Fundraising Events & News

Higher Edge Annual Golf Tournament

When this tournament began in 2021, the organization’s now college seniors were freshmen. The event’s sponsors and golfers have literally seen our students through their college career. So here’s to next year. See you October 20, 2025!

Thank you to the following businesses and individuals for making the tournament so successful!

Hole Sponsors: Centreville Bank, FastSigns, Gladys Rivera, Homestead Funding, Liberty Bank, Stefanski Services, Suisman & Shapiro, World Insurance

Golf Cart Sponsors: Chelsea Groton Bank, Cultura, Katherine Verano, Providence Mutual Insurance, Ted Dubay

Tee Sponsors: Barbara Willkens, Bouvier Insurance, The Butler Family, Debbie Farino, Dorothy & John Pickering, Hoyt, Filipetti & Malaghan, Jaqueline Lamourine, Marilyn Rafkin, Tori Heim

Higher Edge’s Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024 at Great Neck Country Club in Waterford, CT. This is Higher Edge’s primary fundraising event! Connecting 80 golfers and over two dozen sponsors; it’s always a great day!

Sponsorships are available at various levels, ranging from $125 – $1,000. Of course, there is also the chance to play for a great cause. Player cost is $125, which includes green fees, golf cart and dinner.

If interested in being a sponsor or golfer, please contact Katie, Executive Director, at [email protected].

SPECIAL THANKS to Doctorate Level Sponsor, Homestead Funding!

Eleven + Is Coming to New London

The Day, 1/2022

Higher Edge Announces New Leadership

Higher Edge, 6/2021

Back to school: Program Gives Hispanic Students An Edge In College

CTLatinoNews.com, 8/2019

Higher End: Ayuda a los primeros universitarios de familias de pocos recursos

El Diario, 8/2019

Higher Edge Receives Grant from The Lord Foundation for Scholarships

Windham Chamber, 9/2018

Giving Bright Minds a Better Future

Connecticut Family Magazine, Toni Leland, Summer 2018

Hispanic Alliance Honors 20 Area Students

The Day, Benjamin Kail, 6/2018

Native Haitian wins coveted QuestBridge Scholarship

The Day, Greg Smith, 7/2017

New London high school senior aims high for future career

The Day, Greg Smith, 5/2017

When Doug Henton graduates Sunday, we will all graduate with him

The Day, Mike DiMauro, 5/2017

Students, community leaders taking to dance floor in support of Higher Edge college program

The Day, Colin Young, 11/2014

Dancing steps in support of Higher Edge college program fundraiser

The Day, Dana Jensen, 11/2014

higheredgect

Thank you to the Liberty Bank Foundation! Your sup

Thank you to the Liberty Bank Foundation! Your support of Higher Edge extends beyond funding. You are a true advocate of our work and we are lucky to have you in OUR community.

Pictured Left to Right:
•Katie Hallisey, Higher Edge Executive Director
•Pam Days-Luketich, Liberty Bank Vice President, Community Outreach Officer
•Dave Bouffard, Tier 1 Manager, VP

😊💙🎓💵

We are excited to announce the release of our upda

We are excited to announce the release of our updated website.

www.higheredge.org

With more data and student stories, it provides a deeper look into the organization’s work and details the direct impact Higher Edge is making on young people’s lives.

We hope you like it as much as we do!

Special thanks to website developer, Kent Fuller, for all he did to bring this design to life.

PS To current students and alumni - Send us pictures if you want to be included on the site.

🎓🎓🌟💻🙌🏼

Today is National Voter Registration Day. We hop

Today is National Voter Registration Day.

We hope you will take a few minutes to check your registration status and create a plan to vote.

www.vote.gov

Election Day is only 48 days away.

🇺🇸🗳️

We are proud to serve a diverse group of students

We are proud to serve a diverse group of students through our programming. We are even more proud when we get the opportunity to share some of their cultures and traditions with our community.

Follow along with us from now until October 15th as we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month.

Today, we remember all who were lost that fateful

Today, we remember all who were lost that fateful day and reflect upon the countless stories of heroism.

We will never forget.
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📸: Getty Images

New Student taking over tomorrow for move in! Brie

New Student taking over tomorrow for move in! Brielle a recent Three Rivers High School grad is headed to Eastern CT State @easternctstateuniv 🥳🎉

It's Student takeover, move in day 1! I'm Stephani

It's Student takeover, move in day 1! I'm Stephanie, incoming freshman at UCONN Storrs. It's move in weekend and we've just completed our first day 😊

We are so ready for move-in weekend! Get ready for

We are so ready for move-in weekend! Get ready for our first student takeover tomorrow Stephanie!! Be sure to like and follow to see what she gets up to @uconn

Mark your calendars! Come eat, meet, and greet! Yo

Mark your calendars! Come eat, meet, and greet! You in?

Please join us in welcoming our newest team member

Please join us in welcoming our newest team member, Tamara Berry. She will be a Success Program Advisor, working alongside Gracie to support our college students.

Tamara is originally from Greenville, South Carolina. She attended the College of Charleston where she earned her Bachelors in Foreign Language Education & Spanish.

Education plays a special place in her heart as she is also a 1st generation college graduate. She realizes it not only opens doors to career opportunities, but also enriches life with invaluable experiences and meaningful connections with others.

Tamara enjoys making soap, thrift store shopping and going to the theater.

Her favorite cereal is Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 Please join us in wholeheart

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

Please join us in wholeheartedly wishing Gracie a Happy 5 year Work Anniversary!!

