North Haven Residents Named SCC Scholar Leaders

NORTH HAVEN, CT — Two North Haven residents were among the 46 students recognized and honored as “SCC Scholar Leaders” at a banquet at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven on Monday, March 30.

“The Scholar Leaders, as selected by their respective schools’ principal, have demonstrated outstanding scholarship and leadership in their respective school and external communities,” according to a news release from the Southern Connecticut Conference. “Special thanks to CNG/SCG and UI, part of the Avangrid family, for their presenting sponsorship of the SCC Scholar Leader banquet.”

North Haven High School’s Valerie Adams and Gavin Knauft received the honor.

At the conclusion of the evening, two Scholar Leaders – Samantha Mera Toro (Hillhouse) and Ella Cranmer (Lyman Hall) were recognized as the recipients of the “Bill O’Brien Community Service Scholarship.” Each received $500.

2025-26 SCC Scholar Leaders

Amity Regional – Sophie Cohen, Burke Lindsay

Branford – Tate Jones, Nate Durante

Hill Regional Career – Akawsi Okyere, Chyna Lopes

Cheshire – Tema Caplan, Braeden Turski

Daniel Hand – Colton Bartholomew, Lilliana Gerrard

East Haven – Steve Condo, Ava DiNola

Fairfield Prep – Josh Salazar, Ryan Ventrelle

Joseph A. Foran – Thao Pham, Andrew Bishop

Guilford – Ethan Parker, Emma Vittorio

Hamden – Alexander Medina, Lyla Patel

James Hillhouse – Samantha Mera Toro, Antonio Ponton

Jonathan Law – Layla Alogna, Marcus Townes

Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall – Eve Mena, Lydia-Grace Sessler

Lyman Hall – Vincent D’Amico, Ella Cranmer

Mercy – Irene Milite, Beatrice Perrault

North Haven – Valerie Adams, Gavin Knauft

Notre Dame – William Bader, Jovan Lakaj

Sacred Heart Academy – Divya Sankar, Mia Thomas

Mark T. Sheehan – Nicholas Kent, Yi Zeng

Shelton – Matthew Quevedo, Sienna Giampaolo

West Haven – Ehsanullah Hadi, Jennifer Ngo

Wilbur Cross – Julian Theodore, Charlotte Herzog

Xavier – Daniel Cruz, Nicholas Salamone

>>>Read more: The event program with recipient biographies