Our Scholarship and Award Funds

The Foundation supports New Canaan students continuing their education through a variety of scholarships and awards.

Sapienza Scholarship:

Our largest scholarship program, which is named after the donor who established the fund. The Sapienza Scholarship is a need-based award that helps New Canaan residents of all ages who require financial assistance to continue their education.

Anne and Anthony Sapienza

Joseph F. Dorrico

Joseph F. Dorrico Rotary Award:

Joseph F. Dorrico served as President of the local Rotary Club, and worked as the postmaster in New Canaan until his retirement in 1977. Mr. Dorrico passed away in 2010 but his legacy will live on, through this award fund. In 2009, just before Mr. Dorrico's 90th birthday, his family established a scholarship fund in his honor to tribute his loyal service to the New Canaan community, both professionally and as a volunteer. The Fund makes an annual award to support the education of a New Canaan resident who has demonstrated a similar loyalty to the community through volunteer service.

Silver Hill Scholarship

The Silver Hill Scholarship was established in 2016. Eligible candidates will be New Canaan residents and students whose intended field of study in college and their future career is related to health care. This award is based primarily on financial need, with consideration also given to merit and a demonstrated history of community service.

Block Grants

Nonprofit Organizations who manage scholarship programs of their own are eligible to apply for a Sapienza Scholarship Block Grant. More information below!

Other Award Funds

NCCF manages award funds established by donors to recognize the accomplishments of local students, or to honor an extraordinary person. The winners of these awards are graduating high school seniors selected annually by New Canaan High School, based on criteria established by the donor who created the fund. Awards offered through NCCF include:

The Cynthia Gorey Young Philanthropist Award
Jack Jacobs Congressional Medal of Honor Award for Citizenship
The Miss Timmis Award
New Canaan Community Foundation Community Impact Award
The Richard P. Bond Award
The Team Jim Scholarship Award

Interested in housing a Scholarship or Award with the Foundation? Click here to learn more about our Charitable Fund options.

In 2023, NCCF’s scholarship programs supported:

8 nonprofits with

$20,500 in block grants &

28 students

with $135,000

in scholarships distributed to

25 different schools.

Applying to Our Scholarships

Are you a New Canaan resident attending a non-profit educational organization like college or graduate school? Do you have a demonstrated need for financial assistance to continue your education? We might be able to help!

New students should complete the online Sapienza Scholarship application form which requires:

Submitting a Student Aid Report, either from a CSS Profile or a Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Providing the Financial Aid Award letter from the school you will attend.
Submitting a letter of recommendation and an essay from the college application process.
Requesting an official transcript, which should be sent directly from your most recent school.

Returning students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

GPA of 2.5 or higher
Still a resident of New Canaan
Continue to display financial need

We are committed to funding our scholarship recipients for the duration of their education. Our application process is simplified for returning students. To apply, you can complete the online Sapienza Scholarship application form which requires:

Providing updated financial information
Requesting a current transcript from your school

Sapienza Scholarship applicants - both new and returning - may also be considered for the Dorrico Rotary Award and/or the Silver Hill Scholarship, described above.

Nonprofit Organizations who manage scholarship programs of their own are eligible to apply for a Sapienza Scholarship Block Grant, with which they can provide scholarship funds to students or clients with high academic motivation, who show great promise in their field of study, and who may not otherwise be able to afford to continue their education. Eligible organizations must have an existing or planned scholarship program. Click here to refer to the 2024 guidelines.

2024 Scholarship Timeline:

February 26 - Application Process Open
April 12 - Block Applications Due
May 10: Individual Applications Due
June: Awards Announced
July: Fall semester payments remitted
December: Spring semester payments remitted