Power of One Scholarship Recipients

The Power of One Scholarship is available to senior level students who are presently attending a Connecticut public high school and who will be attending college in the fall semester of 2010. Additionally, a select number of underclassman are selected each year to receive a scholarship that can be applied toward their college educations upon graduation from high school.

The Power of One Scholarship is not an athletic scholarship. It is awarded to students based on academic performance and financial need.

The application can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page.

Our 2010 recipients are as follows:

Anastasia Salvatore (2010)

Anastasia Salvatore aspires to be the first person in her family to graduate from college. While this is obviously a lofty and important goal, what makes her story unique is that her drive to achieve this objective is not merely based on her awareness that a higher education will lead to a lifetime of opportunity. She is driven to graduate from college because she hopes that it might inspire her older siblings to improve their respective situations through higher education. With near perfect averages in all of her math and science classes at Portland High School, she is certain to achieve this goal and much more.

Committed to public service, Anastasia has managed to maintain a 3.40 GPA while, among other things, volunteering her time at the Portland Nursing Home. A four year member of the basketball team, the high school chorale and the marching band, she expects to attend either UConn, Temple University or the University of Rhode Island in the fall.

Garth Brown (2010)

Garth Brown always looked up to his older brother. In many respects, his brother stands as a father figure to him. The year Garth turned twelve, he was separated from his brother. That was the year that Garth’s brother went to prison.

Both Garth’s brother and mother were determined for Garth to be successful in school so that his life might be different. With their support, he has managed to achieve the distinction of honors in the Law & Government Academy at Hartford Public High School. He plans on continuing his studies at either UConn, Eastern Connecticut State University or Post University.

Paige Lewis (2010)

Paige Lewis has tragically had to learn some of life’s most difficult lessons during her teenage years. The economic tsunami that inflicted so much damage on so many devastated her family and in many respects, literally knocked Paige on her back. Faced with the harsh reality that heat, electricity or a hot meal were not things to be taken for granted, Paige initially reacted like most teenagers in similar circumstances understandly do—she started making bad decisions.

With a wisdon and determination far beyond her years, Paige picked herself up, took responsibility for her actions (and future) and, in turn, changed her circumstances. Her hard work has certainly paid off. Paige Lewis has earned the distinction of Honor Student at Portland High School—while working a job to support herself. Having fought through such a difficult time, she now has the unique combination of drive and perseverance necessary to overcome any and all challenges that life has and will continue to throw her way. She aspires to own her own business and will be taking the first step toward achieving that goal by attending either Manchester Community College or Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI.

Danny Contreras (2010)

Danny Contreras is a four year high honor role student in the Law & Government Acadamy at Hartford Public High School. While the discipline and determination it took to achieve this feat are impressive, what is perhaps even more remarkable are the diversity of initiatives and activities he has successfully undertaken while doing so. He has served as a tutor to pre-schoolers in basic language skills and in math. He has voluteered his time at the Boys & Girls Club where he tutored grade and middle school age children in math, science and english. In 2009, he was honored with the coveted Trinity College Book Award for his many contributions to his school and community. All of these distinctions were earned while Danny played on Hartford Public’s soccer and tennis teams.

Danny has also demonstrated unusual courage and bravery for someone of his age. He has and continues to seek the help necessary to address the personal difficulties that have arisen in his life these past few years (and has refused to let them drag him down). Danny is expected to attend either Penn State University, Champlain College or UConn.

Past recipients include:

Na-Tasha Bryan (2009)

Na-Tasha Bryan lived in a shelter with her mother the year she started middle school. With her life reduced to a battle for survival, her only ambition was simply to live in an environment without chaos. Dedicated teachers at Harford Public’s Law and Government Academy helped provide her with the skills and determination necessary to change her destiny. Na-Tasha graduated third in her class and aspires to become an attorney or social worker. She will be attending Saint Joseph College in the fall.

Jenicebeth Santiago (2009)

Jenicebeth Santiago was first recognized by the Foundation in 2008. The single mother of four year-old boy, Jenicebeth struggled during her final year of middle school with the question of whether her son would be better off if she simply dropped out of school to take care of him. With the support of her family and dedicated teachers, Jenicebeth will be continuing her education at St. Joseph’s College in the fall of 2009, after which she expects to go to law school. Jenicebeth's compelling story was recently chronicled by Hartford Courant columnist Helen Ubinas. See H. Ubinas, Single, Teenage Mother Defying Stereotypes, One Success At A Time, Hartford Courant (June 11, 2009).

Jessica Rodriquez (2009)

Jessica Rodriquez overcame the self-doubt that all too often defeats young people from under-serviced communities through the love and support of a united family. Jessica’s adopted father, a drug and alcohol counselor, was instrumental in helping Jessica develop the skills and discipline necessary to succeed—basic skills that she is determined to share with others. Jessica will either be attending the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University or Saint Joseph College in the fall.

Julie Anne Charleston (2008)

Julie Anne Charleston was determined to be a first generation college student. By her junior year of high school, she had amassed a staggering lists of academic awards and acheivements, including, First Honors, National Honor Society President and Most Industrious Student Award.

Many thought her plans to attend Fairfield Univeristy and Major in Nursing were dashed the summer of her senior year. Just days before the school year was to begin, she learned she was going to become a teenage mother.

Supported by a strong family, Julie Anne--who acknowledges she has made the road to realize her dream much more difficult--has not lost her drive and determination. She will be attending Fairfield University in the Fall of 09.

Edward "Eddie" Brown (2008)

Eddie Brown was born to a single mother in Hartford. Raised in a section of the City that forced him to witness gang violence on almost a daily basis, his circumstances were such that he was not able to see that there was a world outside his Hartford neighborhood.

In the summer of 2004 (Eddie's sophomore year of high school), he was accepted into Wesleyan University's Center for Creative Youth program for the performing arts. The program was integral in exposing him to the wonder of a university campus and inspired him to pursue his dream of owning his own music production company.

Eddie presently attends Eastern Connecticut State University.

Halimat Somotan (2008)

Halimat's hope for a better life was nutured beneath the stars a half a world away in Nigeria. While she dreamed big dreams as a young girl in Africa, her transition to life in the United States was a difficult one. The adjustment was so challenging at times that she often considered giving up on her education alltogether.

Halimat found solace (and inspiration) during these difficult times by helping others. She served as a Youth Leader in the Lighthouse Program where she taught kindergarten and second grade classes. As her involvement with the chidren increased, so did her desire to find a way to improve their lives on a larger scale. Halimat aspires to become a peditrician to do so. She presently attends Fairfield Univesity.