The Robert E. Gerwien Endowment

Benjamin Bisbano

The Benjamin Bisbano Scholarship Fund was established in 2002 following the sudden death of Benjamin, a 1990 Immaculate High School alumni, at the age of 29. A group of Ben's close friends from IHS organized the first Benjamin Bisbano Golf Open (BGO) that same year as a way to honor his memory by raising funds for a scholarship.

The BGO ran successfully for 15 years with the final fundraising event/tournament held in September of 2016. Although successful for all 15 years, far exceeding the life expectancy of most memorial golf tournaments, the Bisbano family decided to end the event on a high note. "Our family is humbled that through the caring and continued support from so many, we can be assured that for years to come many young men and women will continue to benefit financially and spiritually from the financial support derived from Ben's legacy. Keeping his memory alive through the fund has brought light into our lives when darkness loomed so heavily."

Thank you for donating to this most worthwhile fund in memory of Ben and in support of the IHS students of today and tomorrow.

Joe Canestrari Memorial Scholarship

Joe Canestrari '74 fully participated and was engaged in living a full life.  As a student at Immaculate High School, Joe was consistently on the honor roll and was a standout player in football and baseball.  He was a truly great friend who not only achieved many accomplishments in his life, but fully enjoyed a good time with his friends and family.  Joe was a kind person and although quite accomplished and popular, was humble. The Joe Canestrari Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an honor roll student who is a great friend and positive member of his/her class. Although being a student-athlete is desired, being a participant in other school sponsored extracurricular activities can and will be considered. 

Liam Devine Scholarship

The Liam Devine Memorial Scholarship Award, is given in memory of Liam Devine, who was a member of the 2020 graduating class of Immaculate High School. The award is given to a student who is planning a career in the Arts (particularly Graphic Design), Journalism or Forensics.

The Rebecca Draper-Townsend Moral Compass Scholarship Award

Rebecca Draper-Townsend, a graduate from the Class of 2015, passed away in a tragic accident on July 2, 2015. She was the founder of the IHS She’s The First Chapter, one of the first high school chapters in the country. Rebecca donated many hours to spread the word about She’s The First and raise funds to make a significant difference in the lives of so many young women. The Rebecca Draper-Townsend Moral Compass Scholarship Award is presented to a junior who has demonstrated growth in academic achievement, has an ambitious vision to set challenging personal and academic goals, is compassionate and kind to others as well as denotes a mature understanding of the greater community and global humanitarian needs.

Robert Gerwein, Sr. Scholarship

The Robert Gerwien, Sr. Scholarship bears the name of its benefactor who served IHS for over 30 years as teacher, coach and principal. The Gerwien family created this scholarship that has been generously supported by his family, IHS alumni, faculty and friends to express their admiration and respect for him. This scholarship funds tuition for Mustang scholars who would not be able to attend IHS without scholarship assistance. The award is available to deposited students and the award must be applied for annually.

Henry Family Scholarship

The Henry Family Scholarship, established by Carol Henry, honors the values instilled in her children: Denise (Henry) Suarez '87, Dana (Henry) Saidman '87, and Andrea Henry '90. Recognizing the profound impact of Immaculate High School on her family including her grandchildren Joseph '18, Madeline '20 and Christopher '22 (Suarez), and Jenna '24 and Angela '19 (Saidman), she believed deeply in supporting future generations of Mustangs. This scholarship, awarded to students demonstrating financial need and academic excellence with preference given to members of St. Mary Parish in Bethel, reflects the family's commitment to providing deserving students with access to the transformative education Immaculate offers.

The Immaculate Teacher’s Association Scholarship

The Immaculate Teacher’s Association Scholarship is awarded to a current or incoming IHS student. Candidates for this scholarship must be in good standing with the faculty, academically and also demonstrate respect, responsibility and reverence. In addition to their application, candidates must submit letters from two teachers vouching for their character and academic standing. The scholarship amount awarded is $500.

Gregory and Patricia LiVolsi Scholarship

The Gregory K. and Patricia A. LiVolsi Memorial Scholarships are given by the LiVolsi Family to members of the graduating class who have demonstrated their commitment to Immaculate High School both in the classroom and in athletics.

Robert Murphy Scholarship

Established by Robert Murphy, this scholarship recognizes a deserving student who demonstrates financial need and academic excellence. Mr. Murphy, a strong believer in the power of Catholic education, credits his own faith-based schooling for profoundly shaping his life. With preference given to graduates of St. Mary's School in Bethel, this scholarship honors Mr. Murphy's commitment to supporting the next generation of Immaculate Mustangs.

Chris and Donna Palmer Scholarship

The Chris and Donna Palmer Scholarship recognizes a deserving incoming ninth-grade student who embodies the spirit of Immaculate. This scholarship honors Chris Palmer '68, a renowned NFL coach, and his wife Donna (Begg) Palmer '67, both proud Immaculate alumni.

Inspired by their belief in the transformative power of an Immaculate education, the Palmers established this scholarship to support a student with strong academics, a commitment to extracurricular activities, and a desire to contribute positively to the school community. This scholarship reflects Chris's philosophy of coaching: "Coaching is taking a person where they don't think they can go," and honors the unique contributions each student brings to the vibrant tapestry of Immaculate High School.

Msgr. Robert E. Weiss Legacy Scholarship

The Msgr. Robert E. Weiss Scholarship is awarded to a rising Grade nine student who is enrolled to attend Immaculate High School. Candidates for this award must reflect the passion and dedication to living one’s faith as well as serving their Church community. Msgr. Weiss’ lifetime commitments include a dedication and passion for Catholic school education. For more than 25 years his ministry has included ensuring the success of Immaculate High School so that its students receive the exemplary faith-based education necessary to become successful servant leaders of Christ. This a four-year award of $1,000 per year.