Pictured from left to right: Scholarship Committee Chair Jessica Simone, 2026 scholarship recipients: Chandira Malla, Jillian Borgia, Samantha Cawley, Bridges Healthcare’s President & CEO Jennifer Fiorillo, and Board Chairperson Joan Cretella
The Barry Kasdan and Stella Cretella 202 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.
Jillian Borgia – Barry Kasdan Scholarship
Jillian is a Stratford resident and a recent graduate of Trumbull High School. While in high school, Jillian excelled in the classroom and in her school’s agricultural program. This earned her a cumulative weighted GPA of 4.7, including AP- and college-level courses at SCSU and UConn. She has received over 10 academic honors and awards throughout her four years of high school. In her academic letter of recommendation, her teacher wrote that Jillian’s “enthusiasm for education makes me glad that I chose this career as an educator.”
Outside the classroom, Jillian has been an active member of her school’s soccer team for four years and a member of a competitive travel soccer team since 2020. She serves as a math tutor and a Link Crew member at her school. She greatly enjoys volunteering with numerous organizations, including Sustainable Trumbull, Trumbull Community Schools, and St. Theresa Church, and has completed approximately 150 hours of community service during the 2025-2026 school year alone! All of this while holding a job as a babysitter and at Dairy Queen for the past year. Her supervisor at Dairy Queen said her character is what sets her apart from others, stating he “has no doubt that her compassion and desire to help others will guide her toward success in the human services field.”
In the fall, Jillian will attend Eastern Connecticut State University as a Nursing major. After suffering an ACL injury of her own while also supporting a family member with a chronic illness, Jillian feels as though “a career in nursing is more than just a profession; it’s a calling.” She is ready to dedicate herself to caring for others in the same way others cared for her and her family.
It is with great pleasure to award Jillian the 2026 Barry Kasdan Scholarship on behalf of Bridges Healthcare.
Samantha Cawley – Barry Kasdan Scholarship
Samantha is a Milford resident and is working toward her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in women and gender studies at Southern Connecticut State University, with an expected graduation date of May 2027. She received her associate’s degree in social work from Connecticut State Community College in May 2025. In her most recent semester, she finished with a 4.0 GPA. One of her professors from Southern expressed that Samantha’s “ability to balance academic responsibilities while maintaining a high level of performance is truly commendable.”
Samantha currently works as a Behavioral Therapist at John Lyman Elementary School, where she provides specialized ABA instruction, addresses behavioral needs for individual students through appropriate interventions, and collaborates continuously with the student’s entire school team.
Outside of school and work, Samantha is actively involved in community service through her work with youth programs, including the Soccer Club of Guilford, where she supports the U11 boys soccer team, and also with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut, where she helps with programming and activities that promote leadership, personal growth, and community engagement among young girls. These experiences have allowed Samantha to develop strong communication skills, patience, and a deeper commitment to supporting youth and families in the community.
In addition to work, school, and community service, Samantha is a member of the Psychology Club, which allows her to further explore topics related to psychology and human behavior outside the classroom.
Samantha expressed that pursuing a degree in Human Services feels like a natural extension of both her personal experiences and her professional work, aligning with her values of empathy, advocacy, and social justice. Her long-term career goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, providing counseling and support to individuals and families, particularly those dealing with trauma, mental health challenges, or difficult life transitions. Social Work is more than just a career path for her; it is a commitment to being someone who shows up for others with compassion, understanding, and a genuine desire to help them succeed.
It is with great pleasure to award Samantha the 2026 Barry Kasdan Scholarship on behalf of Bridges Healthcare. Congratulations!
Chandira Malla – Stella Cretella Scholarship
Chandira is a West Haven resident and is working toward her master’s degree in public health at the University of New Haven with an expected graduation date in May 2027. She is committed to supporting well-being through evidence-based practices, mental health advocacy, and service-oriented leadership. She holds a 4.0 GPA and was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship for the Fall semester of 2025 and was most recently awarded the Student Affairs Award in 2026.
Additionally, Chandira has a medical background, having earned her Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery from Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh in January of 2022. While in her medical program, she received the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation scholarship for her medical degree from the government of Bangladesh during her 2015-2016 admission year.
Currently, she is a WeEmbody Lab Fellow at UNH, where she conducts community health needs assessments, engages residents through qualitative survey collection, analyzes community feedback to identify service gaps, and has contributed survey findings to inform the development of a local community clinic aligned with resident-identified needs.
Chandira was published in 2023 with her article titled “Functional Outcome of Micro Lumbar Discectomy in Patients with Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation,” and obtained her Medical Board Certification from the Nepal Medical Council in January 2021. She also obtained her Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support & Basic Life Support Certification through the American Heart Association in June of 2025.
Chandira’s commitment to community engagement and involvement is driven by a desire to support individuals and families facing complex health and social challenges. This work is of great importance to her, as she firmly believes in serving others, promoting fairness, and actively participating in the community. Chandira is actively involved with UNH’s Student Public Health Association, where she uplifts fellow students by fostering inclusive environments that facilitate learning, collaboration, and professional development. Through this association, she has been instrumental in organizing and supporting various campus events that promote public health awareness, leadership development, and student engagement. Additionally, Chandira has volunteered at Connecticut Public Health Association conferences by helping with blood drives and other events that promote community health.
The director of the WeEmbody Lab, in which Chandira is a current Fellow, stated that he has had the privilege of working closely with her and that she has distinguished herself as a dedicated, thoughtful, and community-engaged emerging public health professional. He also stated that what sets Chandira apart is her deep commitment to service and her ability to bridge clinical knowledge with community-based practice. She serves as a strong example of how students can translate academic training into meaningful community impact.
As part of Chandira’s personal essay, she expressed that her “work aligns with the legacy of Ms. Stella Cretella, who championed women’s education and mental health advocacy. As a woman in healthcare and public health, I am committed to continuing this legacy by supporting underserved populations and advancing equitable, community-centered care. My goal is to work in community-based mental health and human services, expanding access to mental health care while addressing structural determinants of health.”
It is with great pleasure to award Chandira the 2026 Stella Cretella Scholarship on behalf of Bridges Healthcare.
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