2025-2026 Scholarship Finalists
Five seniors named finalists for $22,000 Barton L. Weller Scholarship
Five area high school seniors have been named finalists for the $22,000 Barton L. Weller Scholarship, a regional award recognizing exceptional research and innovation among graduating students. The scholarship, established in 1977 in memory of Barton Weller, founder of Vitramon, Inc. in Monroe, continues his legacy of encouraging academic excellence in a substantial independent research or study project. Seniors from Joel Barlow, Masuk, Newtown, Shelton and Trumbull High Schools are eligible to apply each year.
This year’s finalists are:
- Emily Barnhart, Masuk High School –“Understanding The Connection Between Urban Forestry and Economic Development”
- John Meade, Newtown High School – “Restoring Our Waters: Controlling Microbial and Algal Contamination in Connecticut Lakes”
- Mary Morrison, Masuk High School – “Dance for Every Body”
- Krishiv Patel, Shelton High School – “Pre-Fall Prediction: Anomaly Detection Approach Using IMU Data”
- Aditya Singh, Newtown High School – “A Gamified Approach to Study Material Revision”
Each finalist received a $200 stipend on November 5, 2025, to support research and project materials. Completed projects are due March 4, 2026, with interviews to follow. The $22,000 scholarship winner will be announced on March 21, 2026, and funds will be applied directly to the student’s college or university account.
The Barton L. Weller Scholarship honors Bart’s lasting belief in the power of education, creativity, and curiosity. Now in its 48th year, the program continues to inspire students to pursue projects that reflect innovation, scholarship, and community impact.
Some Past Recipients
2025 | Shane John, Trumbull High School
PROJECT: “Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: Biomaterial Approach Using Mussel Byssal Threads”
Springfield College
2024| Samuel DiVasto, Trumbull High School
PROJECT: “Magnetohydrodynamics Salt Water Generator: Using magnetohydrodynamics to extract energy from flowing saltwater”
UMass Lowell
2023| Sofia Nwosu, Masuk High School
PROJECT: “Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear Prevention in Young Athletes”
Cornell University
2022| Samuel Staubly, Newtown High School
PROJECT: “A Program and System for Accurately Aligning an Astrophotography Mount to a Camera”
Rochester Institute of Technology
2021| Taegan Smith, Newtown High School
PROJECT: “Movements: An Exploration of Impactful Women in History Told Through Dance”
Fordham University
2020 | Owen O’Reilly, Joel Barlow High School
PROJECT: “DOUG: An Organizational Solution for the Storage of Robotics Components”
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
2019| Annika L. Morgan, Joel Barlow High School
PROJECT: “Deuterium Oxide (D2O) on Maintaining Viability in Coliphage Bacteriophages under Low Temperatures to Model Live Attenuated Viral Vaccine Additives”
Dartmouth College
See all of our past recipients
In the News
Encouraging independent study or research among High School Students