Scholarships Awarded 2024

July 29, 2024 - The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Scholarship Foundation has continued to fulfill its mission of helping local students achieve their goals of a higher education by distributing over $229,000 in scholarship aid to 126 deserving students at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.  

Throughout the year, members of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood community generously contributed to the Foundation’s “Dollars for Students Campaign,” which distributed $22,500 to various high school and college students who are residents of Scotch Plains or Fanwood and have demonstrated both impressive academic achievement and financial need.  

“The dedication of our community and donors to supporting our mission is so inspiring,” said Michelle Wyrwa, Foundation President. “The annual awards night is one of my favorite nights of the year and I am so impressed by the graduating seniors and college students who receive awards.”

Congratulations to these outstanding scholars and our deepest thanks to all of our partners who have stood by us for over a half a century. For further information, please visit our website www.SPFScholarshipFoundation.org or contact the Foundation’s president, Michelle Wyrwa at spfscholarshipfoundation@gmail.com.

DOLLARS FOR STUDENTS (Established 1966) High School Recipients:
Gianna Rojas – $1500 (Eleanor Kramps) – Rutgers University – Human Resources
Lily Gaulin – $1500 (Joseph Nagy) – University of Florida – Health Sciences, Pre-Occupational Therapy Track
Jimmy Blundo – $1500 (Henry Schwiering) – Montclair State University – Computer Science
Katie Fitzgerald – $1000 (John Lawson) – James Madison University – Exercise Science
Grace Sweeney – $1500 (Lee Stein) – TCNJ – Humanities and Social Science

College Recipients:
Bridget Hernandez – $1000 (Alumni Funded) – University of Arizona
William Felcone – $1500 – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Katelyn Gaulin – $1500 – The College of New Jersey
Emily Friscia – $1500 – University of Delaware
Anna Sicoli- $1500 – University of Florida
Emily Sicoli- $1500 – University of Florida
Daniel O’Brien – $1500 – Rowan University
Shruti Khandelwal- $1000 – Rutgers University
Andrew Bartley – $1500 – Virginia Tech University
Lindsay Edelman- $1500 – Penn State University
Evelyn Liang – $1500 – Rutgers University

DAVID E. RINGLE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS (Rotary Garbe):
Valedictorian: Daniel Wong – $750 – Northeastern University-Computer Science
Salutatorian: Diti Nainwal – $500 – University of Illinois- Physics

ADRIAN ANDREWS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2013)
Billie Rose Sherratt – $2000 – University of Kentucky – Psychology

BESSON FAMILY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS (established 1992)
Ryan Enayati – $2500 – University of Connecticut – Psychology
Alana Bolden – $2500 – Howard University – Political Science

COACH BREZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)
Graham Kois – $1000 – Rutgers University – Finance
Jasmine Gutierrez- Solana- $1000 – UC Santa Barbara – Biology, Pre Med

THE DORIS and GEORGE BRYAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP & AWARD (selected by the SPFHS guidance department)
Colin Widder – $3000 – Rowan University – Undecided

DOROTHY ANNE BUTLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Katelyn Lester- $2500 – University of Texas at Austin – Nursing

PHILIP CAPPIO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)
Elizabeth Diamond – $2000 – SUNY New Paltz – Psychology

FRED CHEMIDLIN, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)
Keira Baerson – $2000 – Boston University – Psychology

CAROL B. CHOYE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)
Saidy Bober- $2500 – Rutgers University, Honors College– Undecided

THE CLASS OF 1967 – FIRST TO RECEIVE, FIRST TO GIVE BACK (established 2019)
Joshua Citarella- $1000 – Liberty University – Electrical Engineering

THE CLASS OF 1960 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2017)
2022 Camila Cabrera – Rutgers University
2021 Lindsey Bartley – Rutgers University

JJ CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP– (established 2020)
Noah Tamayo – $2000 – Rutgers University, Marine Science
Abigail Elliott – $2000- University of Connecticut, Elementary Education, Pre Teaching

