Mark T. Sheehan Class of ‘76 Scholarship Recipients

The Mark T. Sheehan Class of 1976 Scholarship is awarded yearly to graduating seniors of Mark T. Sheehan High School for their demonstrated actions and intended goals of improving society, our nation and our world.  It is our objective, through our Scholarship, to encourage these actions by providing monetary assistance with postsecondary education to students best meeting these objectives as demonstrated through an essay and support from educators, administrators, and those in the community.

The Mark T. Sheehan Class of 1976 Classmates congratulate and acknowledge these recipients and fellow Classmates for having demonstrated and showing continued promise to further contribute to the overall betterment of the community, society, and humanity through compassion and assistance to others.

2025 Scholarship Recipients

Danica Tangredi

Attending: TBA

Major: Environmental Chemistry

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS GRADE(S)

  • Class Office of 2025 (Gr. 9 - 12)

  • Sheehan Dramatic Arts Society (SDAS) Stage Crew (9 - 12)

  • Junior Performance Academy Stage Crew (12)

  • SADD Club (9 - 12)

  • National Honor Society (11 - 12)

  • Math Team (10 - 12)

  • Book Club (9 -12)

  • CMEA Southern Regional Orchestra (10 - 12)

  • Cheshire Symphony Orchestra First Violinist (12)

  • Violin / Piano student, chamber ensemble at Keys & Strings Music Studio (K - 12)

  • Sheehan Bridge Academy volunteer (10 - 12)

  • Veteran's Day Leaf Raking volunteer via Student Council (9 - 12)

  • Altar Server at Most Holy Trinity Church (6 - 12)

  • Player, coach, umpire, volunteer at Wallingford Girls Softball League (K - 12)

Jobs

  • Box Office Ticket Seller at Oakdale Theater Wallingford & XFinity Theater Hartford (part-time, June 2024 - Present)

  • Clinic Division Umpire at Wallingford Girls Softball League (seasonal, April 2022 - Present)

Leadership Roles:

  • Class Secretary (9 - 12)

  • SADD Club President (11 - 12)

  • SDAS Assistant Stage Manager (10 -11)

  • SDAS Production Stage Manager (12)

  • Math Team Co-Captain (12)

Gianna Lynn Angelico

Attending: TBA

Major: Elementary Education and Teaching 

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS GRADE(S)

  • PE Internship (Inside of School) - Grade 12

  • Competitive Gymnastics (Outside of School) - Grade 7 - 12

  • Volunteered at Highland Elementary School (Outside of School) - Grade 10 - 12

  • Volunteered at The Southport School (Outside of School) - Grade 11

  • Girls Flag Football Team (Inside of School ) - Grade 12

  • Created / hosted a Capstone Fundraiser (Raised about $900 for research) - Grade 11

Jobs

  • Babysitter + Caregiver (2021 to present)

  • American Gymnastics - Coach + Caregiver (2022 to present)

Leadership Roles:

  • Peer Mentor / Leader for Special Needs students

  • Captain of 2024 -2025 Revel Competitive Gymnastics Platinum Team

  • Captain of 2024 - 2025 Girls Powderpuff Flag Football Team

  • Elected into Save Promise Leadership Club in 2020

Isabella Carbutti

Attending: TBA

Major: Computer Science

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS GRADE(S)

  • National School Development Council Award for Academic 12

  • Growth and Student Leadership in Learning

  • South Central Area Superintendents Association Award 12 - (senior that embodies the mission statement of the school & is deeply committed to community and humanitarian service)

  • Varsity Scholar 12

  • Powderpuff player- Samaha Bowl 12

  • National Honor Society 11, 12 - Leadership Committee

  • Southern Region High School Music Festival 11, 12 (Attended 2 day festival & performance)

  • Prom Committee 11, 12

  • Football Manager 10, 11

  • French Club 10, 11

  • French Award 10

  • High Honor Roll 9, 10, 11, 12

  • Sheehan Drama Society 9, 10, 11, 12 - High School Musical, Les Miserables, Newsies, Seussical

