PUTNAM —  Kentucky guard and former Putnam Science Academy stand-out Hamidou Diallo made a dream become reality June 21.
The New York native heard his name called at the Barclays Center for the NBA Draft when he was selected in the 2nd round, 45th overall by the Brooklyn Nets.
The 6-foot, 5-inch guard out of Kentucky’s homecoming reunion would be cut short as Diallo was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. The moves wouldn’t stop there for Hamidou as he later in the night was shipped to the Oklahoma City Thunder via trade.
“What a special day for Hamidou Diallo, his family and Putnam Science Academy,” said PSA Head Coach Tom Espinosa. “Words can’t describe how proud we are of him.”
Diallo is the all-time leading scorer in Putnam Science Academy history with 1,415 career points. Diallo is the first PSA Mustang to be drafted in the NBA. Hamidou made his decision to attend the University of Kentucky and went on to start in all 37 games for the Wildcats averaging 10 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

PUTNAM — On June 5, the 65th  Annual Putnam High School Alumni Athletic Association Banquet took place. Thirty-one athletes from 15 sports teams received awards. 
On June 7 at the annual Award and Scholarship night, 56 scholarships totaling over $99,100 were awarded to 25 students.   William Hull, Putnam superintendent, said: “These events are always fantastic!   Both evenings are a wonderful culmination of our seniors’ hard work as well as their high school careers.   What makes these evenings more special is the number of alumni that came back to the high school community and contributed.  Both evenings could not take place without these wonderful alumni.  They make Putnam special.  I would also like to thank all the organizations and families generosity and support for our students.  On behalf of the entire Putnam community and Putnam Public Schools, I would like to congratulate all the recipients”
Putnam High School 2017-2018 Awards/Scholarships
Valedictorian Award: Lauren Carita
Salutatorian Award: Doria Daviau
The Putnam Police Union Howard T. Babbitt/Donald Morrison Memorial Scholarship: Jaidyn Gillette
American Legion Post 13 Scholarship: Doria Daviau
Aspinock Historical Award in Honor of Gertrude Warner: Lauren Carita
The Leo A. and Rita Bernier Memorial Scholarship: Justin Haynes
Steve Bousquet Memorial Scholarship in association with The Congregational Church of Putnam: Doria Daviau, Brianna Long, Morgan Foucault
The Community Service Scholarship: Allison Lafortune
The Francis Curran ’24 Memorial Scholarship: Jaidyn Gillette
E. Catherine Deary Memorial Scholarship: Natalie Ionkin
The Gov. John N. Dempsey Memorial Scholarship: Aliceya LaBonte
The Susan McNally Everson Memorial Scholarship: Morgan Foucault
Lucy M. Farrows Memorial Scholarship: Lauren Carita
Richard W. Franklin Memorial Scholarship: Hayden Belliveau
John W. Gahan and Beatrice Delaney Scholarship: Scott Davagian Jr., Tyler Fitts, Justin Haynes, Lauren Carita, Brianna Long
Gasiorek Family Scholarship: Courtney Stott, Benjamin Smith, Alyson Morris, Angela Bichard
Jeffrey Greene Memorial Scholarship: Scott Davagian Jr.
Coach James Greenhalgh Memorial Scholarship: Hayden Belliveau, Scott Davagian Jr.
GUNNFIT Scholarship: Morgan Foucault
The Bill Hildebrandt Memorial Scholarship: Morgan Foucault
Irish American Club of Putnam Scholarship: Hayden Belliveau
Italian American Society Scholarship: Brianna Long
Connie Johnson Scholarship: Brianna Worden
Abbie Keith English Essay Award in Remembrance of D. Allen Hall, PHS 1940 Graduate: Lauren Carita
The Dr. Rudolph E. Klare Memorial Scholarship: Jaidyn Gillette, Tyler Fitts
The Knights of Columbus Dr. Robert. R. Johnston Memorial Scholarship: Morgan Foucault
Nathan Lavine Award: Ashley Burke, Scott Davagian Jr.
The Luke Leaders Scholarship: Doria Daviau
Gilbert E. Morse Memorial Scholarship: Mitchel Barylski
National Honor Society Scholarship:Lauren Carita
The Bonnie L. Perron Memorial Scholarship: Jaidyn Gillette, Benjamin Smith, Joshua Belleville
Dr. Brenda L. Picard Memorial Scholarship: Mitchel Barylski, Tara Auger
The Casimir Pulaski Memorial Scholarship: Alyson Morris
 Putnam Administration Association Scholarship: Hailey Bocash
PHS Athletic Alumni Association Scholarship in Memory of Steve Bousquet: Scott Davagian Jr.
PHS Athletic Alumni Association Scholarship in Memory of Gerry Vaillant: Tara Auger
PHS Class of ’91 Annual Scholarship: Aidan Ciquera
Putnam Education Association Scholarship: Natalie Ionkin, Dekoda Gray
Putnam Fire Department Scholarship: Joshua Belleville
Putnam Lions Club Memorial Scholarship: Doria Daviau
Putnam Music Association Academic Scholarship: Allison Lafortune, Courtney Stott
Putnam Pride - Doug Cutler Memorial Scholarship: Doria Daviau
PHS Student Council Scholarship: Doria Daviau
QRS Compassion Scholarship: Doria Daviau
QVR Rotaract Club Scholarship: Doria Daviau
Susan T. Rogers Memorial Poetry Award: Savannah Kruger
Raymond Brousseau Putnam Rotary Scholarship: Doria Daviau
Putnam Rotary Scholarship: Tyler Fitts, Brianna Long, Natalie Ionkin
Dr. Paula Scraba - Sports, Leisure and Exercise Sciences Award: Mitchel Barylski
Scraba Family Memorial Award: Aidan Ciquera
James Sylvia Baseball Scholarship: Mitchel Barylski
The Ella Jane Thayer Memorial Scholarship: Hayden Belliveau
 Frank H. Thornton Memorial Award: Tara Auger
The Charles L. Torrey Memorial Scholarship: Hailey Bocash
VFW Post 1523 Auxiliary of Putnam Top Highest Average US History Award: Lauren Carita
VFW Post 1523 Auxiliary of Putnam 2nd Highest Average US History Award: Doria Daviau
VFW Post 1523  Auxiliary Scholarship: Morgan Foucault Kevin Waters Scholarship: Morgan Foucault.

