30 Students in SPS Class of 2026 Complete Academy of Finance at Westhill High School

Stamford Public Schools is pleased to announce that 30 high school seniors have successfully completed the Academy of Finance program at Westhill High School.

The Academy of Finance prepares high school students to pursue college degrees in business-related fields including accounting and finance. Offered as an intra-district program open to all SPS students regardless of attendance zone, the Academy of Finance emphasizes project-based learning and real-world work experiences and also helps students develop the “soft skills” increasingly desired by employers. 

Students graduating from the Academy of Finance had to complete a rigorous program of study in accounting, finance, economics, information technology, financial planning, and international finance as well as complete an internship. 

The Academy of Finance, which is a partnership between the National Academy Foundation and Stamford Public Schools, has been offered at Westhill High School since 2002. During the 2025-26 school year, more than 150 students in grades 10-12 were enrolled in the program. 

Academy of Finance students will be honored during a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 16th at 6 pm at Westhill High School. Seniors will receive their high school diplomas during the Westhill High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 17 at 5 pm at Walter J. Kennedy Stadium.

Following are the Academy of Finance graduates from the SPS Class of 2026 along with the college or university they will attend: 

 

Rayan Bendaguo: University of Connecticut

Justyna Brzoska: University of Connecticut

Fernando Chavez Riog: University of Connecticut

Blake Cortell: University of Connecticut

Riham Deggouj: Fairfield University

Giovanna Dippolito: Quinnipiac University

Dannielynn Fuentes: Mercy College

Keeran Giritharan: University of Warwick

Daira Hernandez: University of Connecticut

Tamara Hill: University of Michigan

Aya Homsi: Sacred Heart University

Vincent Huang: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Michael Interlandi: Marist University

Muskaan Jakhar: University of California Berkeley

Camila Lopez: University of Connecticut

Elizabeth Luini: CT State Norwalk 

Tahlia Ninan: University of Connecticut

Keily Ortiz: Fairfield University

Marvi Pabrekar: Babson College

Krisha Parmar: University of Connecticut

Matthew Pascarella: University of Tampa 

Nataliya Pastushenko: Duke University

Anne Printsev: Dartmouth College

Kaylee Ruano: Boston University

Simeran Samra: Pennsylvania State University

Connor Smith: Clemson University

Lilah Studebaker: University of Massachusetts 

Purva Thoka: Northeastern University

Harrison Tronick: Syracuse University

Eleni Yohannes: Duke Kunshan University