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Your Path. Our Promise. A Brighter Future.
Building a Generation of College Graduates and
Transforming Our Community
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Waterbury Promise is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to increase college aspirations, reduce financial barriers and inspire every Waterbury student toward post-secondary education and completion. We offer generous last-dollar scholarships and critical support services to eligible high school students so they can dream BIGGER and reach their full potential. | | |
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"It has been an honor to serve as the organization's founding Executive Director. Together, we have accomplished much over the last year. Thank you for your partnership, we couldn’t have made this possible without your unwavering support."
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Director's Corner
It’s been a fun-filled year of planning, hiring, and expanding such an incredible scholarship, college access, and persistence program for Waterbury students and residents. I’m honored to introduce you to our first college cohort and share all the wonderful opportunities Waterbury Promise has been able to provide over the last eight months. Our team serves 192 scholars attending thirteen CT colleges and universities and supports them as they excel in college. We look forward to witnessing greatness from our future leaders and changemakers! Thank you, founding champions and community partners, for making our mission and impact real.
"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
- Harriet Tubman
Happy Holidays!
Onward and in partnership,
Kelonda Maull
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TOTAL 2022 SCHOLARS: 192
While more than 400 Waterbury high school students were initially on track to meet the eligibility requirements of the WP scholarship from the Class of 2022, our final cohort of 192 scholars was ultimately based upon final grades and attendance rates, FAFSA completion, the number of students who decided to pursue options other than college (i.e., join the military, enter the workforce) and the number of students who chose to attend a CT-based college or university.
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Season’s Greetings from the Waterbury Promise Team! It’s been a whirlwind of activity since our launch last December and we have been hard at work making good on the promise to build a generation of college graduates right here in Waterbury. We welcomed our first cohort of 192 talented scholars last spring, proudly attended awards nights and graduations (where WP Scholars donned special burgundy and white honor cords) and gathered with families at a special Scholar Celebration Day to recognize their accomplishments, reinforce the importance of college persistence and restate our commitment to support them through graduation. Since then, we’ve been monitoring their progress as they’ve transitioned to college life—through emails, surveys, calls, texts and campus visits—and have been tracking financial needs that fall outside of the scholarship’s reach. All of this information will help us prioritize the creation and rollout of critical wraparound services in 2023 to increase persistence and graduation rates as well as career readiness to ensure our scholars are well-positioned to join the workforce of tomorrow.
Operationally, we welcomed an Executive Director, added a Director of Development & Community Engagement, secured our 501 c3 designation and disbursed our first round of scholarship payments to schools this fall. We extend a special THANK YOU to the Connecticut Community Foundation for managing the scholarship disbursement process for us! There has also been a flurry of activity around increasing the program’s visibility—to students (a.k.a. future scholars), families, guidance counselors, community and business leaders and the general public.
Nearby sister programs like Hartford and New Haven Promise are living proof of the “Power of the Promise”—reporting impressive college persistence rates and celebrating milestone achievements like a former scholar who recently earned her M.D. These are the results we are working to replicate here in the Brass City, rewarding our own talented students who have shown great academic promise and making sure they have the resources and support they need to succeed in college and beyond.
Looking ahead, we are already gearing up to begin our outreach to WPS, Holy Cross and Kaynor Tech seniors who currently meet Waterbury Promise eligibility requirements to encourage them to stay on track through graduation. In fact, we already held two successful FAFSA Completion Workshops for seniors (with more scheduled for late-January) and are deeply grateful to the guidance counselors who came out to provide technical assistance to many Waterbury families.
Before the New Year is upon us, we invite you to browse our photo gallery for a look back at our inaugural year. It has been an exciting and powerful journey so far, filled with inspiring stories and incredibly heartfelt offers of support and partnership. We know it will truly take a village to keep this promise of a brighter future for our youth and our great city. We hope you’ll consider joining us on this great adventure!
Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season
and a joyous New Year!
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ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
- Class of 2022 is receiving up to $1,250
- Class of 2023 will receive up to $2,500
- Class of 2024 will receive up to $3,750
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Class of 2025 and beyond will receive up to $5,000
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AVAILABLE MATCHING GRANTS
Thanks to partnership agreements, these colleges provide a scholarship
match to Promise Scholars who are admitted to their school:
University of Connecticut: Full match of $5,000
Eastern Connecticut State University: Match of up to $5,000
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Promise Scholar Alex Hollister, Eastern Connecticut State University, 2026
How does it feel to be a Waterbury Promise Scholar, and what does the scholarship mean to you?
Being a Waterbury Promise Scholar feels like I've accomplished beyond what I could imagine. Since I was awarded the scholarship, it felt like my hard work throughout high school paid off, and I'll always be grateful for that. The scholarship opened up a door I couldn't have accessed without help from the Waterbury Board of Education.
What is your favorite class, professor, and why?
My favorite class during my first semester at Eastern Connecticut State University is ENG-202-02, Introduction to English Studies with Professor Youngblood. The assignments have kept me interested throughout the semester since there's room for imagination and creativity. Professor Youngblood has been understanding towards all backgrounds and promotes inclusivity, making me feel welcomed daily in the classroom. Additionally, he creates a warm atmosphere by adjusting to each student's needs and trying to accommodate everyone in the best way possible.
What would you tell a future Waterbury Promise Scholar?
