Cardinal Egan Scholarships Awarded To Italian-American Students

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Members of the Tri-State Italian-American Congress recently presented Edward Cardinal Egan scholarships to 250 families across the archdiocese.
The ceremony, held Jan. 19 at the New York Catholic Center in Manhattan, marked the first year the scholarships were awarded in honor of Cardinal Egan posthumously.
The program has been in place for 13 years and has awarded 3,000 students $3.2 million in scholarships. The winners must be of Italian lineage and nominated by their principal for the $1,000 award.
Dr. Timothy McNiff, superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, delivered the welcome. As he looked at the proud parents, teachers, family members and students in attendance, he said, “This is one of the most enjoyable events of the year.”
He thanked the parents in particular. “This is a real commitment you make to your children to send them to Catholic school.”
There were two large presences missing from the event this year: Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Egan, the scholarship’s namesake who died in 2015, and Judge Louis Fusco Jr., former president of the Tri-State Italian-American Congress who died at the end of 2014.
Both men were remembered in a prayer offered by Auxiliary Bishop John O’Hara. “May we remember with grateful benediction Edward Cardinal Egan and Judge Fusco Jr.,” he said.
After the prayer, Bishop O’Hara recalled Cardinal Egan as the “number one leading cheerleader for Catholic education,” who believed that it should be more available, more accessible and more affordable, and who was thankful to the Italian-American Congress.
“His joy was seeing Catholic schools make a difference in the lives of our students,” Bishop O’Hara said.
Speaking personally, the bishop continued, “I’m very proud to say I went to 12 years of Catholic school and it’s really formed me.” He also shared that the base of his chalice contains the stone of his high school ring (Don Bosco High School in Ramsey, N.J.).
Louis Vele, president of the Italian-American Congress, delivered brief remarks. Other members of the congress who were present included Ralph Contini, treasurer and executive director; Richard DeSimone, vice president; George Greco, a board member; and Steve Vasilikos.
Michaela Nanna, a sixth-grader at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Pelham Manor, is thankful for her scholarship. “I’m very appreciative of the Tri-State Italian American Congress doing this for Catholic schools and kids of Italian-American heritage,” she told CNY.
“Being Italian-American is very important to me. It makes me proud of what my grandparents have done,” she added of both her paternal and maternal grandparents who immigrated from Italy.
Her father, Joseph David, told CNY he is proud of his daughter. The scholarship, he said, reinforces “all the things I tell her: ‘If you work hard, if you participate, if you give back to your community, you will be rewarded.’
“It makes her school, the community and her family proud,” he added with a smile.

The winners are: 

MANHATTAN

Cathedral High School: Donna-Marie Jacobelli

Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary: Shirley Licette and Victoria Pacheco

St. Vincent Ferrer: Caitlin Azzopardi; Christina Berger; Gabriella Nicolosi; Bianca Pecora and Jessica Rossi

BRONX

Academy of Mount St. Ursula: Georgianna Oyola

All Hallows High School: Marc Anthony Rosario

Aquinas High School: Gabrielle Miller

Cardinal Spellman High School: Kristina Bell; Nicole and Alyssa Hill; Christina Morgana; Kristina Ratigan; Amy Riker; Rachel Stemberga and Gabriella Tinelli

Msgr. Scanlan High School: Kerri Anne Corr, Ryan Cruz and Julius Millan

Mount St. Michael Academy: Gianni Caban and Silvano Pjetrani

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Giovanni Masi

Our Lady of the Assumption School: Maria and Annalise Anzelino; Anthony, Gianmario and Loriana Genovese; Jason and Vincent Lauriola; Jennifer Natale; Anthony Orrico; Juliet and Madison Robustello

Preston High School: Alyssa Criscione; Daniella DeAngelis; Laura DeFilippo; Victoria DePew; Santina Gambitta; Brianna Griffin; Annamaria Petrosino; Antonella Salvatico; Katelyn Schillaci; Alanna Spina and Nicoletta Scorcia

