Under the direction of Education Commissioner, Mark McQuillan, CAS and Big Y World Class Markets have again collaborated to extend the Governor’s Scholars Program.

Now in its twelfth year, the purpose of the program is to recognize academically talented high school students in schools throughout the state, and present thirty students for special recognition to the Governor of Connecticut.

All principals of CAS member high schools are given the opportunity to nominate one junior ranked in the top four percent of his/her class. An essay on an assigned topic has to be completed. Members of the Governor’s Scholars Committee, professional educators from throughout Connecticut, judge the completed applications and assign a composite score to each based on rank in class, PSAT or SAT scores, CAPT scores, and the student essay. Laura Ferrante-Fernandes, Chair of the Governor’s Scholars Committee, is pleased to announce the thirty finalists in this year’s competition and, on behalf of the CT State Department of Education, CAS, and Big Y, extend congratulations to:

•Divya Bajekal, Simsbury High School
•Benjamin Barnett, Westhill High School in Stamford
•Amymarie Bartholomew, Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden
•Alyssa Bilinski, Joel Barlow High School in Redding
•Jessica Blanton, Greenwich High School
•Nicole Boucher, Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford
•Jonathan Bruneau, Naugatuck High School
•Dana Callahan, Valley Regional High School in Deep River
•Averill Cantwell, Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted
•Holly Chamberlain, Suffield High School
•Kayleigh Clark, East Granby High School
•Madison Crocker, Weston High School
•Christopher Diehl, Masuk High School in Monroe
•Maura Farley, Darien High School
•Andrew Gadwah, O.H. Platt High School in Meriden
•Sarah Ganong, Ledyard High School
•Alexandra Goetjen, New Milford High School
•Heather Hawkes, Academy of Our Lady of Mercy - Lauralton Hall in Milford
•Devin Karbowicz, Avon High School
•Alexandra Longacre, Griswold High School
•Christopher McGinn, Woodstock Academy
•Stephanie Newman, Fairfield Warde High School
•Oluwadamilola Oni-Orisan, New Britain High School
•Celia Poirier, Windham High School in Willimantic
•Raymond Ramirez, Vinal Technical High School in Middletown
•Tyler Reese, Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield
•Alexander Rich, Trumbull High School
•Ghalib Shaikh, Wheeler High/Middle School in North Stonington
•Ethan Talbot, Bristol Central High School
•Joanna Valk, Wilton High School

All of the distinguished nominees will be recognized at their schools for their outstanding work and participation in this program. The thirty students listed above will attend the Governor’s Scholars Luncheon at The Aqua Turf Club in Southington on May 22, 2008. At the reception, Governor’s Scholars will receive recognition as well as information on participation in courses at selected Connecticut colleges and universities. Included in the latter is a four-year, half-tuition scholarship to the University of Connecticut for any of the thirty Governor’s Scholars who choose to matriculate there.

Big Y has been a dedicated corporate partner of CAS since 1997. In addition to sponsoring the prestigious Governor’s Scholars Program, it produces a highly acclaimed nutritional newsletter mailed to all CT students and funds the Flanagan Memorial Grants Program. Big Y was founded in 1936 and currently employs over 9,800 people in fifty-seven locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut.