Scholarships Awarded 2025

June 2, 2025 - 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 141 scholarships with over $241,000 in scholarship aid to 125 deserving students at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.  

Throughout the year, members of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood community generously contributed to the Foundation’s “Dollars for Students Campaign,” which distributed $18,000 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:

Thomas Mui – $1500 (Eleanor Kramps) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Civil Engineering

Gio Marrese – $1500 (Joseph Nagy) – Bentley University – Accounting

Shawn Poliseo – $1500 (Henry Schwiering) – Florida State University – Accounting

Olivia Hunsinger – $1500 (John Lawson) –Auburn University – Marketing

Luis Mendez Vargas – $1500 (Leonore Stein) – Delaware Valley University – Animal Sciences

College Recipients:

Katelyn Gaulin – $1500 – TCNJ

Kelly Stewart – $1500 – University of Connecticut

Natasha Vega – $1500 – Case Western Reserve University

Bridget Hernandez – $1500 – University of Arizonal

Lily Gaulin – $1500 – University of Florida

Emily Friscia – $1500 – University of Delaware

Katelyn Lester – $1500 (Recipient Funded) – University of Texas at Austin

DAVID E. RINGLE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS (Rotary Garbe):

Valedictorian: Sophie Gingold – $750 – University of Michigan – Economics

Salutatorian: Mac Bastable – $500 – Boston College – Finance

ADRIAN ANDREWS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2013)

Isabella Cocca – $2000 – Apparel Merchandising

BESSON FAMILY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS (established 1992)

Zach Desrosier – $2500 – Stockton University – Health Science

Sophia Velez-Segarra – $2500 – Fairleigh Dickinson University – Nursing

COACH BREZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)

Luca Passucci – $1000 – Muhlenberg College – Accounting

Carina DiLollo – $1000 – Rutgers University – Communications

THE DORIS & GEORGE BRYAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (selected by guidance dept)

Isaiah Williams – $3000 – TCNJ – Biology

DOROTHY ANNE BUTLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Janae Barnes – $2500 – Rutgers University School of Nursing New Brunswick – Nursing

PHILIP CAPPIO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)

Alissa Stumpf – $2300 – TCNJ – Undecided

FRED J. CHEMIDLIN, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)

Logan McDonald – $2000 – Indiana University – Business

CAROL B. CHOYE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)

Justin Ellazar– $2500 – Boston College – Finance

THE CLASS OF 1967 – (FIRST TO RECEIVE, FIRST TO GIVE BACK) (established 2019)

Christopher Harris – $1000 – Ohio State University – Construction Engineering

THE CLASS OF 1960 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2017)

2022 Camila Cabrera – Rutgers University

2021 Lindsey Bartley – Rutgers University

THE CLASS OF 1979 ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)

Jacob Ocana – $500 – Rutgers University – Chemical Engineering

Sophia Labazzo – $500 – University of Texas at Austin – Public Health – Pre–Med

JJ CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP– (established 2020)

Justice Larkin – $2000 – Lafayette College – Computer Science

Malissa Morabito – $2000 – The College of New Jersey – Undecided

DAIDONE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)

2025 Sofia Murray – $3000 for four years – Ohio State University – Mechanical Engineering

MAURO and RULENE DiFRANCESCO SCHOLARSHIP (established 2014)

Matthew Mui – $1500 –Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Mechanical Engineering

MAURO and RULENE DiFRANCESCO SAINT BARTHOLOMEW’S STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

(established 2017)

Luca Passucci – $1500 – Muhlenberg College – Accounting

FRANK & EILEEN DiNIZO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2011)

Sophia Labazzo – $500 – University of Texas at Austin – Public Health – Pre–Med

THE DR. RICHARD W. DOBYNS MEMORIAL ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP (selected by guidance dept)

Kristal Diaz – $1000  – Cosmetology

KAREN and JOSEPH FRANZONE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2001)

McKenna Dwyer – $1000 – Kutztown University – dual major in Visual Impairment/Elementary Education

FRANK FUMOSA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2017)

