An update for alumni, family, and friends on the Chris Munn '81 Rugby Scholarship. Established in as an endowed scholarship in
2016 by friends and family of Chris Munn ’81, it is presented to a returning member from the men’s and women’s rugby teams who demonstrate leadership, courage, and dedication, both on and off the pitch. The student-athlete must exemplify these attributes, be in good academic standing, and demonstrate financial need.
Financial Updates as of 5/31/2023:
Book value (Total giving to the fund): $174,089
Market value (Fund value after new gifts, distributions, and investment performance): $207,336
Amount Available 2023-24 Scholarship: $18,340
"Where Are They Now?" - An update on what the Norwich rugby student-athletes who received the Munn Scholarship are doing today. Many of these student-athletes formed special connections with Chris and Tammy Munn and all are honored to carry on his legacy. All updates were generously provided through the hard work of Dennis Downey '81.
2016-2017 (Inaugural recipients)
CPT Thomas “Tom” St. Pierre, Class of 2018, Warwick, RI, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and was commissioned into the United States Air Force. Tom and his wife, (Hannah Bell, NU16) welcomed their first child, Samuel Richard St. Pierre born in San Antonio, Texas, to the St Pierre rugby team in September 2021. Chances are extremely high that young Samuel will someday don the Number 9 on the pitch.
Denisse Zambon Regaldo, Class of 2018, Bronx, NY, graduated with a BA in Political Science at Norwich and recently completed her Master of Arts in International Relations from American University in Aug 2021. She presently works as an interpreter supervisor at Cyracom International and is planning to start her own translation business. Denisse continues to play with the New York Rugby Club. Denisse has also successfully coached rugby at several levels, leading a combined U18 Academy and NY Rugby Club High School team to a New York State title while serving as a Play Rugby Youth Mentor and is presently coaching at Columbia University. Denisse continues to play rugby and has represented her home country the (Dominican Republic) in Rugby 7s and she continues to enjoy coaching rugby.
2017-2018
CPT Anthony Candrilli, Class of 2018, Richmond, VA, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and was commissioned into the United States Air Force. Anthony is presently assigned and working in San Antonio, Texas. Anthony was recently married in Nov 2023 at a wedding attended by many of his teammates and Norwich friends.
Jerica Wilson, Class of 2019, Ridgefield, WA, graduated from Norwich with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and has since graduated from law school at the University of Idaho in 2019. Jerica is on track to graduate from law school in the summer of 2022. Jerica welcomed a son, Denavin into the world in 2020 and Denavin just celebrated his third birthday in Oct 2023.
2018-2019
Austin Manhey, Class of 2019, Ballston Lake, NY. Austin graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and entered an apprenticeship program in Schenectady, New York becoming the first registered apprentice in New York in Nov 2021. Two years ago, he returned to campus and began working as an assistant coach for the Norwich men's rugby team. Most recently, he coached the New England Independents Rising Stars team in Texas.
Ashley Nau, from Sunrise, FL. Ashley has been on leave from Norwich and plans to return to Norwich to complete her coursework in History.
2019-2020
1LT Nathan “Cobra” Rolling, Class of 2021, Taylorsville, UT. Nate graduated with a degree in Health Science and was commissioned a 2LT in the United States Army as a Military Police officer he began training in 2020 at the US Army Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Nate was also set to start grad school at the University of Utah in Fall 2021.
Molly Higgins, Class of 2021, Thetford, Center, VT, majored in Nursing. Molly is presently working at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock as a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), she is working on the CHAD Inpatient unit and taking another step towards her dream of being a NICU nurse. Molly loves working with kids and says that “seeing those cute faces every single day and knowing that I’m helping sweet kids at such a hard time in their life is so rewarding”. Molly plans on completing her coursework in nursing and would like to eventually get her master’s degree in nursing.
2020-2021
Ensign or LT JG Nicole Navarro, Class of 2021, San Antonio, TX. Nicole Navarro earned the 2020 Richard S. Schultz Symposium fellowship, which lets Norwich undergraduates from any academic discipline pursue inquiry and experiences to better understand the past and its effect on the present and future. She was also a panelist at the Norwich Military Writers Symposium in 2020. Nicole Graduated with a degree in Political Science and was commissioned into the U.S. Navy and is assigned to the Engineering Department aboard the USS Bataan (LHD-5).
1LT William “Will” Rambin, Class of 2021, Fairfax, VA. Will graduated with a Bachelor in Exercise Science and was commissioned into the Army as an infantry officer and is attending BOLC at Ft Benning, GA. Will completed Ranger School and is serving in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC where his brother Matt (NU 18 rugger) will also be assigned. In his senior year, Will was selected for several prestigious awards at Norwich, he won the Garrity Award, the Jack Buncey Combat Arms Award for Outstanding Infantry Commissionee, and the Lewis E. Perry Memorial Awards and was one of fifty-seven Norwich athletes to receive Scholar-Athlete designations for carrying a 3.25 GPA or higher all in 2021.
2021 - 2022
Leah Fuess, Class of 2022, Northfield, MA. Leah majored in Mechanical Engineering and graduated in 2022.
1LT Jack Tellifson, Class of 2022, Bow, NH. Jack graduated with a degree in History then commissioned as a 2LT in the United States Army (Infantry Branch). Following graduation and commissioning, he will begin training at BOLC in Fort Benning, GA. He is presently assigned to the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska.
2022-2023
The 2022 Chris Munn Rugby Scholarship winners were Leo Clayburgh (Brussels, Belgium) and Emily Ngo (Turlock, CA).
Emily graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and is using her degree while she serves aboard a submarine in the Navy. She was selected to the NIRA All-Academic Rugby Team for 2022-2023. She continues to play rugby with the Charleston Hurricane Rugby team.
Leo Clayburgh was a member of the Corps of Cadets who graduated with a degree in mathematics. Leo was a two-time All-American rugby player and captain of the rugby team in his junior and senior years and was commissioned by LTC (ret) Bob Reddington (NU 80) as an Army 2LT in 2023.
2023-2024
The winners of the 2023 Chris Munn Rugby Scholarship were Amanda Uggalla (Staten Island, NY) and Jered Robertson (Newtown, Conn).
Amanda is a junior majoring in accounting and was a selected to the NIRA All-Academic Rugby Team for 2022-2023
Jered is a senior with a major in Communications and minor in Marketing
The Way Ahead:
Planning is underway to host the Chris Munn Rugby Weekend on April 6-7, 2024 at Norwich University. Presently, we will host the 7's tournament on Sunday, April 7.