Liam O'Neill Is the 2023 Scholarship Recipient

A big congratulations to Liam O’Neill, the 2023 Barbara Neu Memorial Scholarship recipient. Liam was honored on Tuesday at the Davis Senior High School Senior Awards Night, along with proud parents, and presented the scholarship by our sister, Jennifer Thoits, with an assist from our father, Dennis Neu.

Sparking creativity and music

Liam credits Fairfield with helping to spark his creativity— having fond memories of playing in the treehouse, art projects— and love of music, thanks to the music program with Linda Book and Keith Cary. Liam also recalls playing piano for Mrs. Neu at our home in Davis. This is also part of Liam’s future, as Liam will attend the School of Music at San Francisco State University this fall. Liam wants to perform, produce soundtracks for games and films and work as a foley artist and sound designer. We are proud to have the scholarship help Liam pursue this passion.

Both a student and a volunteer

Mary Ryan was Liam’s teacher while attending Fairfield in 2009-2010. However, Liam also volunteered alongside his mom in Mrs. Neu’s last school year in 2008-2009, seen below, with his brother.

As students going forward will have had at best peripheral experience with Mrs. Neu, we were glad to see Liam share fond memories of our mother from this volunteer period in his application. “She was more than a teacher—she felt like family,” Liam said.

Congratulations, Liam! All the best with your music studies and other future endeavors.