  • Tri-M Music Honor Society 9, 10, 11, 12

  • Choir 9, 10, 11, 12

  • Varsity Choir 9, 10, 11, 12

  • Minotti MusicFest 2024 11

    • Herb Knight Excellence in Music Award

    • 1st Place Senior Pop Category

    • 1st Place Broadway solo

    • 1st Place Broadway duet

    • 2nd Place Advanced Pop piano solo

 COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES (250 hrs) GRADE(S) you participated:

  • A Night of Fashion - Modeled prom dresses 11, 12

    • Benefitting the Wallingford Education Foundation

    • Fundraiser for Fostering Family Hope

  • Lili to the Rescue - made blankets for cat rescues 11

  • Alice in Wonderland Tea Party 11

    • Benefiting the American Italian Youth Foundation

    • Played role of flower princess

  • Benchmark Senior Living Center 11

  • Sang Christmas songs for the residents

  • The Landing Assisted Living Dance and Singing Performance 10, 11, 12

    • Danced for the residents

    • Sang Christmas songs & played piano for the residents

  • Veterans Pancake Breakfast - North Haven 10, 11, 12 - Sang the American Anthem, a solo, and duet for veterans

  • Magical Elf House 9, 10, 11, 12

    • Benefitting Ronald McDonald House & Wallingford Historic Society

    • Danced, sang, entertained kids, wrapped presents, decorated host location

  • Taste of New England at North Haven Fairgrounds 12 - Supervised kids in play area

  • Easter Eggstravaganza 9 - Sang, entertained kids, helped with egg hunt

Interests/Hobbies:

  • Wendy’s School of Dance 9, 10, 11, 12 (since age 3) - Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Musical Theater

  • Music Center of North Haven 9, 10, 11, 12 (since age 9) - Singing and Piano lessons

  • Programming and game design 9, 10, 11, 12

  • Music performances in the community 9, 10, 11, 12 "

Leadership Roles:

  • National Honor Society - Leadership Committee

  • National School Development Council Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning

  • Varsity Scholar

Espen Fenstad

Attending: TBA

Major: Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS GRADE(S)

  • Marching Band

  • Jazz Ensemble

  • Concert Band

  • Varsity Boys Swim & Dive

  • Varsity Cross Country

  • Class Office

  • Debate Club

  • National Honor Society

  • Le Cercle Français

  • Tri-M Music Honor Society

  • Math Team

  • Asian American Culture Club

  • Powderpuff Cheerleader

  • National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) international exchange alumnus

  • Intern in the Laboratory of Dr. Ranjit S. Bindra, M.D., Ph.D.

  • MidState Medical Center Patient Aid Volunteer

  • Race4Chase Youth Triathlon Program Volunteer Camp Counselor

Jobs

  • New Haven Country Club Lifeguard

Leadership Roles:

  • Marching Band Drum Major

  • Marching Band Section Leader

  • Class Office Treasurer

  • Debate Club Vice President

  • National Honor Society Vice-chairman

  • Le Cercle Français Secretary

2024 Scholarship Recipients

Isabella Perno

Attending: TBA

Major: Exercise Science

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS GRADE(S)

  • Varsity Girls Basketball 9-12 - Captain 12

  • Powderpuff 12

  • Positive Impact Club 12

  • Outdoors Club 9-12 - Vice President

  • High Honor Roll 9-11

  • All SCC Academic Award 10-11

  • Medical Careers Award 10

  • Certified Nursing Assistant 11 - CPR Certification

  • Girls Lacrosse Manager 9

  • Softball Manager 10

  • Boys Soccer Manager 10-12

  • MTS Parent Night Volunteer 11

  • PE Internship 12

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES GRADE(S)