2018 Putnam High School Athletic Award:
Baseball Unsung Hero Award: Aidan Ciquera
Basketball Cheerleading Outstanding Performer: Emma Rudman
Basketball Cheerleading Unsung Hero Award: Alexis Wolinski
Basketball Male Outstanding Performer (William Simonzi Award): Sebastian Ramos Basketball Unsung Hero Award: Colby Livingston
Basketball Female Outstanding Performer: Kayleigh Lyons
Basketball Female Unsung Hero Award : Molly McKeon, Kaylyn Daigneault
Football Cheerleading Outstanding Performer: Perez
Football Cheerleading Unsung Hero Award: Emma Fisk
Football Outstanding Back (Peter Caplette Award): Malaki Fitzgerald
Football Outstanding Lineman Award (Frank Wallen Award): Joe Barnett
Football Unsung Hero Award (Omer Valade Award): Sam Williams
Football MVP Award: Jeff Reed
Golf Outstanding Performer (Jeffrey P. Jankot Award): Tyler Fitts
Soccer Male Outstanding Performer: Hunter Touchette
Soccer Male Unsung Hero: Scott Davagian
Soccer Female Outstanding Performer: Morgan Foucault, All State Athlete
Soccer Female Unsung Hero Award ;Hailey Bocash
Softball Outstanding Performer: Ashley Burke
Softball Unsung Hero Award: Jillian Gray
Volleyball Outstanding Performer: Kaitlin Zamora
Volleyball Unsung Hero Award: Savannah Kruger
Cross Country Unsung Hero: Trinity Bailey
Cross Country Male MVP: Nate Dolbey
Track Male Outstanding Performer (Paul J. Bourgeois Award): Michael Ionkin
Field Male Outstanding Performer (George St. Marie Award): Hayden Belliveau
Track and Field Male Unsung Hero Award: Noah Tomkins
Track Female Outstanding Performer: Stephanie Penrod
Field Female Outstanding Performer: Savannah Kruger
Track and Field Female Unsung Hero: Emma Rudman
Gymnastics Outstanding Performer: Maggie McKeon, All State Athlete
Male Athlete of the Year: Scott Davagian
Female Athlete of the Year: Savannah Kruger

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By Thomas Borner
President, CEO
Putnam Bank
As we celebrate our nation’s birth this Fourth of July, I’m proud to represent our country’s independent spirit as a community banker, contributing to our nation’s economic well-being through service to our customers and the many communities we serve.
At a community bank like ours, it’s the relationship, not the transaction, that governs our practices and interactions with customers and distinguishes us as independent lenders. Because our focus is only local, we understand the funding needs of Eastern Connecticut’s small business community, and we diligently strive every day to earn their patronage as the primary and preferred small business lender in the community.
As small businesses ourselves, community banks understand the unique needs of our small business customers. A study from seven Federal Reserve Banks found that small businesses that apply for loans with community banks are the most successful and most satisfied. According to the study, small businesses that apply for loans with community banks were more likely to receive financing (78 percent versus 63 percent from large banks) and were more satisfied with their borrowing experience (80 percent versus 61 percent for large banks).
It’s why the owners of so many small businesses chose to bank local when securing financing to help start or expand, which in turn creates local jobs and supports the local economic ecosystem. All of this contributes to our vitality, prosperity, and our quality of life.
The role of community banks as trusted lenders and our desire to help more Americans gain financial independence is what drove policymakers to heed our concerns regarding unnecessarily overzealous regulation, resulting in the passage of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. This landmark law will allow community banks across the nation to redirect precious resources from pushing paperwork to funding dreams, which is good for all consumers and local communities.
No other country has as rich and robust a community banking infrastructure as the United States. And only in America can independent banks like Putnam Bank flourish alongside captains of industry by doing what we do best—serving our customers with distinction.
I’m proud of the work Putnam Bank does to make our communities stronger and more vibrant by making the American dream possible for families, entrepreneurs, farmers and those who depend on us to meet their financial needs and goals.
Just as independence matters, what we do matters. Thank you for letting Putnam Bank serve this community for 156 years and for helping our bank retain our independence by supporting an environment where community banks and Main Street flourish. Happy Fourth!