Ten students grab the Scacalossi scholarship brass ring

Ten students grab the scholarship brass ring

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Nearly 600 students tossed their resumes into the ring to see if they could nab a 2009 PEF Joseph A. Scacalossi Scholarship. The talented 10 who came out on top are students driven by intellectual curiosity and achievement, and who did an amazing amount of community service.

Their volunteer efforts range from campaigning for Barak Obama, creating a library and computer center in Nigeria, cooking meals for terminally ill children and their families, and helping out in the labor/delivery area of a hospital.

This year marks the 21st year PEF has awarded the scholarships, with $710,000 given to children of PEF members since its inception. The 2009 winners also will receive $1,000 annually for four years.

The scholarship is named after an early organizer of PEF and leader at the state Labor Department.

The committee is comprised of Robert Harms, chair, and members Debi Chowdhury, Maureen Hogle, Eric Lindemann, Barbara Rock and Joanne Wright. The winners are:

Mariam Braimah will be studying for a degree in architecture at Harvard University. She is a graduate of Hauppauge HS where she participated in Scholastic Opportunities for Academic Recognition (SOAR) and was a member of the National Honor Society. She is an AP Scholar with Honors, fluent in Spanish and plays the tuba, trumpet and French horn. She spearheaded a safe-teen-driving media blitz, and plays basketball, softball and soccer. Parent: Basira Braimah, a teaching and research center nurse at Stonybrook Hospital.	Anthony Castellani is heading to Wheaton College to study computer science. He received numerous awards for his academic achievements at St. Joseph Central HS in Pittsfield, MA such as the Williams College Book Award, Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology and medals for the highest average in history, Java, religion and Spanish. Castellani participated in Model Congress, the Lead American Law and Trial Advocacy summer conference and worked on the school newspaper. He enjoys cross country running. Parent: Victoria Castellani, a child protective services specialist at OCFS.
Ian Dardani will major in chemical engineering at Villanova University. He is a 2009 graduate of West Genesee HS in Camillus, where he challenged himself by taking eight college-level courses. Dardani played soccer and was on the track team for four years, along with being active in student senate, math league, Respect and Responsibility and Ski Club. He is a National Honor Society member, He has held several leadership positions in sports and other programs. Parent: Lorraine Dardani, a teaching and research center nurse at Syracuse Hospital.	Katherine McKissick studies environmental biology at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She achieved a 4.0 average her freshman year, earned the Dean Bray Student Ambassador of the Year Award, and has been accepted into the competitive Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology Program. McKissick graduated from Union Endicott HS where she was the public relations officer for student government and the 2008 recipient of the Sen. Thomas Libous and WBNG-TV Community Service Award. Parent: Karen McKissick, speech language pathologist, Broome DDSO.
Jency Paul plans on becoming a dentist after completing a seven-year program at Adelphi University, an affiliate of the NYU College of Dentistry. She hails from Clarkstown Senior HS and received an Academic Excellence Award, an Excellence Award in Science and acceptance to the National Honor Society. She is a first-place badminton player, and is top notch as a dancer and volleyball player. Parent: Mary Paul, a dietitian at Hudson Valley DDSO.	Cameron Perry heads to Boston College with his twin brother Brennan, where his interest lies in the sciences, such as biology and environmental studies. He is a graduate of Arlington HS in LaGrangeville and was ranked in the top 5 percent of his graduating class. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and had an overall GPA of 100 percent. Perry is also a four-year soccer letterman. Parent: Adrienne Perry, a social service employment specialist at Hudson River Psychiatric Center.
Alexandria Rappazzo attends SUNY Cortland where she studies childhood education. She was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma freshman honor society, and enjoys helping others, lifeguarding and triathlons. She graduated from Columbia HS and was on the National Honor Society and received the Who’s Who, NYS Regents Honors Diploma. Her many awards include the Zonta International Jean Coon Humanitarian Award and the U.S. President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation Gold Award. Parent: Charles Rappazzo, a DOT intermodal transportation specialist.	Michael Rossi plans a career in engineering and will attend the University of Buffalo. He is a graduate of Colonie Central HS where he was a National Honor Society Member and earned a Certificate of Achievement for a superior grade point average. Rossi also received the NYS Attorney General “Triple C” Award, Cleary Award, and awards in track and field and cross country. Parent: Mary Ann Rossi, an associate administrative analyst at the Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Preya Shah will enter Harvard University with a major in science. She was co-valedictorian at Ward Melville HS. Her research earned her top awards in the Intel Science Talent Search, International Science and Engineering Fair, and Siemens Competition. She is a National and State AP Scholar, and National Merit Scholar. Shah won awards up to the national level for science, math, writing, French and Latin. She is an accomplished musician studying voice, oboe and violin and performed at Carnegie Hall. Parent: Ajay Shah, environmental engineer, DEC.	Jasmine Varughese heads to Brooklyn College where she will be entering a BA/MD program at the Macaulay Honors College. At Elmont Memorial HS, Varughese received a REAP Research Fellowship Award, Assembly Member Tom Alfano’s Women of Distinction Award, and a Scholar Athlete Award from Nassau County Coaches Association. She is an accomplished poet, pianist and cello player, participated in national science research projects, and played varsity volleyball and basketball. She is the daughter of Aleyamma Varughese, a claims services representative at the state Insurance Fund.