  • Lady of Fatima Church fundraising/volunteer work 9

    - Passed out goods for Christmas

    - Organized donated food cans

  • AAU Basketball 7-11

    - CT Starters, CBA

  • Hoop House Basketball Camp volunteer counselor 10-12

  • Wallingford Rotary Club volunteer 11

  • Fundraiser/Walk to support Type 1 Diabetes Research 9-12

    - JDRF Walk, American Diabetes Association

  • Organized a team, “Team Isabella”

  • Crossfit Wallingford fundraisers 11-12

    - Fallen Soldier Workout Fundraisers (HERO, Murph)

Jobs

  • Wallingford Country Club

  • Hoop House Camp Counselor

  • Basketball Scorekeeper

Leadership Roles:

  • Vice President of Outdoors Club

  • Winter Sports Leadership Conference

  • Leader of Girls Basketball Team

Olivia Fritz

Attending: UCONN

Major: Nursing

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

  • Varsity field hockey

  • Varsity girls lacrosse

  • Boys hockey team manager

  • Class of 2024 Secretary

  • National Honor Society

  • Positive Impact Club

  • Environmental Action Club

  • Student Council

  • Annual Veteran's Day leaf raking for the elderly

  • Bottle and can sorting for CT Children’s hospital

  • Church of Resurrection carnival volunteer

  • Volunteer Wallingford Youth Girls Lacrosse Clinics

  • Volunteer at MTS Field Hockey Summer Camp

  • Wentworth's Homemade Ice Cream Shop (June 2022-present)

  • Scoopy's Ice Cream Shop (May 2023-present)

  • Babysitting

Leadership Roles:

  • Secretary of the class of 2024

  • President of the Positive Impact club

  • Secretary of the Environmental Action club

  • Vice president of the National Honor Society

  • Captain of Field Hockey team

  • Captain of Lacrosse team

Finnian Dubuc

Attending: UCONN

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

  • Lacrosse

  • Field Hockey

  • Student Council

  • Interact Club

  • Environmental Action Club

  • The National Honor Society

  • Engineering Internship

  • Horseshoe Hill Farm, Equestrian and Coach

  • Wallingford Youth Lacrosse League, Coach

  • Connecticut Children's’ Hospital, Sorting recyclables

  • Holiday for Giving, Sorting and giving away toys

  • Leaf Raking for the disabled/elderly

  • Clovers For Cancer, Founder

  • Sheehan Blood Drive

  • Dog Walker

  • Horse Groom

  • Waitress/Receptionist

Leadership Roles:

  • Lacrosse Captain

  • Environmental Action Club Activities Chair

  • Interact Club Vice President

 

2023 Scholarship Recipients

Joel Dominguez

Attending: UCONN

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

  • Sikorsky STEM Team Sheehan High School, September 2021 - Present: Solving realistic design challenges given by Sikorsky in Stratford, CT

  • Adelante! America Spanish Community of Wallingford, September 2020 - Present: Volunteering and community building for the Latino community

  • Esports Mario Kart Team Sheehan High School, December 2021 - Present: Starter every week. Qualified for playoffs 3 seasons in a row and finished 1st out of 225 teams in the Eastern Regional regular season for two seasons in a row

  • Soccer Team Sheehan High School, 2019, 2021

  • Stage Crew Sheehan High School, September 2021 - Present: Creating sets for the musicals and plays such as High School Musical, Les Misérables, Radium Girls and All Together Now

  • Running Crew Sheehan High School, September 2021 - Present: Moving sets throughout the shows for Les Misérables, Radium Girls and All Together Now

  • Math Team Sheehan High School, September 2022 - Present: Competing against other schools to solve complex math problems

  • Community Revitalization Efforts of Wallingford(C.R.E.W) Sheehan High School, September 2021 - Present: Aiding the community of Wallingford in different forms from raking leaves to organizing clothes for people in need

  • Cooking Club Sheehan High School, December 2021 - Present: Cooking new dishes for teachers and students
    Powderpuff Cheerleading Sheehan High School, September 2022 - November 2022: Cheering in the traditional Powderpuff game

  • Environmental Clean-ups 2021 - 2022: Visiting different parks to clean up trash

  • CT Stem Academy, August 2022 - Present: Teaching elementary and middle school students immersive STEM-based learning activities

Leadership Roles:

  • President for Adelante! America

  • Co-president and Lead CAD Designer for the Sikorsky Stem team

Hitika Patel

Attending: UCONN

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir New Haven Youth Co-Coordinator: Participated in dances/skits, giving religious presentations, serving as mentor towards temple youth, involved in kitchen and decoration volunteering.