DAIDONE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)
Rebecca Sohmer – $3000 – Georgia Tech University – Civil Engineering

MAURO and RULENE DiFRANCESCO SCHOLARSHIP AWARD (established 2014)
Cole Chludzinski – $1500 – Pending information from Counseling office

MAURO and RULENE DiFRANCESCO SAINT BARTHOLOMEW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP (established 2017)
Lorenzo Modica – $1500 – Ithaca College- Exercise Science

ROCCO & CAMILLE DINIZO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2018)
Aurora Rotondi – $1000 –Kean University – Early Childhood Education with disabilities

THE DR. RICHARD W. DOBYNS ROTARY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (selected by the SPFHS guidance dept)
Ryan Enayati – $1000 – University of Connecticut – Psychology

KAREN and JOSEPH FRANZONE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2001)
Aurora Rotondi – $1000 –Kean University – Early Childhood Education with disabilities

FRANK FUMOSA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2017)
Elorie Howell – $1500 – Hofstra University- Pre-Health, Forensic Science

MARCO M. GIASULLO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)
Ryan Quinones – $2500 – James Madison University- Pre-Law, Justice Studies

GIRL SCOUT SCHOLARSHIP (established 2011)
Julianna Compierchio – $1280 – University of Delaware, Nursing
Lauren Cunningham – $1280 – Drew University, Biology

CHESTER JANUSZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2024)
Jake Pinsky – $1000- University of New Haven – Forensic Science
Lauren McNulty – $1000- University of Albany- Double Major Psychology & Criminal Justice

DORIS KOUES MEMORIAL NURSING SCHOLARSHIP (established 1995)
Spencer Doran – $400 – University of Rhode Island- Nursing

ROBERT H. KRAUS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2010)
David Cooper – $3000 – Rutgers University –Rutgers University- Finance

GEORGE KUREK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)
Julianne Friedson – $1500 – Purdue University – Food Science

WILLIAM AND RUTH LINGE SCHOLARSHIPS (established 2006)
Daniel Urbina – $1500 – Rutgers University – Civil Engineering
Kelly Stewart – $1500- University of Connecticut- Nutritional Science, Honors program

JOHN and MARIE LOSAVIO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 1999)
Olivia Gomez – $500 – Northeastern University- Double major Music Industry & Political Science

LYGHT FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)
Aubrey Gulbin – $3000 – University Mount Saint Vincent- Biology
Sara Fevrier – $3000 – Williams College – Neuroscience, minor Political Science 

WILLIAM J. McGINN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2011)
Emily Cuccurullo- $2000 –University of South Carolina- Nursing

COURTNEY E. METZGER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2000)
Tia Culjak- $2500 – University of Tampa – Psychology, Honors- Pre-Med Track

MOORE-SKILLMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS (established 2018)
Tara Cino – $3000 – University of Tampa- International Business & Marketing

WILLIAM MULLIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (Rotary-Garbe; established 2010)
2024 Taylor Clement – $2000 for 4 years – University of Rhode Island- Animal Sciences
2023 Mikayla Mari – $2,000- Delaware Valley University
2022 Stephanie Brown – $2,000 – North Carolina State University
2021 Alexa Vierschilling – $2,000 – North Carolina State University

KATHERINE NEWCOMER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2016)
Spencer Doran – $1500 – University of Rhode Island- Nursing

CHARLIE NEWMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)
Sanaa Mahajan – $5000 – Rutgers University- Aerospace Engineering

NICK PALUMBO, M.D. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2022)
Matthew Arnold – $1800 – Colgate University – Environmental Studies

THE PATRICK’S DOWNTOWN RACE RACE TO SUMMER 5K SCHOLARSHIP, IN MEMORY OF PATRICK J. ALLOCCA (established 2022)
Emily Juckes – $2500 – Syracuse University- Information Management & Technology

