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 5/31/2021:
Book value (Total giving to the fund): $152,738.97
Market value (Fund value after new gifts, distributions, and investment performance): $234,226.33
Endowment payout: $7,653.51
Total payments to date (2016-2022): $31,916.15
"Where Are They Now?" - An update on what the Norwich rugby student-athletes that 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 though the hard work of Dennis Downey '81.
2016-2017 (Inaugural recipients):
Thomas “Tom” St. Pierre '18 (Warwick, RI) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and commissioned into the United States Air Force. Tom is stationed in San Antonio, Texas and he continues to hone his leadership as a First Lieutenant in 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 '18 (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 plans 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 along with NU Alum Alek Owen. Denisse continues to play rugby and has represented her home country the (Dominican Republic) in Rugby 7s and is presently training to compete for a position on the squad for the RAN Super Sevens in Mexico in Feb 2022. She also was on the winning team for the 2021 New York 7s - Womens Social Division.
2017-2018:
Anthony Candrilli '18 (Richmond, VA) graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and was commissioned into the United States Air Force. Anthony is working at Keesler, Air Force Base in the Medical Group working on a Medical Surgical Ward and playing rugby for the Biloxi Land Sharks. Anthony was recently engaged and will fit a wedding into a busy schedule.
Jerica Wilson '19 (Ridgefield, WA) graduated from Norwich with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and has since entered 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 first birthday in Oct 2021.
2018-2019:
Austin Manhey '19 (Ballston Lake, NY): Austin graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and entered in the new apprenticeship program in Schenectady, New York becoming the first registered apprentice in New York under New York States new registered craft beer/distiller program in Nov 2021.
Ashley Nau, (Sunrise, FL). Ashley has been on leave from Norwich and plans to return to Norwich in the fall of 2022 to complete her course work in History.
2019-2020:
Nathan “Cobra” Rolling '21 (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 and 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 '21 (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 everyday and knowing that I’m helping sweet kids at such a hard time in their life is so rewarding”. Molly plans on completing her course work in nursing and would like to eventually get her masters degree in nursing.
2020-2021:
Nicole Navarro '21 (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 Norwich University with a degree in Political Science and Commissioned into the U.S Navy entering the Surface Warfare. Nicole is presently attending her second course as a new Navy officer and will report to her first ship, the USS Bataan (LHD-5) in 2022.
William “Will” Rambin '21 (Fairfax, VA): Will graduated with a Bachelors in Exercise Science and commissioned into the Army as an infantry officer and is attending BOLC at Ft Benning, GA. Will’s first duty assignment will 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 '22 (Northfield, MA): Leah is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and will graduate in 2022. She would love to work in the Montana or the Dakotas.
Jack Tellifson '22 (Bow, NH): Jack is majoring in and will graduate with a degree in History then commission as a 2LT in the United States Army (Infantry Branch). Following graduation and commissioning, he will begin training at BOLC in Fort Benning, GA.
The Way Ahead:
Planning is underway to host the Chris Munn Rugby Weekend on April 9-10, 2022 at Norwich University. Presently, we will hold our annual fundraising dinner on Saturday evening, April 9 and hold the tournament on Sunday, April 10. The 7's tournament will be part of qualifying for the NEWCRC 7's Championship Tournament set to be held in Springfield, MA on Sunday, April 24. The NEWCRC 7s Championship Tournament is also the next step in qualifying for the NCR and ACRA National 7's Championship Tournaments. The women's schedule is currently being aligned to host a home match that day.