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

There are honestly not enough accolades or words to adequately describe her. The manner in which she not only advises students, but supports them through their journey is unmatched. She is kind, compassionate and patient. She addresses each student individually and never passes judgement. The organization has undoubtedly benefited from her guidance. I too, as an educator and leader, have flourished with Gracie as a colleague.

Thank you again for ALL that you do!!

PS Gracie is also the bestest Justin Timberlake fan!!! So lucky to share that with her too!!

Our final senior spotlight for the Class of 2024 🎓is Luis Rodriguez-Veras who’s earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Connecticut. He is a grad from Science and Tech Magnet High School of SECT in New London. While being a student he commissioned in the Army National Guard as an Officer! In the Fall he will be returning to UConn to begin his masters program in Sports Management. Luis hopes to teach, mentor and give back. “The best gift I can give to others is knowledge. I would like to be a coach and also run a business one day.” Advice to students, “Instead of asking “why is this happening to me?” Ask “what is this trying to teach me?”. You will have many challenges along the way in college regardless. Embrace your grit, accept the challenge, and get over that barrier.” Great words of wisdom, we wish you the best for your masters program and great future ahead!!

Congratulations to another Class of 2024! Wilmalis

Congratulations to another Class of 2024! Wilmalis Rodriguez, New London High School alumni, completed her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from The University of Connecticut. Wilmalis is a research technician but hopes to get a masters in city planning and work for the state one day. Her advice for students, “Ask for help! It doesn’t mean you don’t belong there and it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. It just means you want to understand and succeed.” Great advice from an awesome person, your future is bright! 🎓

Today we congratulate Francesca M. Ledoux, New Lon

Today we congratulate Francesca M. Ledoux, New London High School alumni. Francesca earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, concentration on Allied Health. She plans on working as a phlebotomy technician and EMT with completion of her Nursing degree in a few years. The health world will gain an amazing person, we wish you the best!! Francesca’s advice: “the process of applying to schools might seem hard and overwhelming at the beginning, but it will all be worth it at the end. Just keep at it because I was in your seat so if I can do it, you can do it too”⚕️🎓

Congratulations to Class of 2024 grad- Destiny Ros

Congratulations to Class of 2024 grad- Destiny Rosa, New London High School alumni who completed her studies at The University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minored in human development. Destiny’s post grad plans are open as with a degree in Psychology she is considering several different paths. “My goal is to find a career that allows me to help others and make a positive impact on their lives. I’ll be exploring different opportunities and experiences to determine the best fit for me”. We can’t wait to see where the road takes you Destiny! No doubt you will excel in the work force just as you did as a student and person. Destiny’s advice to all students: “Embrace the journey and be open to new experiences.Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because thats when growth happens.
Take care of your mental health. Balance your studies with activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Lastly, remember that it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. The path to your goals may not be straightforward, and that’s perfectly fine.” 🎓🎉

Highlighting some of our college grads, class of 2

Highlighting some of our college grads, class of 2024! 🎓 Join us in congratulating Nashalee Ferrer, Windham Technical High School alumni who graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Connecticut 🩺 Nashalee will be starting her career in the neuro/trauma Patient Care Unit and then the goal is to transfer to the Labor and Delivery Unit. Her advice to CAP students, “Get those applications done as soon as possible and don’t be afraid to apply to “reach” schools.” Advice to incoming college first years:
“Learn time management and prioritize self care, you should be able to get studying and homework done and still have time for yourself during the day!” Wise words to take from a grad in a very tough major. Congratulations you did it! 🎉

As we look to next year; I would like to sincerely

As we look to next year; I would like to sincerely thank the following foundations for providing financial backing to Higher Edge.

•Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation
•Chelsea Groton Foundation
•Community Foundation of Eastern CT
•CT Health & Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA)
•Dime Bank Foundation
•James P. & Mary E. Shea Perpetual Trust
•Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation

Without public funding; the organization would not be able to run. But it’s so much more than a signed check and grant agreement. Because community support reinstates the organization’s mission of getting students to AND through college. More importantly; it gives value to our students educational goals and demonstrates a commitment to their dreams.

🙌🏼🎓

Today we celebrated our high school CAP class of 2

Today we celebrated our high school CAP class of 2024!! Decision Day is held annually to not only congratulate our students for their decision on where to attend but it’s also the end of the CAP program. Attendants received Higher Edge swag and gift cards to support their transition to college. Thank you to our supporters and all who make it possible to help participants of Higher Edge! This was a great year and look forward to the next!! So far students are off to Wagner College, University of Hartford, Connecticut College, Howard University just to name a few 🙂 🎓

Excited to announce that Higher Edge is hiring a S

Excited to announce that Higher Edge is hiring a Success Program Advisor.

A part time position;, this person will help prepare and support college students through their educational journey so that they have the skills, readiness and confidence to persist. This person will be a team player with the ability to build rapport, maintain trust and provide guidance that is encouraging, inclusive and honest.

To apply, visit https://www.indeed.com

Have questions, email Katie (Executive Director) at go@higheredge.org

Please share! It’s that time of year - Applicat

Please share!

It’s that time of year - Application Season!

If you are in the high school class of 2025 and interested in receiving support getting you to AND through college; then apply now!

Spots are filling up quickly!

Programming begins in August and we are excited to be welcoming our 14th!!! cohort of students!

🎓🌟

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