Audrey Coyne – $1500 – New York University – Instrumental Performance and Mathematics double major

MARCO M. GIASULLO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)

Michael Cantwell – $2500 – University of Tennessee – Business

ELEANOR GILPATRICK FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP (established 2024)

Annabella Pugliese – $1000 – University of South Carolina – Public Health

GIRL SCOUT SCHOLARSHIP (established 2011)

Annabella Pugliese – $1000 – University of South Carolina – Public Health

Emma Chan – $1000 – University of Wisconsin, Madison – Psychology

Elizabeth Messano – $1000 – University of Tennessee – Nursing

CHESTER J. JANUSZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2024)

Kareem Elkomy – $1000 – University of Delaware – Human physiology

Isabella Stepien – $1000 – Appalachian State University – Health Science

DORIS KOUES MEMORIAL NURSING SCHOLARSHIP (established 1995)

Enisa Marku – $400 – Rutgers University – Nursing

ROBERT & CAROL KRAUS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2010)

Sophia Shapiro – $5000 – Rutgers University – Psychology

GEORGE KUREK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)

Sophia Zambrio – $1000 – West Virginia University – Business

WILLIAM AND RUTH LINGE SCHOLARSHIPS (established 2006)

Matteo Barcellona – $1500 – NC State University – Engineering

Taylor Tsin – $1500 – University of Wisconsin, Madison – Communications

JOHN and MARIE LOSAVIO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 1999)

Audrey Coyne – $500 – New York University – Instrumental Performance and Mathematics double major

LYGHT FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)

Keziah Acedieu – $2500 – Rutgers University – Criminal Justice

Gabrielle Johnson – $2500 – San Diego State University – Psychology

Aubrey Gulbin – $1000 –   New Jersey City University

JOHN J. MAGGS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2018)

Connor Matulonis – $700 – Northeastern University – Design

WILLIAM J. McGINN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2011)

Caitlin Keough – $2000 – Fairfield University – Nursing

COURTNEY E. METZGER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2000)

Alexa LaRosa – $2000 – Penn State University – Sports Journalism

Alexis Moser – $2000 – Ohio State University – Business

MOORE–SKILLMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2018)

Caitlyn Madden – $3000 – University of Tampa – Marketing

WILLIAM MULLIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (Rotary–Garbe; established 2010)

2025 Everett Boris – $2000 for four years – University of Vermont – Animal Science

2024 Taylor Clement – $2000 – University of Rhode Island

2023 Mikayla Mari – $2000 – Delaware Valley University

2022 Stephanie Brown – $2000 – North Carolina State University

KATHERINE NEWCOMER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2016)

Enisa Marku – $1500 – Rutgers University – Nursing

CHARLIE NEWMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)

Viktoriia Kuzmiak – $5000 – Drew University – Biology

THE “PLAY 4 PHIL” ORSINI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2024)

Olivia DiSalvo – $2000 – SUNY Cortland – Psychology

Samantha Friscia – $2000 – West Chester University – Forensic Science

NICK PALUMBO, M.D. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2022)

Jeremy Montgomery – $1800 – Rutgers University – Chemical Engineering

THE PATRICK’S DOWNTOWN RACE RACE TO SUMMER 5K SCHOLARSHIP, IN MEMORY OF

PATRICK J. ALLOCCA (established 2022)

Ben Filler – $3000 – Villanova University – Mechanical Engineering

ETHEL PERKINS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (Rotary–Garbe; established 2010)

2025 Saanvi Suresh – $2000 for 4 years – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Computer & Systems

Engineering

2024 Catie Skwirut – $2000 – University of Delaware

2023 Madison Diaz – $2000 – Brown University

2022 Chloe Howell – $2000 – University of San Diego

THE PRAWDZIK SCHOLARSHIP (established 2024)

Antonio Cerchio-Saggese – $5000 – Fairleigh Dickinson University – Accounting

THE LAURIE PRUSIK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (ESTABLISHED 2019)

Antonio Ficazzola – $1000 – Villanova University – Chemistry – Pre–Med

DR. MURIEL H. RAMSDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 1991)