If I had the opportunity to speak to a future Waterbury Promise Scholar, I would tell them not to take the scholarship for granted. The Waterbury Promise Scholarship has been a significant help for me in tuition, and you should always be proud of yourself for even achieving it. Continue to be the best student you can be despite any troubles you may encounter because you have the potential to overcome them; that's part of why you're a Waterbury Promise Scholar. Get involved, and don't let anything limit you.
What have you discovered or learned during your first semester of college life?
During my first semester of college life, I discovered that libraries are genuinely underrated places. I never went to the library when I lived in Waterbury, and I would do my schoolwork sitting in bed, but it's so comforting to sit in the library while listening to music. The environment is motivation, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources available during college. Intertwining this, I've discovered the importance of time management since assignments come up quicker than you may expect - for me, the library helped me tremendously with completing my assignments quickly and efficiently. Initially, finding time was complicated since I work on-campus jobs and am a part of the Executive Board for my residence hall. However, making a planner plotting what I'm doing each day helped amazingly.
What has been your favorite experience at college this far?
I live on campus, and my favorite experience would be hanging out with my roommate and our friend group. Considering I live in gender-inclusive housing at Eastern Connecticut State University, it's a little community where we can be ourselves, and I'm incredibly thankful for my friends. Every moment with them is unique, whether attending events together or having movie nights in their dorm. I'm glad I decided to do the whole college experience of living on campus because I had the opportunity to meet them. Alongside my friends, I had the opportunity to go around and get to know many more people by passing out candy for the Residence Hall Association campaign earlier in the semester. My friends assisted me with my campaign, and it was enjoyable overall!
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A Word From Promise Scholar Victor Figueroa
Central Connecticut State University, Class of 2026
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We Are Doubling the Promise
Did you know that our 2022 Scholar Cohort includes two sets of twins? Matthew and Nicholas Sarracco are Holy Cross graduates and current Quinnipiac University freshmen. Devin and Alanna Pais are graduates of Waterbury Career Academy. Devin is currently attending UConn’s Waterbury Campus while Alanna is enrolled at Naugatuck Valley Community College. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement! We are delighted to be part of their academic and career readiness journeys and look forward to doubling our promise to support these high-achieving twins and their families!
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Banking on Scholar Success
The holiday gift giving season is already in full swing and Waterbury Promise is thrilled to announce that Thomaston Savings Bank has pledged $20,000 over four years to support the success of Waterbury youth! In fact, the bank’s commitment to Waterbury Promise goes beyond this significant financial investment. Job shadowing and internship opportunities for 2022 Promise Scholars interested in business, banking and finance and more are already being explored in recognition of the program’s focus on providing hands-on skill development and career readiness training, in addition to needed scholarship dollars. Thomaston Savings Bank has been supporting the needs of the local community since 1874, and we are delighted to have them in our corner as a partner and resource for years to come.
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Eversource Provides Seed Funding for Scholar Emergency Fund
Next semester, Waterbury Promise Scholars facing financial hardship will have access to a new, dedicated Scholar Emergency Fund, thanks to a $2,500 Community Grant from Eversource Energy. While the program’s last-dollar scholarship can be used to cover any expenses billed by a college (i.e., tuition, room and board, fees, etc.), it cannot be applied to other essential, often expensive items, like books and laptops, or even unexpected personal expenses that may arise. With these dollars in hand, Waterbury Promise will have additional capacity to remove financial barriers and aid highly-talented scholars secure the resources they require for post-secondary success. Details concerning the rollout of this Fund and related application requirements will be available after the first of the year.
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Tis' the Season...for Giving! | |
Support Waterbury Promise
As 2022 draws to a close, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported Waterbury Promise this year. Your generous gifts of time, expertise and funding have truly been a blessing and we celebrate your commitment to the future of our youth and our great city.
If you haven’t already engaged with Waterbury Promise, please consider joining our growing family! With 192 scholars to support and hundreds more on the way this spring, we are looking for partners! With your help, we can transform lives and put a college degree within reach for talented Waterbury students. Your contributions will directly support our scholars through:
- Scholarship awards that remove financial barriers and minimize student loan debt;
- Emergency funding for those facing financial hardship so they can access essential supplies for college success; and
- Invaluable programs and support services to get them to the finish line.
Your Gift Makes a Difference!
“I am a Waterbury native and look back with much appreciation, fondness, and gratitude to all the Waterburians who created opportunities and a professional path for me - we stand on the shoulders of giants. I will always be proud and thankful to be able to call Waterbury my home town. It was a great place to grow up, and it is wonderful to see the city's enduring efforts to improve the lives of its citizens and the health of its communities!”
Lou Anne DeMattei, Waterbury Promise Supporter
B.W. Tinker Elementary and Holy Cross High School ('80) Alum
Retired Captain, U.S. Navy Reserve
Program Manager, U.S. Department of Defense
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Adrienne Parkmond, Board Chair & COO of The Workplace | "I am honored to serve as the inaugural chair of the Waterbury Promise Board of Directors. I truly believe Waterbury Promise is a game changer for the future of our great city. This program provides opportunity, hope, and access to a brighter future for many of our students. When we give our students thrive, our families thrive and our communities thrive. Join me in giving to Waterbury Promise, you will be glad you did!" | | |
Partner Colleges and Universities | | |
Connect with us on social media! | | | | |
