Press Release: 2012 Scotch Plains Scholarship Winners

The following is a press release from the Scotch Plains Fanwood Scholarship Foundation.

This year, with the distribution of $135,750 in scholarship aid to 112 students, the Scotch Plains Fanwood Scholarship Foundation has once again fulfilled its many, varied partnerships with community members, community organizations and individuals. 

Community members contributed to the Dollars for Students Campaign used to distribute $24,000 among high school and college students who demonstrated both academic achievement and financial need. 

The High School students are:  Olivia Checchio, Rebecca Maioriello, Chloe Thomas, Ryan McKenna, Michael Mannino, Anthony Krajcsik, Bianca Marcazzo, Kevin Hesson, Brett Kovacs, and the college students are Allison Staniec, Eliann Shadmi, Michael Rizzo, Matthew Glassett, Matthew Alfano, Brandon Wheeler, Ryan Wheeler, Claire Shashaty, Timothy Bonacum, Brendan Farrell, Andrew Naugle, and Joseph Carroll.

Several individuals and families have entrusted funds to the Foundation’s stewardship, and this year the following students have benefited from such partnership:  Elizabeth Becker Memorial, Joseph McQuoid; Joyce & Leonard Bergman Memorial, Ramona Dunning; Jeanette Britton Memorial, Allison Begalman; George Bryan Memorial, Neres Auguste; Dr. George Esposito Memorial, Greg Baliko; Karen and Joseph Franzone Memorial, Sara Payne; Trina and Arthur Harrison Memorial, Steven Garber and Kristina Palazzolo; William and Ruth Linge Memorial, Nicholas Stawicki and Meghan Allen; William McGinn Memorial, Alison Durant; Courtney Metzger Memorial, Sara VanBuskirk and Allison Speck; James O’Hara Powers Memorial, Greg Baliko and Carlie Roessle; Murial Ramsden Memorial, Brigid McGovern; Dr. Terry Reigel, Cassandra Segulin; Olga Ross Memorial, Kaitlin Picone and Thomas Cristiani; Richard Schaible Memorial, Christopher Burke; James Sochan Memorial, Keira Wiggins; Ralph Sorrentino Memorial, Sean Cannon; Franklin Maine and Helen McConnell Spooner, Christine Szpond; Jeffrey Spring Memorial, Raushan Palejwala; Perry Tyson Memorial, Daniel McMillan; and George Voget Memorial, Daniel Pesin and Teresa Cannone.

Other individuals and community organizations delegate to the Foundation’s dedicated Screening Committee the details of scrutinizing and determining the year’s most deserving students who also meet their varied criteria.  These partners and the students honored by their scholarships are:  Besson Family Memorial, Jonathan Mahoney and Caitlin English; Frank Dinizo Memorial, Kevin Hesson; Donna Doremus Memorial, Ezra Klein and Rosalie DePaola; Friday’s Place, Kristen Lee; Girl Scouts, Abigail Slaugh; Doris Kous Memorial, Stephanie Beauvais; John and Marie Losavio Memorial, Russell Davis; Deborah Ann Mains Memorial, Robert Lockatell; Mountainside Elks Lodge #1585, Carly Grossman; Dr. Robert V. Scalera Memorial, Rajan Jain; Carlo Sicola Memorial, Ian Johnston; Student Movement Against Cancer (SMAC), Katherine Fletcher, Allison Grimm and Delaney Reimers; Carl Swenson Memorial, Robert Colonna; and Johanna Wilk Memorial, Ezra Klein.

The largest community organization to partner with the Foundation is the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Club, who either contributes or administers the funds for the following scholarships:  Rotary Garbe Foundation, awarded for four years to Cynthia Timko, Madelyne Dhaliwal and Avia Shadmi (2012), Kyle Birnbaum, Zachary Cohen and Brie Adamczyk (2011), Sara Canfield, Daniel Nizri, Sophie Chou, Lauren Hirschhorn and Caitlyn Hoynes-O’Connor (2010), Martin Sweeney, Brittany Veeck, Linda Timko, Steven Berger and Charles Ringle (2009); William Mullin Memorial, awarded for four years, Catriona Coffey (2012) and Jillian Leahy (2011); Ethel Perkins Memorial, awarded for four years, Seth Schlisserman (2012) and James Sweeney (2011); David Ringle Valedictorian Award, Varshini Narayanan and Salutatorian Award, Brigid McGovern; Robert Kraus Memorial, Brenda Ho and Rotary Turnaround Award, Raymond Osterman.

Lastly, every PTA in the school district contributes at least two scholarships to graduates who have attended their schools.  In addition, the Scholarship Chairperson for each PTA serves on the Foundation’s Screening Committee.  The PTA Council:  Manya Unger, Omar Amer and Jessica McGovern, Dr. Carol Choye, Nicholas Poulious and Health and Wellness, Meghan McGrath; SPFHS PTA: Robert Adams, Jr. Kaitlin Majek and Dr. Terry K. Reigel, Francis Degnan;  Park Middle School McTB:  Andrew Wilson and Erin Dempsey; Terrill Middle School John C. Foulks, Lauren Eckert, Daniel Pesin and Rosalie DePaola;  Brunner Elementary Dr. Albert DeSousa, Jason Cepparulo and Brunner PTA, Katherine Fletcher;  J. Ackerman Coles Elementary Carl M. Kumpf, Elijahu Ben-Michael and Teresa Cannone; Evergreen Elementary Dr. Beverlee Kaminetzky Scholarship, Elizabeth Baldwin, Kehs-Aakjer Memorial, Margaret O’Brien and Chickie Giraud Memorial, Joseph McQuoid;  McGinn Elementary Marianna Cassidy Excellance Awards, Emma Budiansky and Russell Davis;  and School One Elementary James V. Cerasa, Isabel Crystal and Erin Pierce.

Congratulations to all these outstanding scholars and our deepest thanks to all our partners.  For further information, please contact the Foundation’s president, Mary Ball Cappio at 908-889-8155, or spfscholarshipfoundation@gmail.com.