellent student. Marc will be exploring a major in Business at college and would like to pursue a career in marketing and advertising. He enjoys running track, playing frisbee, football and the guitar. Last summer he worked at a summer camp with third and fourth graders.		BRANDON HELD Monroe, CT UCONN Brandon, a returning recipient, will be a junior at the University of Connecticut where he continues studying to be an accountant. He is an active member in his fraternity and serves as its treasurer. Last year, he helped organize a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society. Brandon worked at the UConn Pharmacy-Biology library during the school year and at a local business during the summer.
	BRIDGET FROSINA Norwalk, CT The University of Connecticut Bridget, a second-time Susan Fund recipient, is a sophomore and has transferred to UCONN’s Storrs campus this fall. She is proud of the fact that she made Dean’s List with a 3.7 GPA. Bridget is majoring in Human Development and Elementary Education; her goal is to be a teacher. This past summer she worked at a clothing store.		DANIEL LADENHEIM Wilton, CT Carnegie Mellon University Daniel is a two-time Susan Fund recipient who was a course assistant for a computer class at Carnegie Mellon University. He has attained a 3.54 GPA and has been on Dean’s List Honors twice. Daniel’s career goal is to be a software developer. He was excited about his summer job working full time on website design. Daniel was described as being a “promising young adult who has the potential to be a leader in his field.”
	ERIC GOLDSCHMIDT Westport, CT Maryland Institute College of Art Eric is a three-time Susan Fund recipient and a talented artist. His education has enabled him to expand his horizons to include video, graphic design and creative writing. However, photography remains his passion and he would like to pursue a career in which photography is involved. Eric experienced a reoccurrence of his cancer this winter but remained in school. Despite his difficulties, he is upbeat and maintains his great sense of humor.		DAVID LAZARIUK Monroe, CT Western Connecticut State University David is a four-time Susan Fund recipient who will graduate next year from WESTCONN. He plans to pursue a career in law enforcement, possibly in Fairfield County. David is a certified Medical Response Technician as well as a certified ambulance driver; he works between 18 and 24 hours with Monroe Volunteer Medical Services. David has been described as possessing a high degree of leadership, motivation and initiative.
	HARRISON GRINNELL Old Greenwich, CT SUNY Purchase College Harrison, a third-year Susan Fund recipient, attends Purchase College where he is on the tennis team. His coach has described him as being the hardest worker on the team. This summer he worked teaching tennis. Harrison is majoring in New Media and will obtain a certificate in Arts Management. In his free time, Harrison works on a campus TV show. He recently organized a film festival in upstate New York.		SHANE McCARTHY Newtown, CT American University Shane, a third-year Susan Fund scholarship recipient, is attending American University where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies. He continues to carry a heavy course load and is a Dean’s List scholar. Upon graduation, Shane hopes to stay in Washington and work either for the government or a non-profit organization. He treasures the fact that he was present at the inauguration of President Obama.
	BRIAN MORAIS Shelton, CT Sacred Heart University Brian is a recent graduate of Shelton High School and is a first-time Susan Fund recipient. He is attending Sacred Heart University and hopes to become a Hematology Oncology doctor. He is a certified EMT. This will provide him with invaluable knowledge and experience which he can apply to his pre-med studies. Brian has been described as possessing excellent character, maturity of judgment and determination to succeed.		MARTHA STOUT Southport, CT Emerson College Martha is a first-time Susan Fund recipient and a recent graduate of Greens Farms Academy. She is a freshman at Emerson College majoring in theater. Eventually, Martha would like to establish her own theater company. She has had experience in theatre working at the Westport Country Playhouse as an apprentice. In addition, she is an active volunteer for Builders Beyond Borders and has traveled to help build a school in Guatemala and an aqueduct in a remote town in the Dominican Republic.
	GREGORY MORO Brookeld, CT University of Massachusetts-Amherst This is Greg’s fourth Susan Fund scholarship. He is in his senior year and will graduate with a major in Economics and a minor in Marketing. He would like to own his own business either in marketing or advertising. This past summer, Greg worked on campus at a hotel catering hall. In his spare time, Greg enjoys snowboarding and club lacrosse.		JACQUELINE WALTER Old Greenwich, CT University of Vermont Jacqueline will be in her third year at the University of Vermont where she is majoring in Early Childhood Education. She is especially interested in working with autistic children. This summer she was a camp counselor. Jackie continues to be an active member of Hillel on the UVM campus working to prepare Friday night dinners and celebrations. She also served as the organizer of the Relay for Life Hillel team.
	ELENA SOAVE Stamford, CT St. John’s University This is Elena’s sixth Susan Fund scholarship. In 2010, she will be graduating with a six-year pharmaceutical degree from St. John’s University. Her goal “is to reinvent the pharmacy field or at least the way I practice it.” She is currently working at Greenwich Hospital on rotation. Elena reflected, “How could I not be drawn to a field in which I work with doctors who saved my life.”		JAMES ZARIFIS Newtown, CT Southern Connecticut State University Jimmy is a first-time Susan Fund scholarship recipient and a recent graduate of Newtown High School. He will be a freshman at Southern Connecticut State University where he wants to study Exercise Science. He hopes to own and run his own fitness and physical therapy center. Jimmy has been manager of his high school baseball team and class president for two consecutive years. He has been described as possessing a strong work ethic, determination and a wonderful nature.