UConn student and Ridgefield resident Ari Fischer is graduating this spring with a degree in chemical engineering. He has been accepted to UC Berkeley’s doctoral program, and is hoping to one day become a professor. He was the only Connecticut winner of the 2014 Udall scholarship for his work on clean energy technology. Fischer met with Ridgefield state Rep. John Frey at UConn’s Academic Showcase in Hartford.
Claire Quinn and Peter D. Conroy of Ridgefield have been placed on the Gettysburg College dean’s commendation list. They are both political science majors.
Tufts University recently announced the dean’s list for the fall 2014 semester, which included the following students from Ridgefield: Eric Peterson, Class of 2015, and Claire Schupmann, Class of 2015.
David Johnson, a senior philosophy-religion major in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Ithaca College, presented his research paper Philosophy as Autobiography: Emerson as a Religious Philosopher at the first annual Religion and Culture Conference held at Syracuse University.
Brianne Varnerin of Ridgefield was recently initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi. Varnerin was initiated at Virginia Tech.
Taylor Starr, who’s majoring in stage and production management at Emerson College, participated in Emerson Stage’s production of X Dance and NewFest New Works Festival as NewFest Shorts/Readings/Songs stage manager. This was a monthlong celebration of the creativity of Emerson students.
Julie A. Toich, a member of the Class of 2015 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa this spring. Toich, who is majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, was one of 52 students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Colby. A graduate of Ridgefield High School, she is the daughter of Leno and Sandra Toich.
Cara Paige La Motta
Cara Paige La Motta is a member of the Vanderbilt University graduating Class of 2015. She is earning a bachelor’s degree in child development and pre-nursing with honors and will graduate magna cum laude.
Samantha Holmes of Ridgefield was recently selected as a Phillips Ambassador for study abroad in Asia. Holmes, a first-year public policy major at Duke University, will study in India through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Summer in India program. She is the daughter of Keith and Patricia Holmes of Ridgefield.
The College Democrats of New York recently wrapped up their state convention by electing new leaders for the 2015-16 school year. Cornell student Willow Hubsher of Ridgefield was named Southern Region chair.
Ridgefield native Christopher P. DiElsi was recently inducted into Stonehill College’s Lambda Epsilon Sigma honor society. DiElsi is a member of the Class of 2016 and a history major.