Pictured from left to right: Board Chairperson Joan Cretella, daughter of Stella Cretella; 2025 scholarship recipients Gabrielle Dobkowski and Annabel Adwoa Marfoa Oppong; Board Member and Scholarship Committee Chair Jessica Simone; and scholarship recipient Dr. Charmi Bharatkumar Desai.
The Barry Kasdan and Stella Cretella 2025 Scholarship Recipients:
At the heart of our organization’s mission lies a commitment to promote individual and community health, wellness, and recovery through integrated behavioral services. To further our mission, the Bridges Board of Directors has established three annual scholarships of $1,500 each, awarded to deserving recipients.
The Barry Kasdan Scholarship is for the Pursuit of a Graduate or Undergraduate Degree in Human Services. The Stella Cretella Scholarship is awarded to individuals pursuing higher education through graduate or undergraduate degrees that focus on advocacy and policy reform in mental health services.
These scholarships were established by the Bridges’ Board of Directors, the Board Endowment Fund Committee, and the Board Scholarship Committee in honor of Barry Kasdan’s 30+ years of leadership and service to Bridges Healthcare as President and CEO of Bridges and in memory of Stella Cretella’s 40+ years in advocating for mental illness health reform in Connecticut and her 10+ years serving on the Board of Directors at Bridges Healthcare, Inc.
Mr. Kasdan was appointed President and CEO of Bridges, then known as Milford Mental Health, in 1984. Under his leadership, the organization grew from a small mental health agency with 22 employees to an integrated healthcare system with 160 employees. Bridges Healthcare, Inc. continues to grow in size and scope, serving over 8,000 area residents in Ansonia, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, West Haven, and Woodbridge.
Ms. Cretella was a strong advocate for higher education, particularly for women. She was a pioneer in mental health advocacy, awareness, and treatment through her volunteer work on the board of directors for both Region II in Connecticut of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Bridges Healthcare, Inc.
Our Scholarship Committee was honored to award scholarships to remarkable individuals who embody the spirit of helping others. We are thrilled to introduce you to each of the recipients and share their inspiring stories.
Gabriella Dobkowski
Gabriella is a Milford resident and a recent graduate of Joseph A. Foran High School. While in high school, Gabriella excelled academically. This earned her a cumulative weighted GPA of 4.6875 with courses including AP Human Geography, AP Language & Composition, AP Government & Politics, AP Literature, AP Psychology, and AP Calculus.
Outside of the classroom, Gabriella accumulated over 200 hours of community service serving as a mentor in the extended school year program and for the Foran Girls’ Basketball team, along with Foran’s Lacrosse coach with the Lacrosse team. She volunteered as a tutor through the National Honor Society and has attended various events and fundraisers. Her tutoring/mentoring experience in a special-education preschool classroom over the summer provided her with hands-on experience, which blossomed into a passion for helping children who face developmental, behavioral, or cognitive delays – empowering them to communicate effectively and become more independent.
It is evident that Gabriella’s dedication to learning and her numerous volunteer contributions have not only kept her busy but have also guided her to meaningful experiences and personal growth in this next chapter, all while holding down a job at a local restaurant for the past two years. In the fall, Gabriella will attend the College of Charleston, majoring in psychology, with future plans to become a Behavior Analyst.
It is with great pleasure that I award Gabriella the 2025 Barry Kasdan Scholarship on behalf of Bridges Healthcare.
Annabel Adwoa Marfoa Oppong
Annabel is a West Haven resident and a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of New Haven. She is dedicated to furthering her commitment to advocacy and policy reform in mental health services, along with applying her academic background, professional experience, and volunteer work to drive systemic change and improve access to quality mental health care for underserved populations.
Annabel’s community service experience has helped shape and guide her career path to human services and advocacy. She has volunteered at Connecticut Foodshare and Hartford Hospital as a “Keeping in Touch” volunteer, served as a campus coordinator at UNH, and volunteered as an addiction recovery volunteer at the CT Community Addiction Recovery Center.
Academically, her overall GPA is 3.89, and she has been awarded the Dean’s Scholarship for her academic excellence. Some of her many courses include Lifespan Human Development, Theories of Counseling, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Research Methods, and Trauma & Crisis Intervention – to name a few.
As per her essay, “receiving the Stella Cretella Scholarship would not only support my academic journey but also enable me to keep speaking up for people who are frequently disregarded when talking about mental health. My desire to see genuine change that guarantees mental health care is a right, not a privilege, is the driving force behind my passion for activism and policy reform. I will be better able to carry out my work and advocate for a day when mental health services are available, fair, and stigma-free, thanks to this award”.
It is with great pleasure to award Annabel the 2025 Stella Cretella Scholarship on behalf of Bridges Healthcare. Congratulations.
Dr. Charmi Bharatkumar
Charmi is a West Haven resident and just finished her first year as a graduate student at the University of New Haven, working towards her Master’s Degree in Public Health.
Before moving to West Haven to attend UNH, Charmi completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Surgery at the Government Dental College and Hospital in her home country of India. She was actively engaged in volunteering and community service, where she taught children from underserved communities, particularly those living in low-income areas. As a dental intern, she participated in dental public health camps organized in schools and hospitals, where she provided essential dental care and counseling to underprivileged groups. This experience equipped the children with basic education and nurtured study habits and curiosity within them. This also allowed Charmi to empower these children, boost their self-esteem, and provide them with the ability to pursue better futures.
Since beginning her Master’s program at UNH last year, Charmi has gotten involved with the American Red Cross, where she volunteers and serves as their Administrative Assistant. This role has enabled her to support community outreach and humanitarian efforts. Charmi is also trained in Level 1 Reiki therapy as part of her volunteer training at Yale. Her passion for community service and volunteer efforts is evident. At UNH, she currently serves on the Executive Boards of the Indian Student Council and the Student Public Health Association.
As a graduate student, Charmi currently holds a 4.0 GPA with straight A’s in her courses, including Foundations of Public Health, Health, Behavior & Society, Healthcare Leadership, Grant Writing in Public Health, Principles of Epidemiology, Biostatistical Applications, and Public Health Practice. She has been awarded the Dean’s Scholarship for her academic excellence.
Put so eloquently by one of her professors, “Charmi brings empathy, confidence, and resilience to her work. Her ability to take initiative whole also supporting others shows a maturity and motivation that make her an excellent candidate for this award.”
It is with great pleasure to award Charmi the 2025 Barry Kasdan Scholarship on behalf of Bridges Healthcare. Congratulations.
We are honored to support these inspiring individuals as they excel in their educational endeavors.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact scholarship@bridgesmilford.org