Students & Scholarships

Honoring High School Students with a Commitment to Community Service

Applications are now being accepted for its 2027 JWV Community Service Scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who have made a significant contribution to the Stamford community and are given in honor of Stamford veterans who have selflessly served our country and community.

The JWV Community Service Scholarships were established in 2005 when Fred Robbins Post 142 expanded the Citizen of the Year (COTY) program – one of Stamford’s most coveted community service/volunteer recognition efforts – to include young adults.

“These scholarships go beyond academic performance, to acknowledge excellence and leadership in community service across Stamford’s broad and diverse needs. Like the Citizen of the Year, these students must demonstrate the high standards of responsibility in civic life, help in the promotion of projects for the public welfare and personally have worked with distinction to improve Stamford on a community-wide basis.”  – Gary Stone, co-chair of the Stamford Citizen of the Year Committee and co-chair of the Scholarship Selection Committee

Are you a senior with commitment to community service? Apply for a $7,500 community service scholarship.
Apply using PDF Form Apply using Online Form

2026 Application Process Closed

2/26/2027 Deadline

History of the JWV Community Scholarship Program

In 2004, Rick Redniss, who had attended a number of Citizen of the Year Commemorations, gave the keynote address for Marc Lyons, the 2003 recipient. After reading several articles in the Stamford Advocate about high school students devoting significant time and energy to meaningful community service, Rick saw a different perspective. Rick believed that it seemed only fitting to try to expand the overall program to acknowledge those high school students who made significant contributions to the community, and who very well could, someday be selected as a Citizen of the Year themselves, either in Stamford or another community.
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To that end, under the guidance of Rick Redniss and Gary Stone, The Fred Robbins Post agreed to establish the JWV Community Scholarship Program to help foster and promote community service and to recognize, in a tangible fashion, through meaningful scholarships, these exceptional and motivated young men and women.

2026 Student Scholarship Recipients

Tanisha Alilaikannan – AITE
Annabelle Alvarez – Westhill High School
Nadav Coll – Stamford High School

Ruby Jimenez – Westhill High School
Ishana Kumar – Rye Country Day School

2026 Scholarship Recipients

Tanisha Alilaikannan

Academy of Information
Technology and Engineering

Tanisha is a highly motivated, honorable, and dedicated student whose integrity and commitment to helping others have shaped her leadership both in and beyond the classroom. She is known for her maturity, initiative, and her deep commitment to lifting others up and guiding those around her. 

In the Civil Air Patrol, Tanisha has distinguished herself as one of the most capable and respected cadets in her squadron. Rising through roles as Flight Sergeant, Cadet Aerospace Education Officer, Flight Commander, and ultimately Cadet Commander of the largest squadron in New York Wing, she oversees more than seventy cadets while modeling the Air Force core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence. She has led the Honor Guard, coordinated Aerospace Education activities, and guided her team to national finalist recognition in the MIT CubeSat Challenge, where they earned the Best Presentation Quality Award for their disaster relief satellite design. She has also led CAP/NASA missions, attended leadership schools, supported veterans’ ceremonies, and earned multiple leadership honors, reflecting her dedication to service and mentorship.

Beyond Civil Air Patrol, Tanisha founded and leads the Junior Leadership Board at Women’s Mentoring Network, recruiting peers and organizing drives that provided essential items to women and families. She has volunteered with the Ferguson Library, encouraging participation in the Summer Reading Program, and supported the Stamford Museum & Nature Center through educational and family events. Across her work, she leads with professionalism, initiative, and a genuine desire to uplift others.

Tanisha has committed to University of Southern California.

Annabelle Alvarez

Westhill High School

Annabelle is a responsible, dependable, and self disciplined student whose leadership and commitment to serving others have strengthened her school and the Stamford community. She is known for her steady leadership, thoughtful approach to challenges, and willingness to support those around her, consistently demonstrating the values of respect, integrity, and loyalty.

In JROTC, Annabelle has shown strong leadership, rising from Private to Lieutenant Colonel and serving as Battalion Commander, the highest student leadership position. She oversees more than 180 cadets, manages a senior staff, prepares reports, leads ceremonies, and supports major battalion events. Her service includes charity fundraisers, clothing, food and toy drives, Give 2 Troops collections, nursing home visits, and city parades. A notable achievement was leading her battalion in raising $14,000 for the Military Ball. Through JROTC, she has developed skills in motivating others, decision making, planning, public speaking, and teamwork.

Beyond JROTC, Annabelle serves as a Student Ambassador and Community Service Lead with Future 5, where she helps plan and support service programs benefiting organizations such as Veterans Park Partnership, Person to Person, and the Back-to-School Shop. She assists with citywide events, supports programming, and helps create positive experiences for new members. Annabelle also serves as Secretary of the National Honor Society, maintaining club communications and tutoring fellow students, and she contributes to the Westhill wrestling team by managing social media and assisting at practices and meets.

