Kelsey Lonergan, Higganum, First Scholarship
The first Melissa J. Schlag Good Citizenship Education Award of $1,500 was presented to Kelsey Lonergan of Higganum. Kelsey is a bright, ambitious, caring young woman who is not only an incredible student with a 4.24 grade point average and is a well-rounded athlete, but she is a conscientious citizen who logged in many more community service hours than was required as a camp counselor and in Girl Scouts. (Melissa was a high-ranking Girl Scout, too!)
In her high school academic career, Kelsey earned the following awards and honors: The Gettysburg Book Award, High Honor Roll for four years, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, Outstanding Commitment to Learning Languages UConn: Spanish Intermediate Composition in the year 2020, Excellence in advance placement U.S. History and Civics in the year of 2020, Excellence in UConn Physics in the year of 2020, Excellence in an Introduction to Psychology in the year of 2020, Excellence in World History II honors in the year of 2019, and Excellence in English 10 honors in the year of 2019. Kelsey is currently studying pre-law at Boston College.
Libby Riggs, Higganum, Second Scholarship
We could not be more pleased to honor H-K Senior Libby Riggs, with our second $1,500 Melissa J. Schlag Good Citizenship Education Award. Libby’s incredible, ambitious, high school career exemplifies a tireless, selfless go-getter, a community-minded, caring person. One of her teachers wrote, “Regardless of the task, when Libby works toward a goal, she gets fire in her eyes; ultimately, nothing gets in her way.”
Wow! That reminds us so much of our Melissa. Here is a snapshot of Libby’s accomplishments:
Libby founded and is executive director of Perceptions International, an organization with a strong media presence—a podcast and website— that amplifies the voices of young artists, writers and musicians with disabilities. Perceptions International was funded by the U.S. Department of State in conjunction with the University of Iowa’s Between the Lines Peace and Writing Experience program.
Libby was a high school intern at the Climate Museum, collaborating with peers to research, discuss and create art projects centered around climate justice. At H-K, she founded the Disability Advocacy Club, to help educate students and staff about the concept of disability through disabled art, literature, film and culture. She served on the leadership team of the Human Relations Club, working to give everyone a safe and welcoming environment. She was the editor of Reflections, the school’s literary magazine, a varsity swimmer, a member of the Drama Club and Jazz Band.
In the community, Libby was a Brainerd Memorial Library Volunteer and Teen Advisory Board member. Last, but not least, Libby is an accomplished Girl Scout just like our Melissa was! We thank you, Libby, for your courage and intention to make the world a better place as you explore English, political science and climate justice in college next year.
Caitlin Kukta, Higganum, Third Scholarship
We are proud to present H-K Senior Caitlin Jean Kukta of Higganum, with the Melissa J. Schlag Award for 2024. Caitlin, our third $1,500 scholarship recipient reminds us of Melissa in that she is already proving herself as a prolific, multi-media communicator. Through her high school years, Caitlin not only wrote for the school’s newspaper, The Cougar Chronicle and produced H-K news programs and hosted the 2023 H-K Holiday Show, but she interned and covered stories for the FOX 61 student news program.
In her scholarship essay, Caitlin wrote, “Receiving and providing reliable information and news stories is very important to me especially during a time where misinformation and blatant lies are easily spread and manipulated in ways that can become dangerous for those who believe it. Throughout my time participating in my school and local newspaper and television news programs, I have always made it my mission to obtain the most reliable information before I produce a story on any event. When doing (ENG) projects for the FOX 61 student news program, I do as much research as I can and conduct interviews that help me see the whole story so I can be sure to provide the most reliable information. See Caitlin’s news story covering the area’s free prom dress event on FOX 61.
Caitlin wants to use her skills “to spread awareness about invisible disabilities and stigma around them. She sites personal reasons “…as an individual who has struggled with chronic illness and invisible disabilities, I believe it is important for more awareness to be brought to the fact they exist and help stop the discrimination many people face simply because they do not look “disabled.” See Caitlin’s recent article on a local on-line newspaper entitled, “A Walk to Highlight Veteran’s Suicide Awareness. “
Caitlin has won a number of awards including Excellence in Broadcast and Journalism, First Place at the Eastern Connecticut State University film festival, and high honors during her senior year. Congratulations, Caitlin! Thank you for your courage and intention to make the world a better place, as you further your studies and report honest and accurate news. Caitlin is heading to Southern Connecticut State University in the fall to study journalism and to become a television news journalist.
Saige Merwin, Higganum, 4th Scholarship
The Melissa J. Schlag Good Citizenship Education Award, a $1,500 scholarship was presented to Saige Merwin of Higganum on June 2, 2025. Saige plans to study climate science and engineering at Central Connecticut State University the fall. Saige’s long-term goal is to work for the National Weather Service.
We learned that Saige has been passionate about our environment all of their life. As a Kindergartner, Saige would stand at the window and announce the weather for the day as classmates entered the room. In later years, Saige would advise teachers on whether it was prudent to schedule a test on a specific day, if a storm was predicted. Saige has attended a number of weather conferences to explore which aspects of meteorology are most appealing to pursue as a career.
We also learned, like our Melissa, Saige demonstrates exceptional commitment to causes that benefit others. For the past 12 years, Saige turned their own journey with Type 1 Diabetes into a mission.
By volunteering at Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Saige has served as a Youth Ambassador, representing the chapter at Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C.
Saige has lobbied their Congressional delegation on the importance of continued federal funding for diabetes research. Saige has also testified before the state legislature on the rising cost of insulin.
In their scholarship essay, Saige shares a vision of not only developing a more efficient process of helping people better prepare for harmful weather events, but also to study how changes in the weather impact people with chronic diseases like Type 1 Diabetes, asthma, and arthritis.
Saige knows firsthand that during every change of season, they have to adjust their insulin. Saige believes that if people can understand the correlations in changes of weather and their symptoms, people can prepare and manage their medication more effectively.
Thank you, Saige, for your compassion and dedication to help others. We wish you all of the best.
Friends of Melissa Schlag 