The RCDS Community Engagement Fellowship Program
The Community Engagement Fellowship Program at Rye Country Day School enables RCDS Upper School students to partner with a community organization to develop and implement innovative, sustainable projects that address the needs of the organization.
The Community Engagement Fellowship program at RCDS was conceived out of a recognition of the importance of purpose-driven citizenship. The program launched in 2016 with a $50,000 grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, which was matched by donations from the RCDS community. The foundation grant funded the program for four successful years, concluding in 2019. Since then, generous support of anonymous donors has enabled Rye Country Day to continue the beloved Public Purpose fellowship.
The program's goal is to offer summer volunteer opportunities for students and to foster ongoing partnerships between RCDS and local community organizations. Fellows collaborate with community partner organizations and RCDS faculty members on all phases of their projects (faculty offer cross-disciplinary guidance as the fellows chart their paths to active community engagement). Upper School students who are accepted as Community Engagement Fellows spend the summer completing their projects with funding provided by the RCDS community. This allows community organizations to benefit from the students' enthusiasm and passion at no cost, and it enables Upper School students from all socioeconomic backgrounds with a commitment to public purpose to participate.
Community and academic partnerships are at the heart of this program, and a commitment to the RCDS motto, Not for Self, but for Service, is the fellows' guiding principle.
2024 Fellows
Josie Choi ’26
Eliana Chorost ’26
Maria Flores ’25
Iris Gu ’25
Tara McIntosh ’25
Ava Morgan ’27
Michael Pedone ’25
James Song ’25
Arianna Toussi ’26
Noah Tabossi Zugman ’26
Julia Gallardo '26 & Isabella Jolicoeur '25
Johnny Gasparro '25 & Josh Greene '25
Allie Hine '25 & Colin Lauri '25
Felix Mao '27 & Jason Ren '26
2023 Fellows
- Anika Bhat '25
- Brynn Coady '24
- Elizabeth Hackett '24
- Kathryn Hooper '24
- Colin Kinsey '24
- Colin Lauri '25
- Fran Luz '25
- Tara McIntosh '25
- James Murphy '25
- Isabela Pierry '25
- Daisy Stuart '24
- Derek Zaeske '24
- Keira Zheng '25
- Penelope Brody '24 & Jordan Zhao '24
- Eli Chopra '26 & Drew Mulderry '26
Anika Bhat '25
Brynn Coady '24
Elizabeth Hackett '24
Kathryn Hooper '24
Colin Kinsey '24
Colin Lauri '25
Fran Luz '25
Tara McIntosh '25
James Murphy '25
Isabela Pierry '25
Daisy Stuart '24
Derek Zaeske '24
Keira Zheng '25
Penelope Brody '24 & Jordan Zhao '24
Eli Chopra '26 & Drew Mulderry '26
2022 Fellows
- Carter Appleyard '23
- Anika Bhat '25
- Ronen Borkar '23
- Willow Edwards '25
- Celine Fong '24
- Ade Larsen '23
- Tyler Moyer '23
- James Murphy '25
- Jack Oehler '23
- Lily Smith '25
- Leah Steyn '25
- Isabel Tiburcio '24
- Arthur Wang '23
- Ruth Zhao '23
- Mina Kim '24/Donna Zhang '24
- Emilie Ward '23/Ewan Ward '24
Carter Appleyard '23
Anika Bhat '25
Ronen Borkar '23
Willow Edwards '25
Celine Fong '24
Ade Larsen '23
Tyler Moyer '23
James Murphy '25
Jack Oehler '23
Lily Smith '25
Leah Steyn '25
Isabel Tiburcio '24
Arthur Wang '23
Ruth Zhao '23
Mina Kim '24/Donna Zhang '24
Emilie Ward '23/Ewan Ward '24
2021 Fellows
- Carter Appleyard '23
- Sofía Castañeda ’24
- Felix Dosmond ’23
- Allison Duffy ’23
- Nolan James ’22
- Gabriella Jolly ’22
- Peter Nicholas ’22
- Devan Phelan ’22
- Jordyn Roskind ’23
- Ana Wilmer ’22
- Marin Yearley ’22
- Hudson Friedman/Jahan Arjomand ’22
- Natasha Gilman/Julia Carroll ’22
Carter Appleyard '23
Sofía Castañeda ’24
Felix Dosmond ’23
Allison Duffy ’23
Nolan James ’22
Gabriella Jolly ’22
Peter Nicholas ’22
Devan Phelan ’22
Jordyn Roskind ’23
Ana Wilmer ’22
Marin Yearley ’22
Hudson Friedman/Jahan Arjomand ’22
Natasha Gilman/Julia Carroll ’22
2019 Fellows
- Christopher Connor '20
- Wendy Corona '20
- Eliza Fogel '21
- Peggy Helman '20
- Eesha Narain '21
- Chidera Olewuenyi '20
- Samantha Roskind '21
- Isabella Stronski '20
- Anna Owens/Oliver Kies '21
- Sebastian Lee/Charumathi Badrinath '20
- Isabella Dartnell/Caroline Antonacci '20
Christopher Connor '20
Wendy Corona '20
Eliza Fogel '21
Peggy Helman '20
Eesha Narain '21
Chidera Olewuenyi '20
Samantha Roskind '21
Isabella Stronski '20
Anna Owens/Oliver Kies '21
Sebastian Lee/Charumathi Badrinath '20
Isabella Dartnell/Caroline Antonacci '20
2018 Fellows
- Patricia Bautista '19
- Chris Connor '20
- Joey Farrell '19
- Katie Farrell '21
- Nathalie Felton '19
- Eesha Narain '21
- William Shabecoff '19
- Nishan Shehadeh '19
- Claire Slocum '19
- Charlotte Townley '19
- Ethan Zeplin/Julian Martelly '19
Patricia Bautista '19
Chris Connor '20
Joey Farrell '19
Katie Farrell '21
Nathalie Felton '19
Eesha Narain '21
William Shabecoff '19
Nishan Shehadeh '19
Claire Slocum '19
Charlotte Townley '19
Ethan Zeplin/Julian Martelly '19
2017 Fellows
- Kyle Christopher '18
- Joey Farrell '19
- Alex Hackett '19
- Faith Hardy '19
- Andrea Michaca '18
- Angelica Michaca '18
- Cole Price '18
- Josh Shapiro '18
- Sarah Walker '18
- Sofia Wilmer '18
- Helena Zimmerman '19
Kyle Christopher '18
Joey Farrell '19
Alex Hackett '19
Faith Hardy '19
Andrea Michaca '18
Angelica Michaca '18
Cole Price '18
Josh Shapiro '18
Sarah Walker '18
Sofia Wilmer '18
Helena Zimmerman '19
2016 Fellows
- Zoe Athanason ’18
- Alex Berger '17
- Alonzo Diaz '18
- Alex Goddard '17
- Paulina Harasimowicz '19
- Faith Hardy '19
- Daniel Leva '17
- Alexei Mentzer '18 and Owen Coady '19
- Ryan Stackpole '17