Whitby Students Collect Dental Supplies at 10th Annual Connect 4 Tournament

The annual event combines strategic gameplay, team spirit, and community service.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:34pm

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Students at Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut hosted the 10th annual 'March Madness' Connect 4 Tournament, collecting 56 new toothbrushes and 11 new tubes of toothpaste as an entry fee. The donations were given to the Dorothy Day Hospitality House, a homeless shelter in Danbury. The bracket-style tournament featured middle school students competing on Green, Blue, Red, and Yellow 'Color Cup Challenge' teams, with Blue Team member Sebastian Florez of Norwalk winning the championship.

Why it matters

The Connect 4 tournament has become a 10-year tradition at Whitby School, allowing students to channel their competitive energy into a meaningful community service project. By collecting essential dental supplies for a local homeless shelter, the students are making a tangible impact and learning the value of giving back.

The details

Students signed up for the tournament in their Design class, encouraging their 'Color Cup Challenge' teammates to bring in dental supply donations as an entry fee. Referees were responsible for reading the rules, tracking the tournament bracket, and managing the collection of the donated items. The 'Final Four' competitors were Sebastian Florez, Eduard Gomis, Dennis Mejia, and Trey Manetti, with Sebastian Florez ultimately winning the championship.

  • The 10th annual 'March Madness' Connect 4 Tournament was held on March 2, 2026.
  • The tournament tradition was launched in 2016 by a student group called the 'Recess Rangers'.

The players

Whitby School

A private school in Greenwich, Connecticut that has hosted the annual Connect 4 tournament for the past 10 years.

Dorothy Day Hospitality House

A volunteer-run nonprofit organization in Danbury, Connecticut that provides essential services to homeless populations, and was the recipient of the dental supply donations from the tournament.

Sebastian Florez

A middle school student at Whitby School who won the 2026 Connect 4 tournament championship, representing the Blue team.

Phil Lohmeyer

A Design teacher at Whitby School who has coordinated the Connect 4 tournament for the past 10 years.

Liam Britt

A fifth-grade student referee at the 2026 Connect 4 tournament, responsible for reading the rules, filling in the tournament bracket, and collecting the donated supplies.

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What they’re saying

“Our 10-year tradition launched in 2016, when student group 'The Recess Rangers' brought their successful fourth grade PYP Exhibition project concept up to Middle School.”

— Phil Lohmeyer, Design teacher and tournament coordinator

“I brought in a toothbrush and toothpaste for charity. It felt great to win and it was a hard victory, but also I'm glad our efforts are going to a good cause.”

— Sebastian Florez

“Seeing the students channel their competitive energy into a meaningful cause made for great photos!”

— G. Nicole Miller, Content Coordinator

What’s next

The photos and donated dental supplies will be delivered to the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury.

The takeaway

The annual Connect 4 tournament at Whitby School demonstrates how student-led initiatives can foster community engagement, teamwork, and a commitment to helping those in need. By combining competitive gameplay with charitable giving, the school is instilling valuable life lessons in its students.