Senior Bridget Hamel never met her uncle Thomas J. Collins. He was among those killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, where he worked for Sandler O'Neil & Partners on the 104th floor of the South Tower. 

“I didn’t know my uncle, but I feel I do in a sense,” Bridget said. “His photos are all around the house. My mom and my dad talk about him a lot. ... Everyone was very close to him.” 

When awards are presented at the Financial Literacy celebration and networking event on May 16, Bridget will receive the Most Charitable Giving Award. Loomis Chaffee’s Financial Literacy program helps teach students how to manage their money. They learn by earning pelicoin — a virtual currency used as a tool to teach personal finance — at Financial Literacy seminars.  

In honor of her uncle, Bridget turned her pelicoin into about $200 and donated the money to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which “provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and specially adapted homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders,” according to the foundation’s website.  

Another of Bridget’s uncles, Tim Collins, died earlier this year. In lieu of flowers, people were asked to consider a donation to Tunnel to Towers. “I was able to honor both of my uncles [with my donation],” Bridget said. 

The Financial Literacy program has taught Bridget how to be financially responsible, she said, a set of skills that she believes is important for people to learn at a young age. 

The full list of Financial Literacy awards to be presented at the celebration: 

Pearse Distinction in Financial Literacy:  

1. Junior Dylan Torizzo 

2. Sophomore Nyle Sukhera 

3. Sophomore Risa Zhou 

Highest Earners:  

1. Sophomore Nyle Sukhera 

2. Freshman Isabelle Bagdasarian 

3. Junior Kofi Donkor 

Stock Market Game:  

1. Junior Kosi Eyisi 

2. Junior Amaya Schadrack 

3. Sophomore Nyle Sukhera 

Simulation Challenge:  

1. Freshman Sou Yamauchi 

2. Freshman Isabelle Bagdasarian 

3. Junior Kofi Donkor 

Most Charitable Giving

Senior Bridget Hamel 

Changemakers (for significant charitable giving)

Junior Dylan Torizzo, sophomore Isabelle Bagdasian, sophomore Yveson Hsiao, and sophomore Andy Xu