PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Connelly Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2024 Neumann Scholars, awarding 52 academically talented eighth-grade students from 35 regional parochial schools with full scholarships to attend any Philadelphia Archdiocesan high school of their choice. The scholarships are worth an average of $8,900 a year, amounting to an approximately $36,000 individual value over four years. This represents a substantial $1.8 million commitment from the Connelly Foundation.
Among the recipients this year are nine students from Chester County. These include Thomas Cassalia and Evan Iyer from SS. Peter and Paul School, Molly Lavin from St. Agnes School, Molly McCarthy from Holy Family School, Keira O’Connor from St. Elizabeth School, Suzanne Sanders from St. Patrick School, Jonathan Schmit from Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic School, and John Simpson and Connor Todd from SS. Philip and James School.
“The Neumann Scholars Program remains dedicated to fostering academic excellence by providing top-tier Catholic education within Archdiocesan high schools,” said Josephine C. Mandeville, Chair of the Connelly Foundation Board.
This year, 569 students from 101 parochial schools in the five-county area competed for the scholarships, with the standardized test administered during the week of September 25, 2023. Besides Chester County, scholarship recipients also include students from Bucks County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County.
The Neumann Scholars Program, launched in 1995, identifies scholastically gifted eighth-grade students through an independently administered competitive examination. Since its inception, the program’s graduates have enjoyed 100% college acceptance with over $207 million offered in college scholarships, 115 National Merit Finalists, two National Merit Semi-Finalists, 228 National Merit Commended Students, and an average SAT score of 1436.
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