Eastern Student Maggie Bodington of Stratford Named Recipient of Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship

2015 Feb 5

Eastern student Maggie Bodington '18 of Stratford, CT, was named as the recipient of the Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was created in honor of Victoria Leigh Soto '08, who lost her life protecting the children of her first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Dec. 14, 2012.

Bodington was extremely grateful to have received the award. "I was deeply moved when I won it. I wanted to win the scholarship for what it really means -- to continue Vicki's legacy. She was so full of life. The things she stood for -- live, laugh, love -- they are how I try to live my life."

Bodington is a member of Eastern's soccer team, and plans to join the lacrosse team during the spring semester. Bodington's major is Physical Education.

The Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship is awarded once a year to a graduating senior from Stratford High School and a graduating senior from Bunnell High School in Stratford. Recipients of the scholarship must be pursuing a career in education and demonstrate excellence in academics, extracurricular activities and leadership skills. The recipients must also demonstrate the spirit to live, laugh and love, both in life and education -- the way Vicki did.