Waterbury High School alumni to award six $4,500 scholarships to Harwood seniors

March 23, 2026  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

This undated photograph from the Waterbury Historical Society shows Waterbury High School, mid-20th century. The school today is Brookside Primary School.

The Waterbury High School Alumni Association has opened applications for its 2026 scholarships with the goal of announcing six $4,500 awards for seniors in Harwood Union High School’s class of 2026. 

The association is a 501c3 nonprofit that manages a fund to distribute scholarships annually. Association secretary and scholarship chair Victoria Alberghini explained that the awards are intended as “second-semester” scholarships to be paid to the student’s institution of higher education in their second semester after graduating from Harwood. 

Four of the scholarships are given out to honor the memory of former Waterbury High School principal and coach Dascomb P. Rowe (1897-1995). The other two scholarships are awarded in memory of Rowe’s daughter, Merry Rowe Hermans. 

The elder Rowe, known as “Dac” in his day, served as principal, math teacher, counselor and basketball, baseball and track and field coach at Waterbury High School for 40 years. Of that time, he was principal for 33 years from 1926 to 1959. Waterbury’s town park and recreation fields on North Main Street are named after him. 

Rowe’s daughter Merry was valedictorian of the Waterbury High School class of 1946 and a member of the school’s 1945 state championship basketball team, among her many accomplishments. Merry was married to George Hermans, who donated to the scholarship fund in her memory.  

The alumni association scholarships are open to 2026 Harwood Union graduating seniors who are planning to pursue higher education. Each award will be for $4,500. The applications are available at the Harwood Union High School guidance office with an April 28 submission deadline.