Gray Foundation


The Gray Foundation, Inc. was established in 2007. The purpose is to promote Irish culture, music and dance in Connecticut. The foundation provides competitive scholarships and academic scholarships.




September 25, 2008

Dear Parents,

The Gray School was very well represented at the North American Champions in both solo and team dancing. The school achieved great success and the entire faculty is very proud of every dancer that performed. Many parents, students and teachers worked very hard to raise funds for the Gray Foundation. Events that helped the Gray Foundation were a tremendous number of shows throughout the year, the Gaelic and Garlic Evening, the journal advertisements, the water sales at the studio, the candy and water sales at the recitals and class feis, recital flower sales, and the vendor fees from the feis have all helped to provide us to award scholarships.

I am very proud to say that this year The Gray Foundation awarded $7000.00 to graduating seniors in academic scholarships and $9000 in travel scholarships went to our World qualifiers along with over 50 dancers that went to the North American Championships.

First place champions from the New England Oireachtas that are from the Gray School receive sponsorship from the Gray Foundation. They were awarded of $1000 to help defray their expenses to attend both the All World Irish Dancing Championships and North American Irish Dancing Championships. The Gray Foundation awarded $100.00 or paid $100.00 toward the purchase of a new school costume to those dancers that attended the North American Championships that participated in the various fundraisers and shows throughout the year. Those dancers that were able to meet the goal of getting the quota for advertisements in the journal received $300.00 scholarship money. The Gray Foundation provided new headbands for 45 ceili team dancers.

To those that did not purchase a school costume, enclosed please find a check to help defray the cost of going to the North American Championships in Nashville.

I hope that you will continue to support all our fund raising endeavors.

Respectfully,

Iris Gray Sharnick



2008 Adelaide Gray Memorial Scholarship Recipients

First place $2000 scholarship to Sarah Mulvihill Oravecz - University of Connecticut
Second place $1500 scholarship to Colleen Mello - University of Connecticut
Third place $1000 scholarship to Julie Wamser - University of Notre Dame

Finalists received $500.00 and they were:
Emilie Kracen - University of Mary Washington,
Erin Pedone - Eckerd College,
and Andrea Stillson - Central Connecticut State University



2007 Adelaide Gray Memorial Scholarship Recipients

First place $2000 scholarship to Bridget Nyland - Villanova University
Second place $1500 scholarship to Tilly Philbrick - Tufts University
Third place $1000 scholarship to Megan Fahey - Stonehill College

Finalists received $500.00 and they were:
Ellen Binio - University of Connecticut,
Katelin Hawley - Mt. St. Mary College,
and Lauryn Saunders - Western CT State University



Past Recipients

2006

Kaitlin Sullivan
Elizabeth Hart
Kate-Lynn Kokinchak
Mary Kate Langlois
Amanda Stewart
Catherine Thorne
Marielle Bischoff-Wurstle


2005

Danielle Beasley


2004

Erin Hayes
Erin O’Dell
Janelle-Marie Falko Lynch


2003

Christina Dolzall
Katie Fateux
Kieran Morris
Kaitlin Stumpf
Laura Woolery


2002

Mary Kate Randall
Rachel Ingraham


2001

Kristin Miller
Jordan Monez
Katie Woessner


2000

Miriam Kurien


1999

Ann Marie Hines
Denise Olive


1998

Ann Marie Hines


1997

Denise Olive