Maria Sao Jose – $1500 – Fairleigh Dickinson University – Clinical Forensic Psychology

TERRY and ARLENE RIEGEL SCHOLARSHIPS (established 2013)

2025 Recipients

Terry Riegel – Saman Zeb – $2500 for 4 years – Swarthmore – Political Science, Philosophy &

Economics

Arlene Riegel – Isabella Rocha – $2500 for 4 years – Emerson College – Journalism

ROTARY–GARBE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS (established 1987):

2025 Recipients

Elizabeth Agnello – $2500 for four years – Fordham University – English

Isaac Duque – $2500 for four years – Kean University – Forensic Science & Biology

Chris Murphy – $2500 for four years – Fairfield University – Psychology

2024 Recipients

Rachel Lacerda – $2500 – Montclair State University

Maisie Shimko – $2500 – Cornell University

Matan Goldstein – $2500 – Rutgers University

2023 Recipients

Eli Ware – $2500 – Liberty University

Jessica Gallagher – $2500 – TCNJ

Ava Mach – $2500 – Rutgers University

2022 Recipients

Victoria Solsky – $2500 – Carnegie Mellon University

Maeve Kahora – $2500 – Rensselaer Polytechnic University

Isabela Segarra – $2500 – Brown University

LAVERNE SCHNELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2016)

Sofia Heta – $1500 – Parsons School of Design – Strategic Design & Management

SCHOOL ONE RETIRED ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS and STAFF SCHOLARSHIP (established 2014)

Beckham Quinn – $1000 – TCNJ – Undecided

NANCY HART SCHOTT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2019)

Courtney Anthony – $1500 – Rutgers University New Brunswick – Nursing

SCOTCH PLAINS–FANWOOD FIELD HOCKEY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)

Carolina Conklin – $2000 – University of Delaware – Business Undecided

Kayla Murray – $2000 – Ohio State University – Undecided

Meredith Reilly – $2000 – Clemson University – Pre–Professional Health Studies

SCOTCH PLAINS–FANWOOD ICE HOCKEY SCHOLARSHIP (established 2015)

Anthony Lorenzetti – $1000 – Sacred Heart University – Finance

SCOTCH PLAINS–FANWOOD LACROSSE CLUB SCHOLARSHIP and 

NICK MICELI SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP (established 2017)

Nick Miceli Senior Scholarship – Caden Matulonis – $1000 – Haverford College – Economics

Ryan Mauer – $1000 – Brown University – Mechanical Engineering

Juliana Doran – $1000 – UC Berkeley – Economics

Grace Cawley – $1000 – Fairfield University – Undecided

SCOTCH PLAINS RECREATION DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIP (established 2021)

McKenna Dwyer – $500 – Kutztown University – dual major in Visual Impairment/Elementary Education

Samantha Friscia – $500 – West Chester University – Forensic Science

JAMES R. SOCHAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2002)

Gio Marrese – $400 – Bentley University – Accounting

THE SOCIAL STATUS CO. NEXT GEN SCHOLARSHIP (established 2025)

McKenna Jeans – $1000 – University of South Carolina – Public Relations

AMELIA SOLLITTO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2024)

Grace Burke – $500 – University of Tennessee – Architecture

SPFHS BLACK STUDENT UNION SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)

Keziah Acedieu – $2000 – Rutgers University – Criminal Justice

Tyiane Rasberry – $2000 – Fairleigh Dickinson University – Business and Marketing & Finances

SPFHS ITALIAN CLUB (established 2013)

Grace Burke – $200 – University of Tennessee – Architecture

SPFHS MARCHING BAND SCHOLARSHIP (established 2022)

Jacob Ocana – $500 – Rutgers University – Chemical Engineering

SPF– IU SCHOLARSHIP (established 2022)

Atharv Dwivedi – $1500 – Indiana University, Bloomington – Kelley School of Business – Finance

FRANKLIN MAINE and HELEN McCONNELL SPOONER SCHOLARSHIP (established 2002)

Fiorella Amari – $2000 – Seton Hall University – Biology – Pre–Med

JEFFREY SPRING MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 1995)

