The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center Scholarship honors Miss Hepburn’s diverse interests, her independent and her spirited approach to life. The award recognizes a high school student residing in Old Saybrook who has demonstrated participation in and an appreciation for the arts (performance, visual, or literary arts). The scholarship is to be used to further one’s study in an area of interest at a college, trade school, or formal training program.
The Kate is dedicated to bringing quality arts and culture to patrons of all ages, but special care is given to our youngest audience members. Support of the Kate’s Arts Education Programs allows us to offer low-cost or free programs that align with local curriculum. These include the Missoula Children’s Theatre residency in which local students star in a mini-musical on the Kate’s stage; Classroom Connections events like Harlem On My Mind during Black History Month and the bullying-prevention musical Stand UP & Speak OUT; summer arts camp for ages 5 to 13; and master classes with national and international performing artists.
Click to donate and use the dropdown menu to select the area of need you would like to support.
For additional information, please contact the Development Department at (860) 510-0473 x213.
THANK YOU!
Meet the Scholarship Recipients
2026
Alexandra “Sasha” Dziebel. Sasha’s love of music was sparked by her grandmother who was a pianist for one of the several opera houses in St. Petersburg, Russia. Sasha has a passion for both the piano and singing. Her early training took place at the Mannes School of Music. Once in high school, she became involved in the Old Saybrook High School’s Chamber Singers and Jazz Ensembles which expanded her playing from classical music to jazz piano. She sang at the New England Music Festival as a chorus member for three years and as a nominated solo pianist in her junior year, when she performed Chopin’s Nocturne in E Flat Major.
Sasha excelled academically at Old Saybrook High School and her other passions included swimming, psychology, activism, culture and language. She plans to major in Psychology/ Criminal Behavior and hopes to join musical theater and acapella singing groups once settled at her university. She is currently working through Rachmanivov’s Prelude in C Sharp Minor to push her musical limits and to get in touch with her Russian heritage.
2025
Cayden Ratineri’s theatre interests began in 6th grade with auditions for Mulan Jr. and Shrek Jr. which continued with participation in her high school musicals. She was accepted to the Connecticut Music Educators Association Southern Regional Choir and performed in the virtual musical during Covid in the lead of Joey in Super Happy Awesome News. In high school, as a freshman, she was selected for the Chamber and Treble Choir. In Sophomore and Junior years, she was selected to the Shoreline Select Choir and accepted into the American Choral Directors Association. She was inducted into the International Thespian Society.
During her senior year, she was cast in a new streaming series, Un$uited, as Veronica alongside actor, author, and Emmy Award winner, Sean Kanan, who serves as her acting coach. She was also granted a “Front of the Line” audition pass by American Idol’s casting director and went through two rounds of auditions. She was part of the Kate Master Class in October, filmed a Doritos Superbowl Commercial, and was selected to perform in the Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular Chorus with the Rockettes.
Within the community, she was a soloist for the Wreaths Across America, The Kate Hero Tree Lighting, The New England Tang Soo Do Championships and performed in a double quartet for Memorial Day Celebrations. She sang the National Anthem at the OSPD Awards Ceremony.
Cayden plans to attend Salve Regina where she will major in Finance and minor in Music.
2024
William Maselli is a graduate from Old Saybrook High School where excelled academically, participated in the performing arts as an actor, singer and musician, and shined as a student/athlete serving as Captain of OSHS Lacrosse team.
William participated in 14 productions in Old Saybrook over the past 7 years. He had roles ranging from Shrek to Mr. Darcy, to Scuttle the Seagull. As a tenor in his Chamber Choir, he has traveled to NY and Maine to perform with other high school students and has been part of the Shoreline Music Festival. He was part of his school’s Drama Club Executive Board which kept him engaged in rehearsals, community dinners and fundraisers. He also auditioned with the Saybrook Stage Company and was cast as Barnaby Tucker in their production of the Matchmaker.
He was gifted his grandfather’s WWII bugle by his grandmother. When veterans returned from the war, they donated their instruments to the local elementary schools. That is how William’s grandfather received the bugle. William has played Taps on the bugle at local events such as the Memorial Day event on the Town Green.
He will be attending Trinity College in the Fall with plans to major in Math and Political Science.
2023
Helena Gernhardt, a recent graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall, began violin lessons at the age of four. Soon after, she was part of the cast in one of the Kate’s Missoula Children’s Theatre musicals. Realizing that music was her true calling, she played flute in the Old Saybrook Middle School Band. In 2016 she was introduced to the bassoon and was awestruck by this large woodwind instrument, playing it through middle and high school, eventually becoming Principal Bassoonist in the Choate Symphony Orchestra. Helena has performed at the CT Music Educators’ Association (CMEA) Music Festival and was selected for the CMEA Southern Regional Honor Band and the New England Honor Band. She also performed in the CMEA All-State Honor Orchestra in 2022.
Helena says of her love for the arts, “Whether at community concerts, regional conferences, or international competitions, I have come to value the way the arts become a binding force that brings a group of people with unique backgrounds and identities together. I thank Old Saybrook for giving me the tools to develop my love of music and the arts, and I look forward to continuing them in college.”
Helena also has a keen interest in politics and public service. She was accepted into Choate’s John F. Kennedy ’35 Program in Government and Public Service and was a Yale Young Global Scholar. Helena will be attending Georgetown University in the fall, studying international relations.
2022
Michael Morant began his theater career in an arts education program at the Kate where he was cast as a firefly. His love for dramatic and musical theater led to roles in school productions, including a virtual production of “War of the Worlds.” He’s written poetry and plays, including a semi-autobiographical play about a young person on the autism spectrum growing up in today’s world. Michael attends Dean College, majoring in business management, with plans to participate in the College’s robust musical theater program.
Matthew Johnson made his theatrical debut in 6th grade but quickly realized he enjoyed working behind the scenes rather than on stage. He developed his skills in digital music production, photography, and video production and recently directed live stream events for Old Saybrook High School during the pandemic. In 2022, he produced and directed a short documentary film, “Pain is Temporary,” which won “Best Short Film” and “Best Cinematography” at the Quiet Corner Film Festival. Matthew attends the University of Connecticut as a digital media and design major.
2021
Davonté Mitchell knew music would be a big part of his life during his elementary years and considers retired Goodwin Elementary School music teacher Lois Geer a key inspiration. A music education major at Western Connecticut University, he realized his dream of teaching a bit early when he had the opportunity to substitute teach at Goodwin in 2021! He is active in WestConn musical productions, most recently in Cinderella, and as former co-captain of the Old Saybrook-Westbrook Rams football team continues to follow his favorite sports teams.
2020
Maggie Maselli has been dancing since the age of 2, studying ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance. Her talent has been shared as she choreographed three school musical productions. She attends Hamilton College and is double majoring in physics and dance. In addition to being president of the Ballet Club, she plays horn in orchestra and the brass ensemble, has performed in several dance concerts and is Student Assistant Director with responsibility for recruiting and managing fellow student orientation leaders.
Timothy Thomas has been drawn to music and the arts since he was just a toddler, literally trying to play his older siblings’ violins! It was in elementary school that he realized his true love was singing. Timothy attends Cairn University as a music education major and achieved Dean’s List his freshman and sophomore years. He is a dedicated choir member performing with his peers at school and on the road with choral trips again.
