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As the 2025-2026 school year has begun, Governor Ned Lamont today is reminding Connecticut’s high school students that if they earn good grades, they can receive automatic admission to several public and private colleges and universities under a recently launched state program that simplifies the process of seeking higher education.
Established in 2022, the Connecticut Automatic Admission Program (CAAP) is open to all graduating Connecticut high school seniors who have a 3.0 weighted grade point average (GPA) or a 2.75 unweighted GPA. Students need to fill out only one application, and they will be automatically admitted to the program’s 10 participating colleges and universities. The program waives the application fees, student essays, and recommendation letters that are typically associated with the admissions process. Participating colleges and universities include:
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STONINGTON, CT – The Eugene Atwood Fund, a private non-profit foundation located in Stonington, CT, continues its longstanding commitment to supporting New London County students. With over a century of service, the fund provides financial assistance through annual awards and interest-free loans for educational, trade and career development pursuits.
At their annual meeting in April, twenty-one (21) senior high school students were awarded a total of $37,285 in award funding and twelve (12) students were approved interest-free loans totaling $95,875 to support their pursuit of undergraduate college degrees or enrollment in trade, technical, or certification/licensing programs during the upcoming 25-26 school year. The Eugene Atwood Award is presented to senior high school students nominated by their principals who exemplify outstanding academic achievement. The Board of Trustees voted to award a total of $27,500 to the following students: 2025 Eugene Atwood Award: Recognizing Academic Excellence Ethan LoVetere Bacon Academy Ava Mehrens Griswold High School Antonio Soldato Ledyard High School Drea Simler Lyme-Old Lyme High School Nathan Dhillon Montville High School Edwidge Cenat New London High School Katelyn Jakubowski Norwich Free Academy Cristien Walworth Norwich Technical High School Learra Ruggeri Robert E. Fitch High School Seidi Schiro Saint Bernard School Isabella Spaulding Stonington High School Emily Roy Three Rivers Middle College Magnet School Thatcher Grimes Wheeler High School Alexandra Leake The Williams School *Students from East Lyme High School and Waterford High School were also provided with an award. Their names were requested to be held due to privacy concerns.* The Eugene Atwood Innovation Award supports senior high school students preparing for careers in the trades by funding the purchase of tools or equipment. The Eugene Atwood Fund’s Trade and Technology Committee awarded a total of $9,785 to the following students: 2025 Eugene Atwood Innovation Award: Empowering Trade Related Careers Kylee Morrison Grasso Technical High School Carson Aberele Ledyard High School Brady Bilheimer Montville High School Wess Drowne Norwich Technical High School *A student from Waterford High School was also provided with an award. Their name was requested to be held due to privacy concerns.* Applications for college-bound loans and awards open annually on January 1 and close February 28. Trade, technical and certification/licensing loan applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is fully disbursed. For more information about programing or to apply, visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org or contact Stacey Haskell at 860.535.0005. STONINGTON, CT – The Eugene Atwood Fund, a private non-profit foundation located in Stonington, CT, continues its longstanding commitment to supporting New London County students. With over a century of service, the fund provides financial assistance through annual awards and interest-free loans for educational, trade and career development pursuits.
At their annual meeting in April, twenty-four (24) senior high school students were awarded a total of $34,360 in award funding and fifteen (15) students were approved interest-free loans totaling $60,000 for the upcoming 24-25 school year. The Eugene Atwood Award is bestowed upon senior high school students nominated by their principals who exemplify outstanding academic achievement and Recognition Award commending student dedication and promise. The Board of Trustees voted to award a total of $15,00 to the following students: 2024 Eugene Atwood Award: Recognizing Academic Excellence Sean Reddy Robert E. Fitch High School Julia Fustini Stonington High School Catherine Chen Waterford High School 2024 Eugene Atwood Recognition Award: Celebrating Achievement Abigail Belding Bacon Academy Ana Bradley East Lyme High School Hailey Watters Griswold High School Alisa Starkova Ledyard High School Riley Morris Lyman Memorial High School Fenlei Chen Montville High School Jacob Liu Norwich Free Academy Morgan Cook Norwich Technical High School Olivia Mayorga Saint Bernard School Katelyn Pierce Wheeler High School Skye Nugent The Williams School The Eugene Atwood Innovation Award provides funding for the purchase of tools/equipment for senior high school students pursuing a career in a trade related profession. The Eugene Atwood Fund’s Trade and Technology Committee awarded a total of $19,360 to the following students: 2024 Eugene Atwood Innovation Award: Empowering Trade Related Careers Lotus Schwartz East Lyme High School Seth Deming Grasso Technical High School Alandra Johnson Grasso Technical High School Syrah-Eternity Leonard Grasso Technical High School Ava Burdo Grasso Technical High School Josiah Hinojos Grasso Technical High School Ian Main Grasso Technical High School Kyle Franchi Lyman Memorial High School Ava Gero Montville High School Jacob Ramos Norwich Technical High School For more information about programing or to apply, visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org or contact Stacey Haskell at 860.535.0005. STONINGTON, CT – The Eugene Atwood Fund, an interest free loan and scholarship Foundation supporting New London County residents, is pleased to recognize the contributions of retiring trustees and introduce new members to the Board.
