WESTPORT ─ Jake Shufro, Staples ‘26, is one of three students to be awarded the Richard E. Taber Citizenship Award scholarship through the First County Bank Foundation. Shufro graduated last month with high honors.

Shufro plans to major in political science and economics at Claremont McKenna College. He received a $5,000 scholarship, along with two other recipients: Mariella Patricia Graceffa (Fairfield Warde ‘26) and Alessandra Tuccillo (Fairfield Ludlowe ‘26). Graceffa will attend the University of Wisconsin and Tuccillo plans to major in psychology at Boston University. 

Shufro said he is “honored to receive this award from First County Bank. . . . Local scholarships are very important, it is good to see local businesses giving back to the community.” Shufro is working at the Levitt Pavilion this summer. He said the award will help him pay for college.

The annual Taber award honors Fairfield County high school students who consistently demonstrate good citizenship at school, at home and in the community.

Each year, First County Bank Foundation accepts student applications from the beginning of the year until the end of April. The program awards scholarships to three deserving students and is designed to recognize and encourage young people who are honest, hard-working and helpful. 

The award is named after Richard E. Taber, who retired as chairman and CEO of First County Bank in March 2011. It is in recognition of Taber’s 40-plus-year career at the bank and many contributions to the community.