Granite Edvance awards $750,000 in scholarships to NH students
Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sarah Earle August 4, 2025
Director, Communications
Granite Edvance
603-584-4469
communications@graniteedvance.org
Concord, NH – Granite Edvance is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 scholarship program. Increasing its support for NH students once again this year, the NH nonprofit is awarding over $750, 000 to a record 290 students representing a wide range of backgrounds, achievements, and career aspirations.
“Our scholarship program is at the very heart of our mission, and these students absolutely inspire us with their stories of overcoming challenges, giving back to their communities, and achieving lofty goals,” said Granite Edvance President and CEO Christiana Thornton. “We are proud to be able to help fund their journeys while demonstrating that we believe in them and their future contributions to their communities and our workforce.”
Granite Edvance, formerly known as the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) Network, has provided scholarships to hundreds of NH college students since the scholarship program began in 2005. Since 2020, the organization has funded over $2.5 million in scholarships to New Hampshire students. The scholarship is one of the ways the organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supports NH students in discovering and achieving their education and career goals.
Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 were awarded to NH residents studying at two- and four-year colleges and Title IV-eligible trade schools. In total, $652,500 was awarded to four-year students, and $100,500 was awarded to two-year and trade school students. This year’s recipients included 114 first-generation college students and 142 students studying at NH’s four-year and two-year colleges.
“This scholarship is a huge thing for me,” said Elizabeth Hastings of Grantham, an environmental science and policy major at Plymouth State University and recipient of a Leadership and Community Service Scholarship. “I wouldn’t be able to go to school and get my degree so I could give back to my community without this.”
For Olivia Annunziata Blaisdell of Portsmouth, a Life Experience Scholarship recipient and incoming first-year student at Cornell University, the scholarship will help her save more money for graduate school so she can realize her dream of helping underprivileged people access dental care. “It’s really such a big help now and in my future planning,” she said.
Here are the 2025 Granite Edvance Scholarship recipients:
Sarah Earle August 4, 2025
Director, Communications
Granite Edvance
603-584-4469
communications@graniteedvance.org
Granite Edvance awards $750,000 in scholarships to NH students
Concord, NH – Granite Edvance is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 scholarship program. Increasing its support for NH students once again this year, the NH nonprofit is awarding over $750, 000 to a record 290 students representing a wide range of backgrounds, achievements, and career aspirations.
“Our scholarship program is at the very heart of our mission, and these students absolutely inspire us with their stories of overcoming challenges, giving back to their communities, and achieving lofty goals,” said Granite Edvance President and CEO Christiana Thornton. “We are proud to be able to help fund their journeys while demonstrating that we believe in them and their future contributions to their communities and our workforce.”
Granite Edvance, formerly known as the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) Network, has provided scholarships to hundreds of NH college students since the scholarship program began in 2005. Since 2020, the organization has funded over $2.5 million in scholarships to New Hampshire students. The scholarship is one of the ways the organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supports NH students in discovering and achieving their education and career goals.
Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 were awarded to NH residents studying at two- and four-year colleges and Title IV-eligible trade schools. In total, $652,500 was awarded to four-year students, and $100,500 was awarded to two-year and trade school students. This year’s recipients included 114 first-generation college students and 142 students studying at NH’s four-year and two-year colleges.
“This scholarship is a huge thing for me,” said Elizabeth Hastings of Grantham, an environmental science and policy major at Plymouth State University and recipient of a Leadership and Community Service Scholarship. “I wouldn’t be able to go to school and get my degree so I could give back to my community without this.”
For Olivia Annunziata Blaisdell of Portsmouth, a Life Experience Scholarship recipient and incoming first-year student at Cornell University, the scholarship will help her save more money for graduate school so she can realize her dream of helping underprivileged people access dental care. “It’s really such a big help now and in my future planning,” she said.