Annabelle has committed to Pennsylvania State University.

Nadav Coll

Stamford High School

Nadav is an exceptional, reliable, and community minded young leader whose maturity and dedication to service have played an important role in his troop, school, and the communities he serves. He is known for his humility, responsibility, and steady leadership style, always demonstrating a genuine desire to help those around him.

In Scouts BSA, Nadav has distinguished himself through years of dedicated service and leadership. He has held roles including Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, guiding younger Scouts, planning troop meetings, coordinating logistics for campouts, and helping oversee troop operations. For his Eagle Scout Project, he envisioned and led the construction of a 16 by 14 foot enclosed vegetable garden at Temple Sinai, managing planning, volunteer coordination, and execution from start to finish. His ability to take ownership of this complex project and motivate others demonstrated the leadership, initiative, and flexibility praised by his Scoutmasters.

Beyond Scouting, Nadav is actively involved in service and leadership across his school and community. He serves as Vice President of the Jewish Student Union, helping plan and lead weekly meetings, and participates in BuildOn, supporting fundraising efforts and citywide cleanups that benefit underserved communities. As Captain of the Stamford Ski Team, he organizes practices and works closely with coaches to support more than thirty athletes. He also volunteers with Schoke Jewish Family Services by distributing food and preparing care packages for families in need, and he supports Temple Sinai through Mitzvah Days and community events.

Nadav has committed to University of Colorado and will be studying Business.

Ruby Jimenez

Westhill High School

Ruby is a kind, community oriented student whose strong work ethic and genuine desire to help others have made a meaningful contribution within her school and the broader community. She is known for her empathy, creativity, and confidence, bringing care and purpose to every initiative she leads.

Through her four years in the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council (MYLC), Ruby has become a respected and influential student leader. As a member of the executive team, she helps plan weekly meetings, develop outreach initiatives, and guide more than forty students addressing mental health, suicide prevention, sexual assault prevention, and peer support. She has led peer to peer programming in both high school and middle school settings, creating thoughtful, research informed educational materials. She also served as the primary architect of High School Uncharted, a guidebook connecting incoming students to mental health resources, district policies, and healthy coping strategies, reflecting her perseverance and commitment to student well being.

Beyond MYLC, Ruby is a Lead Ambassador and Youth Advisory Council member with Kids Helping Kids, where she co-developed a summer science program and supports major community events. She has mentored students at the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, volunteered in Stamford Hospital’s Radiology Department, and helped coordinate community drives through the Women’s Mentoring Network. Ruby has also assisted the Ferguson Library’s Summer Reading Program and serves as Co-President of La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, expanding cultural and educational opportunities for her peers.

Ruby has committed to the University of Connecticut.

Ishana Kumar

Rye Country Day School

Ishana is a thoughtful, humble, and intellectually curious student whose commitment to service has been a positive force within her school and the organizations she serves. She is known for stepping in where help is needed, a steady work ethic, and her desire to create opportunities for others.

At Rye Country Day School, Ishana was selected as a 2025 Community Engagement Fellow, a highly competitive program that allows a small group of students to design meaningful projects with local organizations. Through the Fellowship, she partnered with INTEMPO, creating and teaching a Jazz Pop program for elementary and middle school students. She introduced students to jazz fundamentals, arranged pieces for performances, and adapted when they needed additional support by learning guitar, arranging requested songs, and offering one on one encouragement. Her work helped expand music access at a time when reduced arts funding limited opportunities for young musicians.

Ishana’s intellectual leadership also extends into academic research. She served as a student researcher at the University of Virginia’s Biocomplexity Institute, where she examined breast cancer inequities and contributed to the development of a causal analysis framework to quantitatively assess potential solutions. In addition, Ishana serves on the Public Purpose Student Leadership Board, a selective group of students who mentor clubs, allocate resources, and organize schoolwide initiatives such as the annual Blood Drive and first ever Walkathon fundraiser. She is also the Founder and Student Leader of the Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering program, mentoring students whose projects have placed regionally, and Co President of the Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring Club. She further contributes as a Youth Music Coordinator for the Sri Sathya Sai Organization, composing and performing multilingual fusion music at community events.

Ishana has committed to Wellesley College, where she plans to continue her academic pursuits and compete as a member of the fencing team.

Click Here to See What Some Past Scholarship Recipients Are Up To!

Past Scholarship Recipients

Complete List of Scholarship Recipients

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Past Event Photos, Videos & Journals

Each year, the Citizen of the Year event brings together honorees, students, veterans, and community members for a memorable evening of recognition.

Browse photos, videos, and event journals from past celebrations.

COTY Through the Years Video
©2026 City of Stamford Citizen of the Year | JWV Community Scholarships