ETHEL PERKINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (Rotary-Garbe; established 2010)
2024 Catie Skwirut – $2000 for 4 years – University of Delaware- Pre- Veterinary Medicine
2023 Madison Diaz – $2,000– Brown University
2022 Chloe Howell – $2,000 – University of San Diego
2021 John Cristobal – $2,000 – NJIT

THE LAURIE PRUSIK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (ESTABLISHED 2019)
Emersyn Teicher – $1000 – University of Delaware – Medical Diagnostics Pre-PA Track

DR. MURIEL H. RAMSDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 1991)
Hannah Baik – $1500 – Seton Hall University -Physician Assistant Dual Degree BS/MS

TERRY and ARLENE RIEGEL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2013)
Alexander Allegra – $5000 – University of Massachusetts – Psychology
Sairah Llano- $5000 – TCNJ – Civil Engineering

ROTARY-GARBE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS (established 1987):
 

2024 Recipients
Rachel Lacerda – $2,500 for four years –Montclair State University- Child Advocacy & Policy
Maisie Shimko – $2,500 for four years – Cornell University, Plant science, Concentration in Genetics
Matan Goldstein – $2,500 for four years – Rutgers University – Civil Engineering
 

2023 Recipients
Eli Ware – $2,500 for four years – Liberty University
Jessica Gallagher – $2,500 for four years – TCNJ
Ava Mach – $2,500 for four years – Rutgers University
 

2022 Recipients
Victoria Solsky – $2,500 – Carnegie Mellon University
Maeve Kahora – $2,500 – Rensselaer Polytechnic University
Isabella Segarra – $2,500 – Brown University
 

2021 Recipients
Clare McGuinness – $2,500 – Fairfield University
Sabrina Ngu – $2,500 – Rutgers University
Dennis Gannon – $2,500 – NJIT Dean’s Scholar Program

DENTAL CARE ASSOCIATES ROBERT & JOANN SCALERA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2010)
Anastasia Berk – $1000 – Case Western University- Chemical Biology

LAVERNE SCHNELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2016)
Evelyn Villar – $1500 – Savannah College of Art & Design- Fashion Marketing & Management

SCHOOL ONE RETIRED ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS and STAFF SCHOLARSHIP (established 2014)
Anthony Romano- $1000 – University of Alabama – Business

SCOTCH PLAINS RECREATION DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)
Heather Sherman – $500– Marist College – Environmental Science & Policy, Honors
Kayla Fiore- $500- Ithaca College – Theater Studies

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD FIELD HOCKEY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)
Elizabeth Chern – $1000 – University of Rhode Island – Undecided
Gabriella Rijo – $1000 – Syracuse University- 5-Yr Architecture program, Honors

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD ICE HOCKEY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2015)
Joss Coppock- Huegel- $1000 – University of New Hampshire- Undecided

SPF- IU SCHOLARSHIP (established 2022)
Colin McAuliffe- $1500 – Indiana University- Finance

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD LACROSSE CLUB SCHOLARSHIP and NICK MICELI SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP (established 2017)
Aidan Fairweather- $1000- Muhlenberg College- Business, honors program
Jack Merkel- $1000- Indiana University – Finance
Mackenzie Harmer – $1000- Penn State University – Marketing
Mia Delaney- $1000 – Villanova- Pre-Physician’s Asst/ Exploratory Arts
SPFHS MARCHING BAND SCHOLARSHIP (established 2022)
Anatasia Berk- $500 – Case Western University- Chemical Biology

SPFHS BLACK STUDENT UNION SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)
Sequoia Pilgrim – $2000 – Emerson College- Media Arts Production
Jaden Reynolds – $2000 – Howard University- Psychology, Pre Med
NANCY HART SCHOTT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)
Lindsay Trela- $1500- Sacred Heart University- Nursing

JAMES R. SOCHAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2002)
Anthony Chrisostomides- $500 – Fairfield University – Accounting

FRANKLIN MAINE and HELEN McCONNELL SPOONER SCHOLARSHIP (established 2002)
Emily Colasanti – $2000- Bucknell University – Biology

