2025 Nantucket Scholars To Be Announced Tonight

The Nantucket Golf Club Foundation will be announcing this year's Nantucket Scholars tonight, April 28th. While the students along with their friends and family will begin to arrive at the Golf Club at 5 p.m., executive director Tom Bresette is expected to begin the ceremony closer to 6 p.m.

The program is entering its 20th year. The chosen winners will receive a full four-year college scholarship for all tuition and fees from the golf club to the college of their choice.

The 10 Nantucket Scholar Finalists are:

Adney Brannigan

Andrea Bunlerssak

Viktoria Dimitrova

Biliana Dountcheva

Elijah Holland

Boyan Kalpazanov

Maddie Lombardi

Nora Sullivan

Owen Sullivan

Cecilia Wendelken

Two students have been selected among the finalists traditionally, however last year there were three students selected. NGCF executive director Tom Bresette told the Current last year that there were a lot of financial considerations in 2024 that played a role in the decision to award a third scholarship for the first time.

“It's not something that we will probably do every year, but there are a lot of considerations to take into mind,” Bresette said after the 2024 Scholar ceremony.

The Nantucket Scholar committee, which is tasked with evaluating all of the candidates, includes Tom Bresette; Michael Cozort (Former Superintendent of Nantucket Public Schools); Alan Cunha (Owner of Le Languedoc Inn and Bistro); Peter Greenhalgh (formerly of the Artists Association); and Jonelle Gurley (Director of Science & Programming at Maria Mitchell Association).

The professional scholarship recipients (formerly known as the vocational scholars) will also be announced and celebrated on Monday. These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated exemplary work in professional programs, internships, summer employment, or similar experiences.

The Professional Scholar Finalists Are:

Conrad Burns

Hansen Dalton

Cecilia Gagnon

Maddeline Muise

Merlin Orellana Rivas

Martina Savova

Tinita Sirisophapong

Curren Wiggin

Rita Wood

Samantha Zadroga

The Professional Scholarship review committee includes Tom Bresette; Michael Cozort; Grace Hull (Director of Member Services at Nantucket Golf Club); Amy Lee (President & CEO at Nantucket Cottage Hospital); and Roberto Santamaria (Executive Director of Fairwinds).

The Nantucket Golf Club Foundation was founded in 2002. The mission of NGCF is to promote the positive development and enrichment of Nantucket children. Through the generous support of the members of Nantucket Golf Club, their guests, and others, the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation has raised $45 million in the last 22 years for the benefit of Nantucket youth. Its charitable initiatives include recurring grant and scholarship programs, as well as occasional capital contributions to worthy, local causes.

The announcement ceremony will be aired live on NCTV's YouTube page here.