MANCHESTER, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Fisher Cats Foundation have named their 2014 Scholar-Athlete Scholarship winners. Ten graduates from New Hampshire high schools and two from northern Massachusetts have all earned a $2,500 scholarship based on their athletic and academic achievements in high school, and will be celebrated in an on-field ceremony prior to the Fisher Cats’ game on Saturday, August 2, against the Reading Fightin Phils at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.“These students have had remarkable high school careers, and we are proud to recognize them as our Class of 2014 scholarship winners,” said Art Solomon, Fisher Cats owner and chairman of the Fisher Cats Foundation board. “Not only have they excelled in school and on the fields and courts, but each has displayed a commitment to making their communities better places to live. We look forward to recognizing these students as they prepare for college at the ballpark this weekend.”
The scholarship recipients were selected based upon criteria of academic excellence, athletic achievement, and active citizenship in the community. Money for the scholarships was raised through several Foundation endeavors, most notably the Granite State Baseball Dinner, which surpassed $1 million in fundraising at its annual event last November. With these scholarships, a total of $230,000 have been awarded through this program since 2007.
The Fisher Cats Foundation will award three special scholarships among the twelve – the Swymer Family Scholarship, offered annually to a student who has overcome a barrier and gone on to college; the Chris Carpenter Scholarship, named in honor of New Hampshire native and National League Cy Young Award Winner Chris Carpenter; and the Easter Seals Veterans Count Scholarship, presented to a New Hampshire graduate whose parent or guardian is an active, reserve, or veteran member of the United States Military.
A full list of this year’s winners is below.
*Quinn Connelly (Spaulding High School/Rochester, N.H.) – Quinn was a member of the varsity basketball team and served as team captain his senior year. He played in the state semi-finals twice and graduated in the top 10 of his class. Quinn will attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall to study business administration.
*Shannon Corcoran (Londonderry High School/Londonderry, N.H.) – Shannon was the co-captain of the varsity dance team. She was also a member of Latin, French, and Math Honor Societies, as well as the National Honor Society. Shannon will attend Clemson University and plans to be a member of the Clemson dance team. She has earned this year’s Easter Seals Veterans Count Scholarship.
*Carmen Giampetruzzi (Trinity High School/Manchester, N.H.) – A three-sport standout, Carmen was a member of the varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams at Trinity. He was a member of the Principal’s List. He will pursue baseball and study biology this fall at Boston College.
*Samarth Gupta (Acton-Boxborough High School/Acton, Mass.) – Samarth was the president of his class as well as a three-season captain of the cross country and track teams. He was also a four-year letter winner in both sports. Samarth will attend Harvard University in the fall studying government.
*Sarah King (Nashua High School North/Nashua, N.H.) – Sarah was a member of the varsity volleyball team as well as a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to attend Butler University next year to study pharmacy.
*Patrick Martin (Wilton-Lyndeborough High School/Wilton, N.H.) – This year’s Swymer Family Award recipient, Patrick was named Wilton-Lyndeborough Male Athlete of the Year in 2013 and 2014. He was a member of the varsity baseball and basketball teams. Patrick will attend St. Joseph’s College of Maine where he plans to study history/secondary education.
*Molly McCabe (Bishop Guertin High School/Brookline, N.H.) – Molly was a four-year letter winner in cross country and indoor and outdoor track at Bishop Guertin. She is a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year Gold Honor Roll Student. Molly will attend Boston College in the fall.
*Abigail McDonough (Portsmouth High School/Greenland, N.H.) – Abby was a member of the varsity softball and basketball teams at Portsmouth High. There, she held high or highest honors for all four years. Next year she will attend the University of New Hampshire.
*Walters Ndi (Concord High School/Concord, N.H.) – Wally was Concord High School’s Male Athlete of the Year and an All-Conference running back. He was a member of the varsity football, wrestling and track teams. He plans to study exercise science next year.
*Dillon Sylvester (Franklin High School/Franklin, N.H.) – Dillon is this year’s winner of the Chris Carpenter Award. He served as the Valedictorian for his class as well as a member of the varsity soccer, basketball, and indoor and outdoor track and field teams. He will attend Bentley University this fall to study business.
*Morgan Wallingford (Dover High School/Dover, N.H.) – Morgan was named the MVP of Dover High School’s varsity gymnastics team for the last three years. A 2014 NH Scholar, she will attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall.
*Nicole Woods (Beverly High School/Beverly, Mass.) – Nicole played on the varsity field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse teams at Beverly High School. She was selected as one of the top 70 high school players in the country for USA Field Hockey Futures Elite Championships. She will attend the University of Louisville where she will play field hockey.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats established the Fisher Cats Foundation to be a catalyst for the betterment of communities statewide by supporting youth programs that encourage education and promote healthy living. Through the generous support of players, employees, sponsors, and fans, the Fisher Cats Foundation continuously works to make a positive impact throughout New Hampshire and north central Massachusetts. As the primary funding source for the team’s philanthropy, the Fisher Cats Foundation supports a wide variety of non-profit organizations and coordinates several fundraising programs and events. Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation and the Fisher Cats have provided more than $3.5 million in monetary and in-kind donations to over 4,000 non-profit organizations.
The Fisher Cats return home for an epic four-day, five-game homestand with the Reading Fightin Phils beginning Thursday, July 31. The series begins on WMUR CHaD Night with an Atlas Fireworks Show and visit by the Red Sox World Series Trophies from 2004, 2007, and 2013. A portion of ticket proceeds from the game will benefit the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Tickets are available by visiting www.nhfishercats.com, stopping by the Fisher Cats ticket office, or by calling (603) 641-2005.
