As captain of UConn’s Equestrian Team, Samantha Calzone ’18 (CAHNR) was the type of leader everyone called “Mom” because she kept everyone in line and on track.

She thrived in the nurturing environment of UConn’s Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, where she developed the confidence and skills to succeed.

After graduating, Samantha earned a master’s degree in equine science at Hartpury University in England, determined to help rehabilitate injured and abused horses. She had just started her career in the field when the unimaginable happened. She was killed in a tragic accident at work.

Her legacy lives on in a scholarship created by her mother, Ruthann Pritchard, with support from Samantha’s family, friends, and generous donors. The Samantha Calzone Scholarship is awarded annually to support the education of students who, like Samantha, are animal science majors and members of the Equestrian Team.

“My greatest honor and tribute to Samantha is the UConn scholarship we established after her death,” Pritchard says. “We continue to fundraise throughout the year, at the UConn horse show dedicated to Samantha, and during UConn’s Giving Day event.”

“UConn helped nurture Samantha into a beautiful, young woman, full of the energy, enthusiasm, and skills she needed to succeed,” she says. “Having your children in an environment that allows them to blossom not only academically, but personally, is all you can really ask for in a college. This scholarship helps afford students that same opportunity at a school with renowned programs.”

Seven students have already benefited from the scholarship since it was established in 2019. One of the current recipients, Elinor Addonizio, a junior from Richmond, Virginia, is grateful for the support.

“As the captain of the Equestrian Team, I feel honored to follow in Sam’s footsteps,” Addonizio says. “Receiving the scholarship not only has a strong, personal meaning for me as an equestrian and an active member of the team that Sam was an integral part of, but it also allows me to pursue a degree in equine-focused animal science that I never thought would be possible. I am so grateful for the opportunity this support provides and will strive to use it to continue Sam’s legacy as a means of giving back.”

That is exactly the kind of impact that Pritchard was hoping for when she set up the scholarship.

“As a mother who has lost a child, I long for people to remember Sam—to tell stories, and boldly call her name,” Pritchard says. “I want other kids to develop their passions and become experts in their field. I want to help give them the ability to follow their dreams.”

Thanks to the generosity of Pritchard, the rest of her family and friends, and other generous donors, generations of students will have that opportunity.