Camille "Candy" Perugini Scholarship Committee Honors Scholarship Recipients

The Camille “Candy” Perugini scholarship committee awarded $11,000 in scholarship money to 10 deserving college-bound students Monday night during a dinner reception at .

The annual scholarship was created in memory of Camille “Candy” Perugini, a native of Prospect, a 1988 graduate of Wolcott High School and a 1992 graduate of Boston College who passed away unexpectedly in 1997 from an undiagnosed medical condition.

To date, the scholarship committee has awarded 124 scholarships to area high schools, and the total amount awarded since 1998 exceeds $166,000.

Camille Perugini graduated with a degree in elementary education and was to pursue a degree in child psychology. 

“She had a true passion for education," said her late sister, Attorney Carla M. Perugini. 

Each year, the committee holds several fundraisers to raise money for the scholarship, most notably the CT Craft Brewers Fest under the Big Top at Jesse Camille's Restaurant that was traditionally held every May, and the annual "Candy's Tourney" Golf Tournament, sponsored by Jesse Camille's Restaurant and held in late August/September. This year, the scholarship committee is holding an OKTOBERFEST UNDER THE TENTS in late September/early October, which will feature samples of beers, wines and a food tent.  

On Monday, scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:

Debora C. DaSilva Oliveira, Naugatuck High School: $1,000 
Kathryn Bottinick, Naugatuck High School: $1,000 
Kaitlin Carter, Naugatuck High School: $1,000 
Nicholas Bernier, Wolcott High School: $2,000 
Nathaniel Elisa D’Amico, Chase Collegiate: $2,000
Michael Torselli, Woodland High School: $2,000

Honorable Mention (each received a $500 award):

Mary K. Korowotny, Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury 
Melissa Leggett, Naugatuck High School 
Isabella Verilli, Naugatuck High School 
Timothy R. Woodfield, Naugatuck High School 

This year, was awarded to Naugatuck High School students from various endowments and civic organizations.