Ellington's Alexis Amundarain Receives Ronald McDonald House Scholarship

Alexis Amundarain, a recent graduate of Ellington High School, was recently awarded a $2,000 scholarship the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

Amundarain was one of only 25 area students selected from nearly 300 applicants to receive a scholarship.

Read McDonad's full press release below:

ALEXIS AMUNDARAIN OF ELLINGTON RECEIVES RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES® SCHOLARSHIP

Amundarain One of 25 Area Students to Receive Award from Local Chapter

July 23, 2014 – Alexis Amundarain, a 2014 graduate of Ellington High School who will attend the University of the Arts in Philadelphia this fall, has been selected as a recipient of a $2,000 scholarship from the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Amundarain was one of only 25 area students selected from nearly 300 applicants to receive a scholarship. RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts awarded a grand total of $50,000 to local students this year.

Scholarship applicants were scrutinized by a panel of judges in several categories including academic achievement, community involvement and financial need. RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts awarded funds to graduating high school seniors who will be attending college in the fall through two scholarship programs: first through the RMHC Scholars Program which provides monies to graduating high school seniors regardless of race or ethnicity; and secondly through the RMHC Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources Program (HACER) Scholarship, which is awarded to students with at least one parent of Hispanic origin. The scholarship program is supported by the Connecticut and Western Massachusetts McDonald’s® Owner/Operator Association (CWMMOA). 

“All of the McDonald’s owner/operators throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts are committed to programs that support schools and students,” said Rachel Deane, President of CWMMOA and local McDonald’s Owner/Operator.  “We are proud of our role in helping these students achieve their educational goals. We are especially proud to honor students who share our commitment to giving back to the community.”

Ed Abraham, President of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, agreed. “The RMHC Board of Directors is pleased to bestow $50,000 in scholarship monies to this year’s winners. We congratulate all of them on their impressive high school achievements, and we wish each and every one of them the best for continued success as they continue their education at college in the fall.” 

The full list of the 2014 scholarship recipients is as follows:

RMHC Scholars Program Scholarship Winners

·         Bryan Bliek of Vernon, CT; graduate of Rockville High School, attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

·         Patrick Dickert of Hatfield, MA; graduate of The Loomis Chaffee School, attending Colby College in Waterville, ME.

·         Yingxian Guo of West Haven, CT; graduate of West Haven High School, attending Harvard College in Cambridge, MA.

·         Chia-Yi Jean of Farmington, CT; graduate of Farmington High School, attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

·         Marisa Mitrano of West Hartford, CT; graduate of Hall High School, attending the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN.

·         Nneoma Okonkwo of Foxboro, MA; graduate of The Kent School, attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.

·         Annaka Paradis-Burnett of Russell, MA; graduate of Gateway Regional High School, attending Smith College in Northampton, MA.

·         Caroline Scheck of Norwich, CT; graduate of Norwich Free Academy, attending Tufts University in Medford, MA.

·         Casey Lu Simon-Plumb of Hampden, MA; graduate of Minnechaug Region High School, attending Swarthmore College in Philadelphia, PA.

·         Jenna Stone of Enfield, CT; graduate of Metropolitan Learning Center, attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

RMHC/HACER Program Scholarship Winners

·         Rebecca Alvarez-Petit of Cheshire, CT; graduate of Cheshire High School, attending Fordham University in Bronx, NY.

·         Alexis Amundarain of Ellington, CT; graduate of Ellington High School, attending The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA.

·         Jeenn Barreiro of West Haven, CT; graduate of Notre Dame High School, attending Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

·         Alisha Collazo of East Hartford, CT; graduate of Northwest Catholic High School, attending Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

·         Coralys Datiz of Waterbury, CT; graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

·         Mabelitza Guzman of Waterbury, CT; graduate of W.F. Kaynor Technical High School, attending Salve Regina University in Newport, RI.

·         Juliet Morales of Preston, CT; graduate of Norwich Free Academy, attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

·         Javier Rivera of Springfield, MA; graduate of The Springfield Renaissance School, attending the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, MA.

·         Ashley Robles of Wethersfield, CT; graduate of Wethersfield High School, attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

·         Pamela Robles of Waterbury, CT; graduate of W.F. Kaynor Technical High School, attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.

·         Orlando Romero Escobar of Hartford, CT; graduate of University High School, attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

·         Katherine Roque of New Haven, CT; graduate of Cooperative High School, attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

·         Yazmin Rosas of New Haven, CT; graduate of Hill Regional Career High School, attending the University of New Haven in West Haven, CT.

·         Francisco Salinas of New Haven, CT; graduate of Platt Technical High School, attending Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT.

·         Michelle Vela of Hartford, CT; graduate of Sports and Medical Sciences Academy, attending the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.

Since 1988 RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts has provided more than $6 million to over 400 non-profit organizations, helping thousands of area children lead happier, healthier and more productive lives. RMHC and its global network of local chapters in over 50 countries and regions have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services supporting children worldwide. For more information about RMHC visit www.rmhc-ctma.org or connect at facebook.com/rmhc.ctma.

The Connecticut and Western Massachusetts McDonald’s Owner/Operator Association is comprised of local McDonald’s restaurant owners who are community and industry leaders. They have a long-standing commitment to supporting educational initiatives and organizations in the communities they serve, including providing resources to promote balanced, active lifestyles to kids and nutritional information for families. For more information, follow us on Facebook or Twitter @McD_CTWMA.