  • President/Founder of Universal Unity: Multicultural support group that supports first-generation/immigrant teenagers through adjusting to society's dominant Americanized society. Hosted meetings of 12-15 students that gave them a comfortable and friendly environment.

  • Wallingford Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: Student Representative: Created purpose statement and organized a book meet & greet at local library.

  • Physical Therapy Internship: Assisted in writing up patient's exercises/stretching routines

  • Cross Country and Indoor Track

  • Asian American Culture Club member

  • Math Team member

  • Yogi Foodmart, Wallingford CT: Gas Station Attendant

  • Pramukh Foodmart, Wallingford CT: Gas Station Attendant

Leadership Roles:

  • Youth Co-Coordinator BAPS New Haven

  • Dance Coordinator BAPS New Haven

  • Founder/President of Universal Unity

  • Student Representative of Wallingford Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Olivia Platt

Attending: TBD

Major: TBD

Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Held:

  • Right At Home Agency Volunteer (Interviewed and journaled the lives of the elderly for the company's newsletter and assisted in visiting homecare patients with a nurse).

  • Parks & Recreation Volunteer (Camp mentor for children with special needs and participated in ice skating for children with special needs).

  • Wallingford Youth Soccer League - (T.O.P.S. program mentor to teach soccer to children with special needs and a youth boys assistant soccer coach).

  • CREW Club (Leaf raking for the elderly on Veteran's Day and helping set up the Trail of Terror).

  • Moses Y. Beach Elementary School (Camp counselor/mentor).

  • Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center (Assisting professionals in an office setting with paperwork and interacting with patients).

  • New Life Church / Tim Tebow Foundation ("Night to Shine" volunteer/mentor for this prom night for children with special needs).

  • Wallingford Community (Picking up trash in local areas, dog sitting, volunteer at the Taste of Wallingford, and assisting in picking up items for an animal drive).

  • High School Soccer - 4 years

  • High School Indoor Track & Field - 3 years

  • High School Outdoor Track & Field - 3 years

  • Premier Soccer Club Team - 3 years

  • Town Soccer Team - 3 years

  • CREW (Community Service) Club - 3 years

  • Outdoor's Club - 4 years

  • DECA (Business) Club - 2 years

  • TESA Club (Teen Empowerment in Social Activism) - 2 years

  • Student Council - 3 years

  • National Honor Society

  • Varsity Scholar

  • Rotary Youth Citizen of the Year Award 2022 (Community service and character award)

  • High Honors - 4 years

  • All-SCC Academic All-Star Team - 3 years

  • Started business during quarantine selling and donating sensory kits to children

  • Observation hours in a biochemistry lab at Yale University with a Ph.D. professional

  • Shadowing professional workers at Medtronic

  • The Breakfast Nook Restaurant Busser/ Hostess (2022 to present).

  • Right At Home Agency homecare caregiver (2020-2022).

  • The Farms Country Club Busser (2021).

  • Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center Assistant (Summer job).