JEFFREY SPRING MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 1995)
Anthony Chrisostomides – $1000 – Fairfield University – Accounting

LINA SURIANO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2016)
Michelle Nikolaev- $1500 – Northeastern University – Undecided

KERRI VILLANE SUNSHINE SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)
Samantha Hagopian- $1000 – Elon University- Communications
Joe DeFrancesco – $1000 – Villanova University – Finance

MARY CAROLYN WERTS WOOD CLASS OF 1951 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2018)
Sophia Catalano – $2000 – Indiana University- Elementary Education

PTA SCHOLARSHIPS:BRUNNER
 

Dr. Albert DeSousa Memorial Scholarship
Bianca DeVizio – $1500 – Rutgers University- Biology
 

Brunner PTA Scholarship
Kyle Karyczak – $1500 – Boston College- Political Science
 

Brunner PTA Scholarship
Robert Lambert- $1500- Pending Information- Engineering

J. ACKERMAN COLES
 

Carol Patten Scholarship (established 2012)
Cameron Bloodgood – $1500 -University of Southern California- Architecture
 

Michelle Crisafulli Scholarship (established 2018)
Joseph Entin – $1500 – University of Michigan- Chemistry
 

Laurie Prusik Scholarship (established 2019)
Timothy Ennis – $1500 – University of California at Irvine – Undecided
 

Beth Mulvaney (established 2021)
Ava Levy – $1500 – University of Michigan- Physics

EVERGREEN
 

Dr.Beverlee Kaminetzky Memorial Scholarship
Grace Conklin – $1500- University of Rhode Island- Undecided
 

Kehs-Aakjer Memorial Scholarship
Maxine Novello – $1500 – University of Delaware- Business

Mary”Chickie” Giraud Memorial Scholarship
Jaden Carpien – $1500 – San Diego State University – Business/MarketingMcGINN
 

Mariana Cassidy Excellence Awards (established 1995)
Ryan Adams- $2000- University of Connecticut – Environmental Science
Lily Jayinski – $2000 – Brown University – Biomedical Engineering
 

SCHOOL ONE
 

James V. Cerasa Scholarship (established 1993)
David Gomez – $2000 – Musical and Dramatic Academy – Acting
 

Jeffrey Grysko Scholarship (established 2014)
Sarah Alnasseri – $2100 – Elon University – Biology, Pre MedNETTINGHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL
 

McTB Scholarship (established 1993)
Olivia Gomez – $1500 – Northeastern University – Double Major in Political Science and Music Industry
 

Dave Cilio Scholarship (established 2021)
Maria Vitoroulis – $1500 – Rutgers University – Psychology, Pre-LawTERRILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
 

John C. Foulks Scholarships (established 1994)
Hayley Blacker – $1500 – University of Wisconsin – Human Development & Family Studies
Graeme Daniskas $1500- Villanova University – Electrical Engineering

SCOTCH PLAINS FANWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
 

Robert Adams, Jr. Scholarship (established 1967)
Ethan Murray – $1500 – West Chester University – Business
 

Dr. Terry K. Riegel Scholarship (established 1999)
Rachel Levy – $1500 –University of Florida – Business
 

Dr. David Heisey Scholarship (established 2024)
Aidan Route- $1500- Montclair State University – Education

PTA COUNCIL

Manya Ungar Scholarship (established 1969)
Lindsey Midrano – $1500 – Emory University – Biochemistry
 

Dr. Margaret Hayes Scholarship (established 2019)
Ashley Steer – $1500 – Quinnipiac University – 6-yr Physician Assistant Program, Honors
 

Dr. Carol B. Choye Scholarship (established 2007)
Erin Kennedy – $1500 – Virginia Tech – Neuroscience
 

Dr. Joan Mast Excellence in Leadership Scholarship (established 2024)
Emily Park – $2500- Vanderbilt University – Engineering Science

SPF Super Sports Scholarship (established 2024)
Keira Kelly- $1500 – Providence College- Health Science & Biology