The Connecticut REALTORS® Foundation recently awarded their 2025 Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Memorial Scholarships. The Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1976 in memory of Raymond F. Gates, Jr. following his tragic death in an automobile accident. Mr. Gates was the Executive Vice President of the Connecticut REALTORS®. Over the past 49 years, children of REALTORS® have been awarded scholarships totaling more than $1,000,000. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Connecticut REALTORS® Foundation is proud to announce that, in total, 51 outstanding children of CT REALTORS® were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship.
GHAR is excited that 16 local recipients were among the 51 selected.
Tianna Bilodeau completed her freshman year at Sacred Heart University where she is enrolled in the Dual Degree Speech Pathology Program. Her career goal is to work in a hospital treating patients with swallowing disorders. Tianna is the daughter of REALTOR® Teresa Bilodeau with eXp Realty in Stamford.
Zachary Cooper attended Tantasqua Regional High School and is heading to the Rochester Institute of Technology as a Computer Science major with a minor in Cybersecurity/Mathematics. He would like to land a job as either a network architect/administrator, cybersecurity specialist or software engineer. Zachary is the son of Designated REALTOR® Kathleen Sposato of Sposato Realty Group in Sturbridge, MA.
Mason Everett is graduating from Wethersfield High School and heading to Nichols College to study Sports Management. His goal is to become a football coach at the college level. Mason is the son of REALTOR® Kaethe Everett with ERA Hart Sargis-Breen in Newington.
Liana Hughes completed her freshman year at the University of Connecticut majoring in Psychology with a minor in Biology. Her goal is to enroll in medical school to study Psychiatry and hopefully work in an outpatient facility or hospital and ultimately start her own practice. Liana is the daughter of REALTOR® Tonya Hughes of Coldwell Banker Realty in South Windsor.
Maya Kasica is a recent graduate of Southington High School. Come September, she will be heading to Fairfield University to major in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. She plans to specialize in Nurse Anesthesiology and work in a hospital ICU setting before receiving her CRNA degree. Maya is the daughter of REALTOR® Katarzyna Kasica with Century 21 All Points Realty in Southington.
Callie Lantz is currently majoring in Psychology at Mount Holyoke College. With a strong desire to help people, her ultimate career goal is to become a therapist. Callie is the daughter of REALTOR® Carl Lantz with Coldwell Banker in West Hartford.
Cameron Levine is a recent graduate of Hall High School who will attend the University of Connecticut where he will major in Secondary Education. His goal is to enter a stem field and become a high school math teacher. Cam is the son of Designated REALTOR® Robert Levine of ERA Hart Sargis-Breen Real Estate in West Hartford.
Eric Luo just completed his freshman year at Cornell University pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a possible Aerospace minor. His career goal is uncertain at this point, with various engineering specialties that he has yet to explore. Eric is the son of REALTOR® Liping Tan with Broker Vision Real Estate in Unionville.
Charlotte Reitz is a Simsbury High School graduate headed to the University of New Hampshire to earn a degree in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Conservation. While her career goal is uncertain, she knows it will be in a field where she is directly helping people (medical, improving healthcare, conserving the environment). Charlie is the daughter of REALTOR® Julie Reitz with Tea Leaf Realty in West Hartford.
Rohan Sharma attends Amherst College working towards a double major in Economics and Mathematics. He would like to go on to law school and eventually become an environmental lawyer. Rohan is the son of REALTORS® Deepak and Rachna Sharma with Executive Real Estate in Glastonbury.
Jason Sigler is a University of Connecticut student majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a Mathematics minor and Aerospace concentration. He hopes to become an aviator in the United States Marines and then transition to Mechanical Engineering after serving. Jason is the son of REALTOR® Jonathan Sigler with Coldwell Banker Realty in South Windsor.
Timothy Sigler currently attends the University of Connecticut majoring in Finance and Applied Mathematical Sciences. He would like to pursue a career in Actuarial Sciences. Tim is the son of REALTOR® Jonathan Sigler with Coldwell Banker Realty in South Windsor.
Aiden Sones is attending Miami University working on a degree in Data Science and Statistics with a minor in Actuarial Science and Sports Analytics. His goal is to become a certified Actuary in the property insurance field while pursuing a graduate degree in statistics. Aiden is the son of REALTOR® Tania Sones with Carl Guild & Associates in East Hampton.
Alexander Sones attends York College of PA majoring in Civil Engineering. His potential career goals include designing different modes of transportation to make travel more efficient/safe, working in government making communities more dense/walkable or supporting less fortunate neighborhoods in making dense/affordable communities. Alex is the son of REALTOR® Tania Sones with Carl Guild & Associates in East Hampton.
Qianyue (Kevin) Sun is an Eastern Connecticut State University student majoring in Business Information Systems. In his career, the goal will be to leverage technology to optimize business processes, improve efficiency and contribute to data-driven decision making in the professional world. Kevin is the son of REALTOR® Fang Chen with The Bella Group LLC in Warren.
The Foundation is pleased to highlight scholarships being awarded in honor of CT REALTORS® Past Presidents who recently passed away. Sebastian Francis has been selected to receive this year’s tribute scholarship in memory of 2000 CTR Past President Bill Vibert from the Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®.
Sebastian Francis attends the University of Connecticut majoring in Civil Engineering. His career aspirations include contributing to large-scale, impactful projects – the kind that serve communities and leave a lasting mark on society. Sebastian is the son of Designated REALTOR® Deanna Crooks of Francis Realty & Consulting in Farmington.