Here are the 2025 Granite Edvance Scholarship recipients:
| Sandra Abaloo-Tei, Manchester, Manchester Community College |
| Alec Adorno, Meredith, University of New Hampshire |
| Evan Ahnert, Westmoreland, Concordia University |
| Raekwon Albert, Nashua, Nashua Community College |
| Xiorangelys Alicea, Manchester, Simmons University |
| Joseph Alie, Northwood, The Landing School of Boat Building and Design |
| Tim Allaire, Tilton, Lakes Region Community College |
| Bahjat Alrais, Manchester, Manchester Community College |
| Olivia Annunziata Blaisdell, Portsmouth, Cornell University |
| Samuel Assantha, Manchester, Saint Anselm College |
| Kaylee Ayers, Milford, Lakes Region Community College |
| Emerson Babyak, Hampton, Oregon State University |
| Fariji Badesile, Manchester, Manchester Community College |
| Enock Bangasimbo, Manchester, UMass Amherst |
| Emily Barrett, Hudson, University of New Hampshire |
| Cameron Bastien, Rochester, Plymouth State University |
| Alexander Batchelder, Hampton, University of South Carolina |
| Elizabeth Batten, Center Ossipee, Cedarville University |
| Soeren Baughman, Grantham, University of Utah |
| Kaitlyn Beaulieu, Wolfeboro, Eckerd College |
| Meryam Belhassad, Rochester, University of New Hampshire |
| Nadia Belhassad, Rochester, Babson College |
| Taylor Bell, Claremont, Curry College |
| Emillia Bibeau, Raymond, University of New Hampshire |
| Nyresh Bol, Manchester, University of Houston |
| Sophie Bordelon, Nashua, Endicott College |
| Krista Boyce, Franklin, NHTI |
| Courtney Boylan, Brentwood, Manchester Community College |
| Jeffrey Boyle, Milton, Great Bay Community College |
| Belinda Brackett, Farmington, NHTI |
| Isabel Braley, Alexandria, Lipscomb University |
| Lily Breton, Rochester, Colby-Sawyer College |
| Taylor Brien, Goffstown, NHTI |
| Jourden Briggs, Milford, Rivier University |
| James Brower, Barrington, University of Chicago |
| Caleb Brower, Mont Vernon, University of New Hampshire |
| Norah Brown, Ossipee, Florida Atlantic University |
| Seth Brown, Barrington, University of Georgia |
| Mia Brown, Keene, University of Vermont |
| Thomas Bullimore, Danbury, Plymouth State University |
| Walden Bunzey, Grantham, Nashua Community College |
| Taylor Burwen, Manchester, NHTI |
| Sydney Byrne, Charlestown, Saint Anselm College |
| Katie Campbell, Wentworth, University of Richmond |
| Zhafirah Candra, Somersworth, University of New Hampshire |
| Albert Candra, Somersworth, University of New Hampshire |
| Isabella Cannon, Dunbarton, University of New Hampshire |
| Hannah Capsalis, Barnstead, Endicott College |
| Matthew Carbonneau, Nashua, Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
| Grace Cardin, Nashua, University of New Hampshire |
| Joli Carlson, Pittsburg, University of Maine |
| Ariana Carter, Dover, Saint Anselm College |
| Ella Caterini, Hanover, The New School |
| Oishik Chakraborty, Londonderry, Cornell University |
| Elizabeth Champagne, Manchester, Boston University |
| Fiona Chau, Littleton, Boston College |
| Bailey Chislett, Concord, University of New Hampshire |
| Lilyana Cloutier, Bristol, NHTI |
| Rebecca Colby, Littleton, University of New Hampshire |
| Amelia Cole, Manchester, Emmanuel College |
| Aubrie Connelly, Merrimack, Gordon College |
| Peyton Connelly, Merrimack, Advanced Welding Institute |
| Kaitlyn Cooper, Wolfeboro, Berklee College of Music |
| Kendal Cote, Charlestown, New England College |
| Sarah Cote, Barrington, Great Bay Community College |
| Victoria Cowser, Center Barnstead, Colorado College |
| Rosemary Jo Lunetta Crooker, Francestown, Union College |
| Mia Cunningham, Manchester, Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| Ava Curato, Littleton, Plymouth State University |
| Lucilene Da Rocha, Nashua, St. Joseph School of Nursing |
| Samantha Dahl, Hill, Colby-Sawyer College |
| Mallory Daley, Belmont, Suffolk University |
| Alyse Damato, Sanbornton, Western New England University |
| Seth Danen-Lucier, Lebanon, Carnegie Mellon University |
| Maryann Daniels, East Wakefield, New England College |
| Isaak Davis, Loudon, UMass Amherst |