At their annual meeting in April, the Board extended their gratitude to two retiring members, Elizabeth Dodge White and Amanda Atwood Lindberg who have dedicated over four decades of service to the Fund. Both are great granddaughters of the Foundation Founder, Eugene Atwood. Ms. White spent her career in education teaching middle school in Providence and New Bedford. She leaves the Board after forty-six years of service. Ms. Atwood Lindberg, a former Stonington School Board member and PhD family psychologist, served on the Fund for forty-two years. The Eugene Atwood Fund welcomed new members Annie White and Stephanie Hartell. Ms. White succeeded her mother, Elizabeth Dodge White, and brings 24 years of experience in education. She is currently serving as the Middle School Learning Support Coordinator at the Gordon School. Ms. Hartell brings 20 years of experience in education. She is currently serving as AP English Language, Composition and Journalism teacher at Waterford High School The Eugene Atwood Fund remains committed to its mission of providing interest-free loans and awards to students in pursuit of higher education, trade and career development. These dedicated trustees and new members play a vital role in shaping the Fund’s impact on the community. The Eugene Atwood Fund offers valuable opportunities for individuals in New London County who are seeking financial assistance to pursue education and career development through their interest-free loan programs. By providing funding for trade schools, adult education, and career changes, it empowers people to pursue their passions and develop valuable skills. Examples of career paths supported by this program include:
Visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org to learn more and access the Trade/Tech School and Certification/Licensing application. The application process will remain open until funding is fully allocated or on February 28, 2025, whichever comes first. Contact Stacey Haskell at [email protected] or 860-535-0005 with any questions.  Interest Free Loan Program: Trade/Tech and Certification Licensing - Accepting Applications!4/25/2024 WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS! Our Interest-Free Loan Program for Trade/Tech and Certification/Licensing has been instrumental in supporting residents of New London County on their career paths. We’ve helped individuals become electricians, commercial truck drivers, mechanics, certified nursing assistants, real estate agents, cosmetologists, plumbers, and more! The application process will remain open until either all funds have been allocated or until February 28, 2025, whichever comes first.  STONINGTON – The Eugene Atwood Fund, a private non-profit foundation located in Stonington, CT, has been providing interest-free loans to New London County area students for over one hundred years. Programs include their annual awards as well as interest-free loans for college, trade/tech school or to obtain certification/licensing. Nineteen (19) senior high school students were awarded a total of $35,612 in funding and twenty-one (21) students were approved interest-free loans totaling over $78,000 for the 23-24 school year.