St. Barnabas Elementary: Maddisyn Danna Campagnone, Mylah Marie Caruso and Caitlin Thompson

St. Benedict: David and Ava Fraguada; Lianie and Joshua Ochoa; Alyssa and Adriana Pedoto; Michael and Mariah Maldonado; Michael Napolitano and Madaline Pastore

St. Catharine Academy: Amanda Bellomo; Natalie DiNuzzo; Sabrina Fontana; Catiana Lucia; Brianna Marricco and Danielle Santonastasio

St. Clare of Assisi: Gabriella Cannova; Arianna, Gianna and Isabella DiNuovo, and Catherine Rose Hilsenrad

St. Frances de Chantal: Steven Abbate Jr.; Guiseppe Cespedes; Amanda Colarossi; Gabriella and Nicholas Corvino; Alyssa Marco; Angelina Pando and Aiden Van Bomel

St. Francis Xavier: Giana Angell, Gianna Dallaeasa and Daniel Ramunno

St. Gabriel: Tyler Robinson and Aurelia Carlson

St. Raymond Academy for Girls: Alexis Connors; Giana Provenzano; Hope Tritto and Angelina Ubertini

St. Theresa School: Scarlett and Giada Anzelino; Pado Bueti Jr.; Joseph and Anthony Cala; Matthew DeFilippi; Jake and Olivia Maskara; Michael Rocco and Alexander Zak

Visitation School: Nickolis Djonovic; Sarah Fulgencio; Brianna Luisi; Kenneth Maldonado and Loredana Quintieri

STATEN ISLAND

Msgr. Farrell High School: Michael Bianchi and Matthew Bruzzese

Moore Catholic High School: Jonathan Ford, Alexis Ragusa and Kennedy Welle

Notre Dame Academy: Ashley Maloy, Olivia Masullo and Sofia Sinforoso

Our Lady Help of Christians: Ashley and Samantha Fresca; Christopher Gomez; BellaRose Mirabella; Frank and Giulia Sarcona, and Giananthony and Anthony Venuto Vasile

Our Lady Queen of Peace School: Thomas Badalamenti; Isabella Marie Conte; Liana and Anabella Devivo; Lorenzo Jovito DiMaio; Elaina and Charles Mule; Joelie Ray Riley and Anthony Terrana

Our Lady Star of the Sea School: Angelo and Salvatore Bonura; Frank and Nicholas Caprioni; Daniella Chiarizia; Sara DiStefano; Isabella and Raffaele Donniacuo; Bianca and Francisca Pallotta; Christian Perrott and Dylan Sicari

Sacred Heart School: Nicholas Cruz

St. Ann: Charles Balducci

St. Christopher: Joseph Miley and Steven Moschella

St. Clare School: Benedetto, Salvatore and Francesca Parrelli; Anthony and Paul Picarello; Mattea Ricciardi; Sage Talamanco; Hailey Varca; Alexandra Vorek, and Nina and Louis Wolfersberger Spezio

St. Joseph and St. Thomas School: Isabella Rose Buttaro; Georgiana Santacroce; John Simpson; Thomas Casuccio and Dana Mattera

St. Joseph Hill Academy: Briana Fulgoni and Alexa Scunziano

St. Joseph Hill Academy Elementary: Anthony Lombardi

St. Patrick School: Lily Abbadessa; Daniella and Michael Bulone; Lexington Carson and Carlo Laforte

St. Teresa School: Derek and Dylan Flynn; Frank and Chloe Peteroy; and Gianna Shapiro

COUNTIES (Schools are in alphabetical order)

Albertus Magnus High School, Bardonia: Madison Bagatta; Philip Cipollina; Edward Faro; Deonna Mangione; Frank Margiotta and Jesse Musto

Bishop Dunn Memorial School, Newburgh: Nicholas Albano; Michael and Olivia Mallia