| Jayna Davis, Holderness, Furman University |
| Taylor Davis, Loudon, University of Arizona |
| Jacob Dearth, Salem, University of New Hampshire |
| Kendall Deihle, Candia, New England College |
| Stephen Denio, Manchester, Gordon College |
| James Dooley, Londonderry, Colby College |
| Margaret Dowd, Alton, University of New Hampshire |
| Anya Downing, Nashua, University of Pittsburgh |
| Hailey Dubois, Jaffrey, University of Connecticut |
| Keira Duddy, Nottingham, NHTI |
| Genesi Dumesle, Manchester, University of New Hampshire |
| Alannah Durica, Loudon, Empire Beauty School |
| Leah Edgecomb, Derry, Saint Anselm College |
| Eleanor Edson, Hanover, University of Richmond |
| Izabela Eitapence, Claremont, Emmanuel College |
| Brooke Ells, Keene, Endicott College |
| Sophie Fagerquist, Portsmouth, Great Bay Community College |
| Abdalla Faiad, Pembroke, Colby-Sawyer College |
| William Fauth, Keene, Hamilton College |
| John Federico, Durham, Bates College |
| Taylor Fellows, Croydon, Colby-Sawyer College |
| Lincoln Fendiana, Dover, Bentley University |
| Greta Fenn, Alstead, University of New Hampshire |
| Heather Fontaine, Stoddard, River Valley Community College |
| Kasen Fox, Amherst, University of South Carolina |
| Iris Freeman, Hanover, Colby College |
| Emeline Friend-Gray, Nottingham, Syracuse University |
| Liberty Frink, Lancaster, Keene State College |
| Calista Fuller, Springfield, River Valley Community College |
| Oren Gallagher, Hancock, University of New Hampshire |
| Lashmirenuga Ganeshbabu, Nashua, Northeastern University |
| Aleksy Garcia, Hudson, University of New Hampshire |
| Danielle Gardiner, New Boston, Southern New Hampshire University |
| Sara Gaspard, Claremont, Dartmouth College |
| Brynn Gianferrari, Keene, San Diego State University |
| Sierra Gianini, Canaan, University of New Hampshire |
| Nicole Gionet, Derry, Manchester Community College |
| Bonnie Goodman, Conway, River Valley Community College |
| Zoe Gouin, Portsmouth, Dalhousie University |
| Jenna Graf, Manchester, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences |
| Grace Grand, Hudson, Quinnipiac University |
| Lydia Grant, Strafford, Southern New Hampshire University |
| Tallis Guthrie, Barrington, New York University |
| Sierra Halligan, Durham, University of New Hampshire |
| Tyler Harris, Concord, Cedarville University |
| Madyson Haskins, Northfield, Saint Anselm College |
| Elizabeth Hastings, Grantham, Plymouth State University |
| Lola Hayes, Jaffrey, San Diego State University |
| Melody Heacock, Newport, University of New Hampshire |
| Liam Heberley, Hampton Falls, University of California at Berkeley |
| Mikayla Hebert, Weare, NHTI |
| Amber Hebert, Laconia, Lakes Region Community College |
| Arissa Hendrarto, Dover, Marist University |
| Kevin Hennet, Dover, UMass Amherst |
| Ryan Hilliard, Somersworth, University of New Hampshire |
| Elliana Howard, Peterborough, Wheaton College |
| Jackson Huot, Manchester, University of New Hampshire |
| Chelsey Ioia, Newmarket, Great Bay Community College |
| Logan Jacques, Hudson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
| Alisa Janollari, Concord, University of New Hampshire |
| Andrew Jewell, Laconia, NHTI |
| Ryleigh Johnson, Northwood, Warren Wilson College |
| Nishimwe Joise, Concord, Wellesley College |
| Matthew Jolin, Ashland, Plymouth State University |
| Evangelina Jordan, Claremont, River Valley Community College |
| Santiago Juarez-Wiley, Littleton, Colorado College |
| Drew Kantor, Lebanon, North Carolina State University |
| Sophia Kelly, Salem, University of Southern Maine |
| Corinne Kelly, Pelham, Regis College |
| Samara Kern, Brooklyn, Baruch College |
| Mackenzie Kingsbury, Woodsville, University of Southern Maine |
| Landon Kingsbury, Woodsville, Central Maine Community College |
| Graecen Kirby, Rindge, Keene Beauty Academy |
| Alexandra Kirk, Barrington, Great Bay Community College |
| Jackson Kolb, Hollis, Westfield State University |
| Suzanna Kostka, Lebanon, River Valley Community College |
| Gregory Kotlyarsky, Hooksett, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| Julianna Lampman, Dunbarton, NHTI |
