Welcome to The Nia Hailey Simpson Foundation
Honoring the memory of Nia Hailey Simpson.
PURPOSE
SCHOLARSHIP
PURPOSE
Everyone who met Nia immediately recognized her kind soul and sweet demeanor. She loved hanging out with her friends and cousins, snuggling with her beloved dog Coco, and just being a younger sister to her brother Jalen, whom she always looked up to. Whenever a friend or family member had a birthday, she preferred giving hand-made cards o
Everyone who met Nia immediately recognized her kind soul and sweet demeanor. She loved hanging out with her friends and cousins, snuggling with her beloved dog Coco, and just being a younger sister to her brother Jalen, whom she always looked up to. Whenever a friend or family member had a birthday, she preferred giving hand-made cards over store-bought ones, knowing how much a personalized message showed that she cared. From a young age, she was versatile in the kitchen, and was always ready to whip up a batch of cookies or bake a cake that she would eagerly share with others.
Nia was patient, rarely complaining about life’s setbacks, always believing that new opportunities were on the horizon. She approached each day with a fresh outlook, filling a daily gratitude journal with thoughts and experiences that would empower her to be even more grateful and resilient the next day. Living life with optimism came easily for Nia, and she spread her positivity freely. She was the one her friends confided in when they were feeling down, as they knew Nia could always cheer them up.
Nia was a passionate athlete, and her courageous spirit led her to explore a range of sports and activities including dance, figure skating, volleyball, tennis, hockey and lacrosse, just to name a few. She was equally hard working in school, having consistently achieved high honors at Ridgefield High School. She was active in student government and was elected to serve as her class treasurer three years in a row. Nia cared deeply about her community and during her free time, extended her compassion to others by mentoring young students and athletes.
MISSION
SCHOLARSHIP
PURPOSE
As we continue to shine a light on Nia’s life, we hope to share the lessons of her beautiful life that taught us how to live life fully with optimism and gratitude.
The goals of the foundation are threefold:
- To award an annual scholarship to a graduating senior at Ridgefield High School in order to help support the higher education goals o
As we continue to shine a light on Nia’s life, we hope to share the lessons of her beautiful life that taught us how to live life fully with optimism and gratitude.
The goals of the foundation are threefold:
- To award an annual scholarship to a graduating senior at Ridgefield High School in order to help support the higher education goals of its recipients
- To focus on supporting and teaching teens the skills to build resilience
- To establish and maintain a memorial in the Ridgefield community that honors Nia’s life and legacy, and provides a serene and tranquil place for gathering and reflection
SCHOLARSHIP
SCHOLARSHIP
SCHOLARSHIP
2023 Recipients:
Jude Vucci
Corrie Vakil
Nia had an enormously positive impact on so many people during her short lifetime. To honor Nia’s life, each year the Nia Hailey Simpson Foundation will offer two scholarships to graduating seniors of Ridgefield High School, a community that meant so much to Nia. Scholarship recipients are students ac
2023 Recipients:
Jude Vucci
Corrie Vakil
Nia had an enormously positive impact on so many people during her short lifetime. To honor Nia’s life, each year the Nia Hailey Simpson Foundation will offer two scholarships to graduating seniors of Ridgefield High School, a community that meant so much to Nia. Scholarship recipients are students active in the community who display academic excellence, active participation in extracurricular activities, a commitment to helping others, a strong work ethic, leadership qualities, and kindness — all the qualities that Nia displayed each and every day.
The 2024 nomination process will begin in April 2024.