Corpus Christi-Holy Rosary School, Port Chester: Sophia and Christina Carriere; Alyssa Gioffre-Lopez; Juliette Ianni and Jonathan Regina

Holy Name of Jesus School, New Rochelle: Angelo Acocella; Christopher Fighera; Christopher Gambino and Francesca Marie Rizzo

Holy Trinity School, Poughkeepsie: Serena, Mateo and Emma Bunga; Aubrey Demelis; Abbi Lala; Benjamin Lane; Mikka Izzo Minckler; Gianni Franchesco Negri and Gabriella Vitolo

Immaculate Conception, Tuckahoe: Charlize Bonfiglio; Jennifer Damiano Ayumi; Daniel Gonzalez; Laura Landino and Catherine O’Connor

John A. Coleman Catholic High School, Hurley: Michela DiBella; Joshua Rua; Tanner Sirni; Christopher Smith; Cameron Smith, and Lydia and Austin Uhl

Kingston Catholic School, Kingston: Lila Dedrick; Kyle Guido; Veronica and Cecilia Kwiecinski, and Zena Young

Maria Regina High School, Hartsdale: Lauren Leone and Lauren Manuele

Most Precious Blood, Walden: Isabella DiGregorio

Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie: Raphael Beretta, Alexandra Carbone and Michael DeVito

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middletown: Miguel and Jose Contreras

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pelham Manor: Annalise De Rizzio, Nicasia Mangia Fridda and Michaela Nanna

Our Lady of Victory School, Mount Vernon: Briana Adimari; Isisbella Arnone; Shenel Burke and Emily Garcia

Sacred Heart School, Newburgh: John and Mike Gida; Isabella and Jacob Jabbar; Julianna Olympia, and Kaylee and Lori Silva

Sacred Heart School, Suffern: Stefanina and Gianna Alfieri; Vincent DeMaio, and Alexander and Alyssa Rizzo

Salesian High School, New Rochelle: Matthew Anazagasti, Anthony Cocomello and Anthony DiMarco

St. Anthony School, Yonkers: Anthony Duonola; Isabella Francisco; Lorenzo and Isabella Kosar; Christopher Philbert, and Dominic and Elizabeth Talledo-Carney

St. Anthony School, Nanuet: Nicholas Luca

St. Columbanus School, Cortlandt Manor: Sabrina Rocco

St. Denis-St. Columba, Hopewell Junction: Liliana Rose de Carvalho and Gabrielle Valenti-Castellano

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Shrub Oak: Arianna and Christopher Pfaffenberger

St. Eugene School, Yonkers: Sofia and Gianna Solazzo; Brandon Spezzaferro and Sophia Lauria

St. Gregory Barbarigo School, Garnerville: Alyssa Lombardo, Connor Tierney and Luke Van Pelt

St. James the Apostle School, Carmel: Anthony Bucello; Haylee Cafarelli; Daniella DiBenedetto; Shawn Keogh and Bailey Pino

St. John the Baptist School, Yonkers: Victoria Cotza, Brianna Geraci and Antonio Osso

St. Joseph School, Kingston: Angelo Rogers

St. Margaret School, Pearl River: Myles McCann and Patrick Reilly

St. Mary School, Fishkill: Jayden Angus; Francesco Bellomo; Brandon Jorgensen; Alexis Kileen; Francesco and Isabella Santoiemma, and Devin Webb

St. Mary School, Wappingers Falls: Cutter Stephen Quinn

St. Patrick School, Bedford: Giuseppe and Giovanna Arena; Claire Delgado; Christina, and Michelle Feda

St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers: Marion Elizabeth McBride; Ryan and Sophia Wright

St. Peter School, Poughkeepsie: Sani Balika; Jaime Castellanos-Cruz; Zander Gruber; Alexis Roe, and Francesco Servodio

St. Peter’s School, Yonkers: Anthony Bizzoco; Joseph and Emeli Chirugi, and Frank Picone