| Luna Landers, New London, Colorado State University |
| Isaac Langlois, Gorham, Plymouth State University |
| Ethan LaRose, Littleton, University of New Hampshire |
| Aimee Lavoie, Northumberland, White Mountains Community College |
| Wyatt Lawton, Franconia, Middlebury College |
| Liam Leavitt, Salem, Plymouth State University |
| Raelen Leonard-Solis, Stoddard, Bennington College |
| Stephanie Livingston, Manchester, Rochester Institute of Technology |
| Justin Louis, Littleton, Southern Maine Community College |
| Shawna Lupoli, Milford, NHTI |
| Ashley Lyle, Center Barnstead, Central Maine Community College |
| Callie MacIntyre, Eaton, University of Michigan |
| Jonathan Markey, Epping, NHTI |
| Camryn Marquis, Concord, University of Rhode Island |
| Brooke McCafferty, Nashua, Manchester Community College |
| Eleora McCay, Bedford, University of New Hampshire |
| Heather McCurdy, Manchester, Manchester Community College |
| Grace McHugh, Concord, University of New Hampshire |
| Jason McIntosh Jr., Goffstown, NHTI |
| Sya McKay, Somersworth, Plymouth State University |
| Kailyn Medina, Pembroke, Saint Anselm College |
| Briana Medina, Pembroke, Saint Anselm College |
| Rebeca Medina, Manchester, NHTI |
| Bristol Messer, Newbury, Plymouth State University |
| Emily Mitton, Lyman, Fordham University |
| Sophia Mladek, Lebanon, Cornell University |
| Amalia Mladek, Lebanon, Cornell University |
| Gabriella Molin, Hinsdale, River Valley Community College |
| Rachel Montroy, Contoocook, NHTI |
| Madeline Mousseau, Laconia, La Salle University |
| Zoe Mueller, Hampton, University of Vermont |
| John Murphy, Grantham, Gettysburg College |
| Samantha Murray, Laconia, Lakes Region Community College |
| Malik Nasir, Sunapee, Northeastern University |
| Abigail Ndung'u, Nashua, University of Connecticut |
| Tariku Neunaber, Raymond, University of North Florida |
| Peggy Ni, Salem, Bentley University |
| Vickie Ni, Lebanon, Plymouth State University |
| Jaden Nicolas, Hudson, Rivier University |
| Aavarika Niroula, Lebanon, Saint Anselm College |
| Karina ODonnell, Nashua, University of New Haven |
| Madison O'Donnell, Bedford, Elon University |
| Brianna Ohlund, Manchester, University of New Hampshire |
| Mackenzie Oprea, Kingston, Simmons University |
| Isabelle Orrell, Rochester, Lakes Region Community College |
| Michael Pantano, Contoocook, Brown University |
| Hailey Peaslee, East Wakefield, Colby-Sawyer College |
| Broc Pelchat, Tilton, Emmanuel College |
| Paxten Perley, Laconia, Gordon College |
| Elizabeth Petrov, Peterborough, University of New Hampshire |
| Ashley Pineau, Hooksett, Manchester Community College |
| Eden Pressman, Jaffrey, University of New England |
| Camryn Prunier, Nashua, Boston University |
| Elizabeth Pyle, Rochester, Skidmore College |
| Jolene Read, Campton, Bryn Mawr College |
| Rosella Rentas-Ubeda, Plymouth, Plymouth State University |
| Emily Richard, Nashua, University of New Hampshire |
| Shania Richards, Colebrook, Champlain College |
| Cadence Richey, Lisbon, University of Southern California |
| Yesenia Rivera Cortes, Manchester, Harmony Health Care Institute |
| Teagan Roach, Windham, University of New Hampshire |
| Rebecca Robison, Alstead, Colby-Sawyer College |
| Abbey Rokel, Windham, University of New Hampshire |
| Cecilia Rosa, Hollis, University of Connecticut |
| Vanessa Rose, Salem, Tufts University |
| Alyssa Rose, Salem, Johnson and Wales University |
| Elianna Roulston, Hampton, University of New Hampshire |
| Tory Rudolph, Franklin, Plymouth State University |
| Watson Saint-Martin, Nashua, Nashua Community College |
| Fernando Sandoval, Methuen, Quinnipiac University |
| Caroline Savage, Exeter, University of New Hampshire |
| Neil Savage, Jefferson, White Mountains Community College |
| Amy Schwab, Bow, NHTI |
| Sophia Scribner, Nashua, Brandeis University |
| Julia Secor, Rumney, Plymouth State University |
| Laura Shaw, Merrimack, Nashua Community College |
| Nicole Sherepera, Hampton, Northeastern University |
| Samantha Sidoti, Madison, Bates College |