The Eugene Atwood Award is provided to senior high school students nominated by their principals and awarded for academic achievement. The Board of Trustees voted to award a total of $22,750 to the following students: 2023 Eugene Atwood Award Benjamin Nave Wheeler High School Student Name Withheld East Lyme High School Addie Concascia Montville High School Helen Gross Stonington High School 2023 Eugene Atwood Recognition Award Brooke Rodgers Bacon Academy Jenaliz Cordero Grasso Technical High School Kendall Larkin Griswold High School Ronan Allison Ledyard High School Lauren Pinkerton Lyman Memorial High School Shaelin McMunn Marine Science Magnet High School John Podziewski Norwich Technical High School Isaiah Anderson Robert E. Fitch High School Luca Muscarella Saint Bernard School Anika Gard The Williams School Briana Smith Waterford High School The Eugene Atwood Innovation Award provides funding for the purchase of tools/equipment for senior high school students pursuing a career in a trade related profession. The Eugene Atwood Fund’s Trade and Technology Committee awarded a total of $12,862 to the following students: 2023 Eugene Atwood Innovation Award McKenzie Wolicka Bacon Academy Kathrine Buckley Grasso Technical High School Benjamin Petersons Ledyard High School Student Name Withheld Norwich Technical High School For more information about programing or to apply, please visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org or contact Stacey Haskell at [email protected]. For 106 years, Eugene Atwood Fund has helped students further their education and training1/10/2023 Featured in The Day Newspaper on January 9, 2023 (click here to be redirected to the article in The Day)
By Carrie Czerwinski, Special to The Day Stonington ― In 1916, Eugene Atwood, an inventor, businessman and owner of the Atwood Machine Company, started a philanthropic organization with $100,000 of his own money, to provide interest-free loans to college-bound students. Though the company was sold in 1945, and the borough factory has since been replaced with the Stonington Commons condominiums and the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club, his legacy endures today in the Eugene Atwood Fund. The organization continues to fulfill its mission, as stated by Atwood in 1916, "to aid deserving industrious young people, who are making an honest effort to accomplish the best results in life,” by offering interest-free loans to students heading to college or trade schools as well as awards ranging from $250 to $5,000 to high school seniors in New London County. Atwood’s great, great granddaughter, Erica Lindberg Gourd, the managing trustee of the fund, described Atwood as “the son of a little bit kooky bicycle mechanic,” and explained that the idea of an obligation to the community and philanthropic works, were of great importance to him. She said that throughout the generations, the family, somewhat ironically, stressed the importance of an old French concept known as noblesse oblige—the social obligations of the nobility. Gourd explained the concept as “to whom much has been given, much is expected,” and, in plainer terms, “you don’t just buy a big house in Watch Hill and then a boat with three motors. You have enough, and you share.” She said the irony is the “the Atwoods were not nobility at all—they were bike mechanics. They were bike mechanics who turned their knowledge of machinery into something that generated revenue.” In fact, their knowledge of bicycles, helped them develop a self-centering spindle which revolutionized thread making and eventually resulted in the Atwood Machine Company producing the majority of the world’s machines that made silk thread. This allowed the family to pursue its philanthropic goals. Fund Director Stacey Haskell added that Atwood’s wife gave Stonington the land that Town Hall now sits on, and the family also donated the founding $90,000 for Westerly Hospital. Today, the fund serves the community in three ways-- interest-free loans, awards, and philanthropic giving. The interest-free loans are available to students entering college, and, two years ago, the organization reinstituted loans to students entering a trade or tech school, as well as students in certification or licensing programs. “We reestablished the trade and tech committee in 2020 because we started to really look at the direction our world is going in. Not every student needs to go to a brick and mortar college. We need these tradespeople to continue on into the future,” explained Haskell. Wes Dawley, who leads the Tech and Trade Committee at the Atwood Fund, said that the trades are seeing a decline in younger workers, and, using himself as an example, explained that as he is getting older, there is no one to replace him in the construction industry he has been a part of for more than 30 years. “We need those specialty skills—the plumbers, the electricians, the carpenters,” he said. “We want to make sure that people know that we are here, not just for people who need an interest-free loan for college, but for someone who might need just to get a license or a certification,” Haskell added. By offering loans rather than grants, the organization is able to repeatedly loan the money out when it is repaid, and students are able to avoid the added costs of interest in repayment. “Because we make loans, when we get a donation of, say, $10,000, we may loan that out ten times,” Gourd said, adding, “the benefit of loaning the money back out is that we’ve reutilized it, so, in effect, we’ve been able to give away $5 million.” “It’s the only reason we’re still here 106 years later,” she said. Two award programs are available for high school seniors from New London County. The Eugene Atwood Award for academic excellence, and the Eugene Atwood Innovation Award, which helps students pursuing a career in a trade purchase required tools or equipment, are given yearly to students nominated by their high school principal. The students are required to also write an essay. Available funding varies from year to year, but Haskell said the organization gave out $100,000 in interest- free loans, and an additional $22,000 for the Eugene Atwood Award and $14,000 for the Innovation Award in 2022. When funds are available, the organization also participates in philanthropic giving. In recent years, recipients have included Connecticut College for students enrolling in bookkeeping and accounting programs, Norwich and New London Adult Education, and $10,000 awards to both Norwich Technical High School and Ella T. Grasso Technical High School for the purchase of tools/equipment for student use in the classroom. Individuals are encouraged to apply for loans and awards online at https://www.eugeneatwoodfund.org/. |