Leadership Roles:

  • High School Indoor Track & Field Captain

  • High School Outdoor Track & Field Captain

  • Leadership Council Member for Indoor & Outdoor Track

  • Small business owner

  • Youth boys assistant soccer coach

  • Camp counselor / mentor for special needs children

2022 Scholarship Recipients

Vraj Patel

Attending: UCONN

Major: Pre-Med

Extracurricular Activities:

  • Heartcare Associates Hamden, CT June-August 2021: Job Shadowing APRN at Cardiologist Office

  • MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore, Maryland April-August 2021: Job Shadowing a physician assistant

  • Peer Advocates Wallingford, CT September 2018-Present: Attending social events to raise awareness for breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases

  • Wallingford Park and Recreational Wallingford, CT September 2018-Present: Mentor for kids participating in the VEX IQ Competition

  • Masonicare Health Center Wallingford, CT June-August 2018, 2019: Taking care of the needs of the elderly

  • GUS Robotics Meriden, CT July 2018-Present: Competing against other teams in VEX Robotics Competition and FIRST Robotics Competition.  Qualified for the 2021 Worlds VEX Robotics Competition

  • Sikorsky STEM Team Sheehan High School, CT September 2018-Present: Solving design challenges given by Sikorsky in Stratford, CT

  • Math Team Sheehan High School, CT September 2018-Present: Competing with other schools to solve complex math problems

  • Student Council Sheehan High School, CT September 2018-Present: Taking minutes at meetings and helping coordinate fundraisers and other school events

  • National Honors Society Sheehan High School, CT September 2020-Present: Helping plan projects to further spread the ideals of leadership, service, scholarship, and character

  • Class Officers Sheehan High School, CT September 2018-Present: Helping plan activities and other school events for the Sheehan Class of 2022

  • Spanish Club Sheehan High School, CT September 2018-Present: Helping spread cultural awareness

  • Debate Club Sheehan High School, CT September 2020-Present

  • Member and Debating with other about controversial topics

  • Asian American Culture Club Sheehan High School, CT September 2018-Present: Sharing and exploring Asian cultures

  • Soccer Team Sheehan High School, CT September 2018-Present: Varsity Player

  • Tennis Team September 2018-Present: Varsity Player

  • Emerging Leaders Wallingford, CT September 2019-Present: Helping organize school events to promote student participation in school events

  • Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy Wallingford, CT September 2018-May 2019: Building up leadership skills by creating projects to unite the Wallingford community

Leadership Roles:

  • Secretary for the Student Council

  • Treasurer for the National Honors Society

  • Class of 2022 Treasurer

  • Lead CAD Model Designer for the Sikorsky STEM Team

  • JV Captain of the Sheehan Soccer Team

Emma Smith

Attending: UCONN

Major: Molecular Biology/Allied Health Sciences on a Pre-Med Track

Extracurricular Activities:

  • Sheehan Girls Volleyball Team

  • Powderpuff Football

  • Positive Impact Club

  • Environmental Action Club

  • Unified Sports Volleyball Tournament Volunteer

  • Wallingford Park and Recreation Volunteer

  • CT Juniors Club Volleyball

  • Child Care

  • Banana's Ice-cream Shop-Ice-cream Specialist (part time job)

  • Blackstone Village Pool Attendant (part time job)

Leadership Roles:

  • JV Captain and Varsity Libero of Girls Volleyball Team

  • Girls Basketball Team Manager

Makenna Sinisgalli

Attending: Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Major: Speech Language Pathology

Extracurricular Activities:

  • SPORTS

    • Girls Field Hockey

    • Girls Lacrosse

    • Girls Powderpuff (Flag Football)

  • CLUBS

    • Future Educators Club

    • Sheehan Interact Club

    • Outdoors Club

  • OTHER

    • National Honors Society

    • Special Education Youth Advisory Council

    • German Exchange Program

  • VOLUNTEER

    • Coaching Youth Lacrosse

    • Power Play-Wallingford School District Summer School Program where I mentor kids with special needs

  • WORK

    • Building Blocks Learning Center- my current after school job (daycare)

    • Reffing Girls Youth Lacrosse

    • SkyZone-old job

Leadership Roles:

  • Girls Field Hockey Captain

  • Co-president of Future Educators Club

  • Chief of Safety to Outdoors Club

  • National Honors Society- Leadership Committee

  • Special Education Youth Advisory Council