The Persbacker Family Fund at Connecticut Community Foundation has awarded college scholarships of $5,000 each to five Bridgewater residents for the 2022-23 academic year.

The Persbacker Family Fund is among the largest college scholarship funds available to students residing in Bridgewater, Connecticut. To receive an award from the fund, a student must demonstrate an outstanding commitment to community service in the town of Bridgewater, and the student’s primary residence must have been in Bridgewater for at least six years. The honors are renewable for up to four years.
Former Bridgewater resident Victor L. Persbacker established the scholarship fund at the Foundation with the intention of making college more affordable for local students who are involved in volunteer work throughout the Bridgewater community.

“Recipients of Persbacker family scholarships are exceptional scholars and deeply committed to the Bridgewater community,” said Josh Carey, director of grants management at Connecticut Community Foundation. “Their volunteerism seems to have no bounds. Over the years, students have given countless hours of their time to the Burnham Library, Bridgewater Parks and Recreation camp, faith communities, and numerous other organizations in town. We hope that they will continue to be community leaders as their journeys continue.”

The Persbacker Fund has awarded scholarships totaling over $285,000 to 36 students since its inception in 2004. Congratulations to the following scholars for the 2022-2023 academic year:

  • Taryn Crossley
    University of Connecticut, Class of 2024
    Field of Study: Environmental Studies
  • Julia Sinatra
    Hamilton College, Class of 2024
    Field of Study: Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • Bailey Herron
    Elon University, Class of 2024
    Field of Study: Spanish and Political Science
  • Annika Vikstrom
    Middlebury College, Class of 2025
    Field of Study: Liberal Arts and Sciences / Humanities
  • Sierra Wilson
    Delaware Valley University, Class of 2025
    Field of Study: Agriculture and Related Sciences
  • Evan Woerner
    Quinnipiac University, Class of 2026
    Field of Study: Biology and Biomedical Sciences

Learn more about the scholarship program at Connecticut Community Foundation at conncf.org/scholarships.