Awardees
The Connecticut Council for the Social Studies is proud to honor our distinguished awardees.
Our 2026 Awardees
Front Row (Left to right): William Ryan, Jerreica Pitre, Heather Taylor
Back Row (Left to Right): Brian Grindrod, Irene Parisi, Joshua Chlebowski, Madelyn Cunningham
Louis Addazio Awardees
The Addazio Award is our most prestigious award. Here is a list of people recognized with this honor.
1966 Ruth O.M. Anderson
1970 Mary C. Howley
1974 Louis Addazio
1978 Philmore B. Wass
1982 Mounir Farah
1986 Dr. David Manning
1990 David E. O’Connor
1994 Tim Weinland
1998 Richard Elias
2002 Caryn and John Stedman
2006 Charles W. Moakley
2010 Edward M. Dorgan
2017 David Bosso
1967 Warren Fabyan
1971 Henry P. Stearns
1975 Nancy S. Cousins
1979 Eleanor B. Read
1983 Tedd Levy
1987 Dr. Kenneth Poppe
1991 Sandy Senior- Dauer
1995 Dan Gregg
1999 Dan Coughlin
2003 Carol Moakley
2007 Mary Skelly
2013 William DeGrazia
2022 Elyse Poller
1968 Rose M. Brennan
1972 Alanson C. Harper
1976 Arthur Soderlind
1980 Bernard Marlin
1984 Philip C. Smith
1988 Dr. Jacqueline Abbott
1992 Keith Dauer
1996 Louise Uchaczyk
2000 Mary Womack
2004 Pam Gardner Bellmore
2008 Kenneth H. Keller
2014 John Tully
2025 Anthony Roy
1969 Urbanna Hennan
1973 Barbara L. Belanich
1977 Morris Gall
1981 Richard C. Harper
1985 Dr. Peter Harder
1989 Julie Goodman
1993 Steve Armstrong
1997 Vicki Crompton
2001 Alicia Willett
2005 Ted Hartsoe
2009 Stephen Armstrong
2015 Maxwell Amoh
2026 CCSS Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education (K-8): William Ryan, Newtown Middle School
Excellence in Social Studies Education (9-12): Brian Grindrod, Wilbur L. Cross High School
Pamela Bellmore Gardner Leadership Award: Heather Taylor, Principal, Putnam High School
Pre-Service Excellence in Social Studies: Jerreica Pitre, University of Connecticut
John Stedman Passion for the Social Studies: Drew Mizak, Harvard H. Ellis Technical School
Bruce Fraser Friend of the Social Studies: Irene Parisi, CT State Department of Education
Special Projects Award: Joshua Chlebowski and Madelyn Cunningham, Cromwell Middle School
2025 CCSS Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education (K-8): Tiffany Reynolds, Tolland Middle School
Excellence in Social Studies Education (9-12): Susan Clark, Masuk HIgh School
Pamela Bellmore Gardner Leadership Award: Lauren Francese, Westport Public Schools
Pre-Service Excellence in Social Studies: Jainat Akther, University of Connecticut
John Stedman Passion for the Social Studies: Elizabeth Paoli, Sherman School
Bruce Fraser Friend of the Social Studies: Rebecca Gomez, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Louis Addazio Lifetime Achievement Award: Anthony Roy, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
2024 CCSS Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education (K-8): Amanda Duffy, Washington Middle School
Excellence in Social Studies Education (9-12): Elisabeth Muller, Fairfield Warde High School
Pamela Bellmore Gardner Leadership Award: John Harris, Naugatuck High School
Pre-Service Excellence in Social Studies: Anthony Battaglia, University of Bridgeport
Special Projects: Will Vincent, University of Bridgeport, Cornwall Consolidated School
John Stedman Passion for the Social Studies: Josh Hagewood, Haddam-Killingworth High School
Bruce Fraser Friend of the Social Studies: Matthew Warshauer, Central Connecticut State University
2023 CCSS Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education (K-8): Maureen Tyra, East Ridge Middle School
Excellence in Social Studies Education (9-12): Daisha Brabham, Windsor Public Schools
Pamela Bellmore Gardner: Ilene Viner, Glastonbury Schools
Pre-Service Excellence in Social Studies (K-8): Nicholas Vitale, Southern Connecticut State University
Pre-Service Excellence in Social Studies (9-12): Madison Cotner, Eastern Connecticut State University
CCSS Service: CT State Education Resource Center Consultants: Michelle LeBrun Griffin, Nitza Diaz, Paquita Jarman-Smith
John Stedman Passion for the Social Studies: Mark Jackson
Bruce Fraser Friend of the Social Studies: Stephen Armstrong
2022 CCSS Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education (9-12): Hannah McNeil, Griswold
Excellence in Social Studies Education (K-8): Maia Pavlick, Cromwell
Pre-Service Excellence in Social Studies Education: Megan Ferreira, Southern CT State University
John H. Stedman Passion for the Social Studies: Austin Cesare, Milford
Addazio Honor Award: Elyse Poller, Mansfield Public Schools
2021 CCSS Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education – K-8 –Caitlin Boles, Bethel Middle School, Bethel
Excellence in Social Studies – 9-12 –Jennifer Trainor, Bethel High School, Bethel
Special Projects –Amy Perry, JFK Rocks the Community, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Southington
Pre-Service Social Studies Teacher Award – Grades 9-12 –Steven Bates, University of Bridgeport
Bruce Fraser Friend of Social Studies Award –Sally Whipple, Connecticut Democracy Center at the Old State House, Hartford
2020 CCSS Awardees
View this YouTube video about our winners.
