New Canaan Community Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Canaan are pleased to announce that Ethan Geller is the winner of the Dorrico Rotary Scholarship award. Ethan is a 2016 graduate of New Canaan High School and will attend Cornell University in the Fall.
This award is supported by a fund established by Mr. Joseph Dorrico’s family in his honor. Dorrico served as New Canaan’s Postmaster and was an active member of the Rotary Club; he left a legacy of loyal service to our community, both professionally and as a volunteer. The scholarship program makes an annual award to support the educational needs of a New Canaan resident who has demonstrated a similar loyalty to the community through his/her volunteer service.
Ethan wrote in his application about his own community service experience, and his love for helping others. He is an Eagle Scout who was elected to the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society. He explained that “volunteering has guided my life and student career, and I learned that service to others is truly its own reward.”
He led a service project at St. Mark’s Church community garden where he spent 185 hours working with 20 other Boy Scouts. Ethan also enriched many other local organizations by volunteering his time: New Canaan Land Trust, New Canaan Nature Center, the Food Pantry, New Canaan Library, VFW, New Canaan Historical Society, Schoolhouse Apartments, and the Exchange Club. He plans to take “his love of cheerful service” to college and beyond, and will continue giving back as an adult.
Leo Karl, Board Chair of New Canaan Community Foundation and a member of the Rotary Club, reflected that “Ethan is the epitome of the type of student that Mr. Dorrico’s family wanted to honor. As he leaves New Canaan to attend college, he leaves behind a legacy of countless community service projects that have made our community a better place for our neighbors. We are pleased to recognize his dedication and his accomplishments”.

John Bemis, president of Rotary Club of New Canaan; Ethan Geller, 2016 NCHS graduate and award winner; John Engel, president-elect of Rotary Club of New Canaan; and Leo Karl III, board chair of New Canaan Community Foundation and member of Rotary Club of New Canaan.
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