Kareem Elkomy – $1000 – University of Delaware – Human physiology

LINA SURIANO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2016)

Amber Swensen – $1500 – Simmons University - Double major in French & Psychology

KERRI VILLANE SUNSHINE SCHOLARSHIP (established 2020)

Beckham Quinn – $1000 – TCNJ – Undecided

Thomas Mui – $1000 – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Civil Engineering

MARY CAROLYN WERTS WOOD CLASS OF 1951 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (established 2018)

Juliette Besson – $2000 – James Madison University – Early Childhood Education

PTA SCHOLARSHIPS:

BRUNNER

Dr. Albert DeSousa Memorial Scholarship

Meri White – $1500 – Syracuse University School of Arts & Sciences – Jewish Studies

Brunner PTA Scholarship

Mary Kate Hoffman – $1500 – University of Georgia– English/Pre–Law

Brunner PTA Scholarship

Victoria Prizgar – $1500 – Penn State University – Business

J. ACKERMAN COLES

Carol Patten Memorial Scholarship (established 2012)

Claire Swensen – $1500 – Mt. Holyoke College – Neuroscience

Michelle Crisafulli Memorial Scholarship (established 2018)

Nadia Buck – $1500 – Georgia Southern University – Psychology

Laurie Prusik Memorial Scholarship (established 2019)

Jordana Sheiowitz – $1500 – Emory University – Psychology

Beth Mulvaney Memorial Scholarship (established 2021)

Rohan Sangal – $1500 – University of Maryland – Computer Science

EVERGREEN

Dr.Beverlee Kaminetzky Memorial Scholarship

Emma Carinhas – $1500 – Rutgers University – Marine Biology & Biological Oceanography

Kehs–Aakjer Memorial Scholarship

Samuel Perone – $1500 – Emory University – Political Science and Mathematics

Mary”Chickie” Giraud Memorial Scholarship

Rachael Pinsky – $1500 – San Diego State University – Criminal Justice

McGINN

Mariana Cassidy Excellence Awards (established 1995)

Emma Blair – $2000 – Smith College – Government

Caroline Lowder – $2000 –  University of Michigan (Ross School of Business) - Business

SCHOOL ONE

James V. Cerasa Scholarship (established 1993)

Madeline Marcovecchio – $2000 – Rutgers University – Biochemistry (Pre–Med)

Jeffrey Grysko Scholarship (established 2014)

Abigail Bender – $2100 – University of Maryland – Journalism

NETTINGHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL

McTB Scholarship (established 1993)

Adriana Cardinal – $1500 – Quinnipiac University – Sports Communications

Dave Cilio Scholarship (established 2021)

Angelina Valente – $1500 – University of Tampa – Advertising & Public Relations

TERRILL MIDDLE SCHOOL

John C. Foulks Scholarships (established 1994)

Mac Bastable – $1750 – Boston College – Finance

Sophia Mekbeb – $1500 – College of William & Mary – International Relations

SCOTCH PLAINS FANWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Robert Adams, Jr. Scholarship (established 1967)

Luke Zimmerman – $2000 – University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign – Mathematics & Computer Science

Dr. Terry K. Riegel Scholarship (established 1999)

Caroline Grandmaison – $2000 – Providence College – Health Science

Dr. David Heisey Scholarship (established 2024)

Emily Sobolewski – $2000 – University of Maryland – Government & Politics

PTA COUNCIL

Manya S. Ungar Scholarship (established 1969)

Tyler Sklarin – $1500 – Emory University – Finance

Dr. Margaret Hayes Scholarship (established 2019)

Varun Chauhan – $1700 – Arizona State University – Computer Systems Engineering

Dr. Carol B. Choye Scholarship (established 2007)

Grace Burke – $1500 – University of Tennessee – Architecture

Dr. Joan Mast Excellence in Leadership Scholarship (established 2024)

Jonathan Schwartz – $2500 – Tufts University – Quantitative Economics

SPF Super Sports Scholarship (established 2024)

Samuel Valera – $1500 – University of South Carolina – Business