| Cameryn Simpson, Unity, White Mountains Community College |
| Nicholas Sinotte, Plaistow, Lakes Region Community College |
| Ella Smith, East Kingston, University of New Hampshire |
| Madison Smith, Belmont, Saint Lawrence University |
| Zoe Smith, Haverhill, University of Southern Maine |
| Evan Smith, Northfield, Saint Anselm College |
| William Sneddon, Somersworth, New England College |
| Yasmin Soares, Nashua, Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
| Pooja Soni, Winchester, Bentley University |
| Deja Souvannasy, Laconia, NHTI |
| Moriah Spreitzer, Concord, NHTI |
| Joshua Stamatis, Candia, Southern New Hampshire University |
| Lorrie Stevens, Derry, University of New Hampshire |
| Emory Stevens, Derry, University of New Hampshire |
| Troy Stoddard, Sandown, University of New Hampshire |
| Anneliese Strong, Antrim, Bryn Mawr College |
| Lily Szulc, Manchester, University of New Hampshire |
| Brooke Tasker, Wolfeboro, Colby-Sawyer College |
| Lydia Taylor, Manchester, Vanderbilt University |
| Zachary Telge, Manchester, Saint Anselm College |
| Caitlin Terry, Hampton, University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies |
| Kiera Therrien, Littleton, Saint Anselm College |
| Jacob Thomas, Kingston, Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| Diane Thomas, Lebanon, NHTI |
| Brianna Thorburn, Orford, River Valley Community College |
| Natalie Tremblay, Peterborough, Plymouth State University |
| Heisha Trilla Rodriguez, Manchester, Manchester Community College |
| Anthony Troila, Canterbury, Lakes Region Community College |
| Linnea Trudell Pokropowicz, Lisbon, The University of Vermont |
| Mariella Tsitsonis, Walpole, Keene State College |
| Jennifer Turell, Nashua, Southern New Hampshire University |
| Amaya Vaughn, Manchester, University of New Hampshire |
| Emma Veazie, Laconia, NHTI |
| Helen Velko, Manchester, Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| Sean Venator, Manchester, Bridgewater State University |
| Sean Vincent, Newmarket, University of New Hampshire |
| Serena Vitorino, Pelham, University of New Hampshire |
| Trista Voisine, Bow, University of New Hampshire |
| Abigail VonDette, Hillsboro, Plymouth State University |
| Jack Wagoner, Dover, Northeastern University |
| Isabella Washburn, Concord, NHTI |
| Makenzie Waterman, Keene, Gordon College |
| Avery Waterman, Keene, Bentley University |
| Abigail Waterman, Manchester, University of New Hampshire |
| Abram Weil-Cooley, Sandwich, Middlebury College |
| Makayla West, Loudon, Cairn University |
| Katie Westcott, Laconia, Quinnipiac University |
| Bryan Wheeler, Nashua, University of Rochester |
| Maria Wheeler, Epping, Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| Friedrich Wilcox, Moultonborough, NHTI |
| Joseph Wiley, Farmington, Great Bay Community College |
| Emily Wilkens, Deering, Saint Anselm College |
| Emmett Wilson, Laconia, Grove City College |
| Meredith Winterburn, New Boston, University of Massachusetts |
| Aleksander Witt, Concord, Purdue University |
| Rebecca Wittenberg, Tilton, University of New Hampshire |
| Nabah Yahya, Concord, Thomas College |
| Ryan Yanuszewski, Litchfield, NHTI |
About Granite Edvance
Granite Edvance (formerly the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, or the NHHEAF Network) is a New Hampshire nonprofit that supports New Hampshire students and their families through free career and higher-education counseling and resources, as well as funding assistance including scholarships and competitive private student loans. Established in 1962, the organization rebranded as Granite Edvance in November 2023. The Granite Edvance Student Loan, as well as the EdvestinU Private Student Loan and the EdvestinU Refinance Loan, are loan products offered by Granite Edvance Corporation and may be funded by Granite Edvance Corporation or Bank of Lake Mills, member FDIC.
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Granite Edvance
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Sarah Earle Communications Director
- August 04, 2025
- (603) 584-4469
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