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Scholarship Recipients Update

Angel Katiewicz
a 4 year recipient of the ZFF scholarship in 2013 and a graduate of the University of CT 2017

After graduating in May 2017 with a BA in Psychological Sciences and Human Development and Family Studies I secured a position at the Devereux Glenholme School as Evening Boarding Faculty. I work with children from 10-21 who have psychological, behavioral, and social disorders ranging from Autism to anxiety/depression etc. to learning disorders. Since starting at Glenholme I have been promoted to Assistant Program Supervisor and spend much of my day-to-day work managing individual behaviors and re-integrating children back into their groups. I have been given the opportunity to help 2 social workers on campus with a DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) group where we teach distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness skills to girls on our campus prone to rapid mood swings and self-injurious behavior. In the fall I am beginning my MSW at UConn with a clinical focus on individuals, groups, and families. I hope to use this education in conjunction with an MPA to become a clinical social worker and eventually a clinical director. 


Thomas Valencis
1 year recipient who became a 4 year scholarship recipient in 2013 and graduate of Eastern CT State University in 2017

I currently hold an accounting position within Pratt and Whitney where I take on the role of contract accounting.  I currently plan on continuing my Master’s in Accounting degree at the University of Hartford.


Lucy Hopko
4 year recipient of the ZFF scholarship in 2012 and a graduate of Quinnipiac University in 2016

I graduated from PA school in August 2018, started working in the Hartford Hospital Medical ICU and stepdown in November 2018 and got engaged in February 2019! David and I are planning to get married February 16, 2020!


Alivia Rhault
Our first 4 year scholarship recipient in 2009 and a graduate of the University of CT in 2013

 I just recently accepted a position as a Fellowship Program Coordinator with Connecticut Children’s in Hartford. I am so excited to be in an Academic Coordination role. I will be managing the Fellowship Programs for Pediatric Pulmonology, Pediatric Infectious Disease, Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Emergency Medicine. I will manage all aspects of the Accreditation of the programs as well as aid the Fellows in their completion of the program from Recruitment to Graduation!