Stamford Rotary Awards $120K to 12 Deserving Students

When the quality of applicants is too good to ignore, you find a way to say yes to more students.

That's exactly what the Stamford Rotary Club did this year. They typically award scholarships to 10 high school students, but the 2026 applicant pool was so impressive that the committee found room in their budget for 12 recipients instead.

"We just thought the quality of the applicants was too good to not give 12," said Matthew Stendardi, chair of the club's scholarship trust fund committee. Together, the students received $120,000 in scholarship funding.

Most of the recipients come from middle and working class backgrounds, students who will use every dollar to chase their college dreams. The club has steadily increased scholarship amounts over the years to keep pace with rising education costs.

The growth has been remarkable. Board member Mark Jaffe noted that 62 years ago, the club awarded three or four scholarships at $250 each. Today's awards reflect both the club's commitment and the changing landscape of college affordability.

For Tamryn Lee Williams, the scholarship was life-changing. The first-generation college student spent just 29 seconds at the podium during the awards ceremony, using her time to thank her family and advocates.

Evie DeRosa, a post-secondary coordinator with Domus, watched from the back of the room with pride. She remembered Williams as a quiet freshman who transformed after a summer trip to Washington, DC. "That's really where I saw Tamryn kind of break out of her shell," DeRosa said.

Williams didn't have both parents with her throughout high school, making her journey to college more challenging. But with the Rotary scholarship and other awards, her tuition at Winston-Salem State University is now fully covered.

The Ripple Effect

The Stamford Rotary Club's decision to stretch their budget for two additional students shows how flexibility and generosity can multiply impact. Those two extra scholarships represent two more futures unlocked, two more families celebrating, and two more young people who know their community believes in them.

For Williams and her fellow recipients, the financial support removes a massive barrier. But the message behind the scholarship matters just as much: you're talented, you're worthy, and your community is investing in your success.

Twelve students are heading to college with lighter financial burdens and heavier hearts full of gratitude.