Excellence in Social Studies Education, K-8 – Erin Rooney, Hillcrest Middle School, Trumbull
Excellence in Social Studies Education, 9-12 – Brian Moore, Bullard Havens Technical High School, Bridgeport
Pre-Service Social Studies Teacher Award – Brenda Fernandes, Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), New Haven
Service Award- Thomas Thurston,Director of Education and Public Outreach at the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University
Bruce Fraser Friend of Social Studies Award – Jason Mancini, Executive Director at Connecticut Humanities and Co-founder of Akomawt Educational Initiative
Pamela Bellmore Gardner Social Studies Leadership Award – Ian Lowell, Masuk High School, Monroe
CCSS 2019 Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education – Katelyn Tucker, Shelton Intermediate School
Pre-Service Social Studies Teacher Award – Joseph Grabowski, Central Connecticut State University
Service Award- John Tully and Matt Warshauer, History Department, CCSU
Bruce Fraser Friend of Social Studies Award – Bruce Reinholdt, History is Central, History Day
Pamela Bellmore Gardner Social Studies Leadership Award – Bryan Watson, Bethel Middle School
Special Projects Award – Dennis Culliton, Elisabeth C. Adams,Middle School, Guilford
2019 John Stedman Passion Award – Sara DiGiacomo, Joseph A. Foran High School, Milford
CCSS 2018 Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education – Grades K-8 –Carol Fellenstein, O’Connell Elementary School, East Hartford
Excellence in Social Studies Education – Grades 9-12 – Rachel Riendeau, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System
Pre-Service Social Studies Teacher Award – Grades 4-8 – Olivia Traina, Sacred Heart University
Pre-Service Social Studies Teacher Award – Grades 9-12 – Elizabeth Willett, Central Connecticut State University
Bruce Fraser Friend of Social Studies Award – Robert Regan, Jr., Big History Project
2018 John Stedman Passion Award – Nicole Fontaine, Enfield High School
CCSS 2017 Awardees
Excellence in Social Studies Education, K-8 – Alana Crosby, Torrington Middle School
Excellence in Social Studies Education, 9-12 – Monica Blackman-Smith, James Hillhouse High School
Bruce Fraser Award – Elizabeth Normen, Connecticut Explored
Service Award – Connecticut’s Old State House: Sally Whipple, Brian Cofrancesco and Rebecca Taber-Conover
Louis Addazio Award– David Bosso, Berlin High School
John Stedman Passion Award – Federico Fiondella, North Haven High School
CCSS 2016 Awardees
Pre-Service – Christina de Vecchis (University of Connecticut)
Excellence K-8 – Laura Krenicki (William J. Johnston Middle School)
Excellence 9-12 – William Casertano (Ledyard High School
Bruce Fraser: – Christine Jewell (Fairfield Museum and History Center) – Liz Shapiro (Connecticut League of History Organizations) – Carolyn Ivanoff (Shelton Intermediate School)
Stedman – William Vincent (Cornwall Consolidated School)
2015 Awardees
Captions
- Pictured from right to left: Excellence in Social Studies Education (9-12) – Kerry Hartley (Canton High School); Pre-Service Teacher Award (9-12) – Gabe Benjamin (Central Connecticut State University); Pre-Service Teacher Award (K-8) – Andrew Didden (University of Connecticut); Excellence in Social Studies Education (K-8) – Heather Banas (Manchester High School); Addazio Award – Maxwell Amoh, Treasurer CCSS
- Bruce Fraser Friend of Social Studies Award Representative Joe Courtney, U.S. Congress, District 2CCSS Service Award
- CCSS Service Award Representative Gregg Haddad, CT State, 54th Assembly District
