2025 Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Awardees Announced

The Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Committee is proud to announce Madison Meade, Bayly Hoehne and Ethan Sirard as the 2025 scholarship awardees. The Committee is proud to award scholarships to these students because of their optimism for the future, courage to become an agent of change, strong moral values, and compassion for community service. Each awardee will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

The Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Fund is an initiative formed through collaboration between the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Connecticut Chapter, the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Region 9A and the Days Family.

The Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Fund was created in memory of Richard Adam Days, who was a labor educator for the UAW. Prior to his retirement he was the Education & Civil Rights Director for UAW Region 9A. Brother Days was a rigorous trade unionist, political activist and community advocate. As a labor educator, Dik worked endlessly to educate union and non-union workers, their families and young adults on labor history, the contributions of organized labor in the workplace and the rights of workers. He was a member of the UAW for over 40 years, a charter member of the National Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, cofounder and former President of the Connecticut Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, co-founder of the Connecticut Chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, a lifetime member of the NAACP, a lifetime member of the African American Alliance, and a six term member of the Bloomfield Town Council.

Madison Meade is a 2025 graduate of the Academy of Aerospace and Engineering and plans to enter the University of Connecticut School of Nursing in the fall. Ms. Meade is compassionate about helping others and plans to achieve this goal through a career in nursing. She regularly volunteers in local non-profit organizations including Planned Parenthood where she uses her voice to advocate for equality, empowerment, and social change.

Bayly Hoehne is a 2025 graduate of Pearson Online Academy and is headed to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in the fall where she will major in political science. Ms. Hoehne is an achiever. Despite her age, she made the decision to leave Torrington High School and enrolled in Pearson Online Academy so she would have the flexibility to pursue her passion for civic engagement, youth empowerment, and progressive change. Among her many accomplishments, she currently serves as Chief of Staff at Voters of Tomorrow where she is instrumental in shaping the organization’s political vision, the development of policies, and overseeing daily operations.

Ethan Sirard is a 2025 graduate of Enfield High School and plans to attend Eastern Connecticut State University in the fall, where he will major in political science. Mr. Sirard is noted for his strong leadership skills, attention to details and his ability to balance academic success across multiple areas. He excels in culinary arts, as well as theater productions and could have pursued a career in either. He is the youth representative on the Enfield Opera House Player’s board of directors where he provides a student perspective on community theater administration and decision-making. Ethan is also a martial arts instructor which has allowed him to appreciate mentorship, perseverance, and responsibility.

The Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Committee salute the 2025 scholarship awardees and wishes them the best of luck in achieving their career goals.