The City of Norwalk Housing Authority celebrated local scholars over the weekend.

The agency awarded thousands of dollars in college scholarships to recent high school graduates and current college students, who all live in Norwalk public housing, during a ceremony at The SoNo Collection.

Officials say programs such as this break the cycle of poverty and help students cover the remaining costs after other financial aid is exhausted.

"Students who get a degree from a four-year institution tend to not need public assistance after they graduate. It's really an amazing way to break the generational poverty cycles that we have seen so many families get stuck in," Adam Bovilsky, the executive director of Norwalk Housing Authority.

The ceremony was sponsored by the Norwalk Housing Foundation.