In 2003, a group of Colonie Central High School alumni and supporters awarded $3,500 to CCHS graduates. This group formed the current South Colonie Dollars for Scholars chapter.
Among the founding members was J. Dennis Cafaro, who died this year. In a tribute to his memory, thousands of dollars were raised in his name. His family founded the J. Dennis Cafaro Memorial Scholarship in his honor.
This year’s recipient of the $1,500 scholarship, Logan Scott, is a senior who will be pursuing a degree in economics at Vassar College. Scott played varsity basketball and varsity volleyball, was a member of the National Honor Society and participated in the Science Bowl, STEM club and performed in several musical groups.
Logan is one of many seniors who received 63 scholarships this year totaling $38,108. Since 2003, South Colonie Dollars for Scholars has given out 743 scholarships totaling $424,216.
The 2020 Dollars for Scholars recipients are:
• Above the Rim: Dylan Antoniak — $500. Awarded to a varsity boys basketball player who carried an average of 85 or above.
• Lawrence A. Bach Memorial: Abbey Fruiterman — $500. Awarded to a senior enrolled in music and who has participated in a CCHS performing group all four years.
• Backyard Fence Future Leader: Julianna Pinkans — $500. Awarded to a senior with a strong background in community service and volunteerism with average of 85 or better.
• Dr. Thomas A Brown/Cecile B. David: $500 each to Erica Backstrom, Dominic Ieraci and Sophie Norton. Awarded to three seniors who will be attending a community college or pursuing a degree in social work.
• Bonnie Bucci Memorial: Jason Craw — $500. Awarded to a senior who will be an education major, or to a student who plays Varsity Golf, or to a student who sang choir, played in the band and is pursuing a music major.
• Anne Bernice Bytner Memorial: Jasmine Edmonds — $700 Awarded to a student who plans to pursue a career in nursing and who has volunteer experience in a hospital or nursing home.
• J. Dennis Cafaro Memorial: Logan Scott — $1,500. Awarded to a senior who will be pursuing a degree in business, finance, accounting or economics and has demonstrated community service and leadership.
• Cannon Funeral Home Caregiver: $500 — Qian Lin Li. Awarded to a senior who will be entering a curriculum that is considered to be a caregiver role, such as nursing, physical therapy, medical professional or pharmacist.
• The Michael & Patricia Carey Appreciation: $1,000 — Kaitlyn Riegert. Awarded to a senior who has experienced severe medical hardship or had a family member who experienced a medical hardship.
• Colonie Youth Court: $250 — Sareena DiCerbo. Awarded to a senior who has participated in youth court for at least two years, must include senior year.
• Daniel K. DiPace Sr.: $1,000 — Dominic Leraci. Awarded to a senior who will attend a college or university to pursue a vocational trade such as welding, electrical, plumbing, mechanic, machining, construction, carpentry, masonry or other skilled labor.
• Dolores Carona Memorial: $575 each — Erin Chen and Noah Unser. Awarded to two seniors who will be pursuing a degree in education.
• Milton L. Flood Memorial Boys’ Football: $500 — Jared Russell. Awarded to a senior who is a high school football player.
• Milton L. Flood Memorial Girls’ Basketball: $500 — Ahnalese Pearson. Awarded to a senior who is a girls’ varsity basketball player.
• French and Spanish Language Award: $250 — Isabella Rodruguez. Awarded to a senior who intends to study foreign language in college and has a GPA above 90 percent in foreign language coursework.
• Sheila Allen Memorial Fund: $1,000 each — Madison Halter, Olivia Kirker and Sara Rybitski. Sheila Allen was a South Colonie High School student. Her life was tragically cut short and her dreams unfulfilled. This scholarship, in her memory, will be awarded to three female students who had an average of 2.8 or higher, demonstrated community involvement, financial need, and demographic or social need.
• Patricia H. Gordon Memorial: $500 — Jason Craw. Awarded to a senior pursuing higher education in the field of special education or elementary education and has pursued their love of music as a member of a school-related music group.
• Robert & Patricia Hagen: $500 — Sareena DiCerbo. Awarded to a senior who has demonstrated academic achievement while overcoming learning obstacles.
• Hsia Zappi Mental Wellbeing: $250 – Quynn Capobianco. Awarded to a senior who has struggled with or has overcome a mental illness.
• Key Club Contribution: $250 each — Suma Mahmood and Sara Rizvi. Awarded to two seniors who are members in good standing of Key Club.
• Jonathan D. Kirk Memorial: $1,000 — Anthony Horton. Awarded to a senior who will pursue a two or four year degree in accounting or finance and who has a proven record of volunteer work.
• MacKenzie Kate Malone Memorial: $3,000 — Julia Cogan. Awarded to a female senior who has a true passion for helping the less fortunate through volunteer work, who has a love for traveling, and was an athlete who ran cross country, track, or played lacrosse.
• Mr. & Mrs. Louis J. Marcelle Memorial: $500 — Edith Koo. Awarded to a senior who displays outstanding effort in social studies.
• Metro Ford Scholarship: $500 — Morgan Connally. Awarded to a senior who has demonstrated academic achievement and is enrolling in college to study business or automotive technology.
• Justin Mirabile Memorial: $1,000 — Julia Wang. Awarded to a senior continuing his education in the technology industry.
• Musical Advancement: $500 — Noah Unser. Awarded to a senior who will pursue a degree in music.
• Nelson Family “Brass Ring:” $500 — Anthony Horton. Awarded to a senior who will pursue a degree in business, finance, or economics.
• Kathie Kirk Patrizio Memorial: $500 — Sydney Perugachi. Awarded to a senior with an average of 80 or greater who has devoted time and effort to community service and is pursuing a career in health care or medical research.
• Pure Adapt Web Technologies: $375 each — William Christopher, Alberico Conte. Pure Adapt, Inc. is locally owned and operated by four Colonie High School graduates from the classes of 1999 and 2000. The scholarship is awarded to two seniors who have an active interest in any area of web technologies and will attend college in the Capital Region.
• Raider Memorial Scholarship: $500 — Nicholas Caporale. Awarded to a graduating senior pursuing a two or four year degree and has given back to the community with a good heart. This award was created from money raised to create a memorial garden for Corey Womack and Justin Mirable who both died during their Senior years at CCHS.
• David Scaringe Memorial Scholarship I: $1,000 — Edith Koo. Awarded to a senior pursuing a career in engineering with a secondary interest in music.
• David Scaringe Memorial Scholarship II: $1,000 — Emily Rennells. Awarded to a senior pursuing a career in Engineering.
• Shana Salecker Marra Memorial: $300 — Madison Halter. Awarded to a senior who will be pursuing a degree in special education.
• South Colonie Cheerleading Booster Club Basketball: $250 each — Caitlin Pope and Julianna Ryczek. Awarded to two seniors intending to pursue a two or four year degree.
• South Colonie Friends of Theatre Arts — Actor Theatre: $300 — Noah Unser. Awarded to a senior who is a member of South Colonie Friends of Theatre Arts, has worked with the high school theatre program for at least two years, and plans to pursue theatre work at college.
• South Colonie Youth Baseball/Softball: $750 each — Anthony Horton (baseball) and Haley Brooks (softball.) Awarded to two seniors who played baseball or softball with the South Colonie Youth Baseball and Girls Softball League.
• South Colonie Alumni: $500 — Caitlin Tizzone. Awarded to a senior for exceptional time and effort devoted to community service.
• South Colonie Dollars for Scholars Board of Directors: $450 each — Makalya Blake and Jillian Kavanaugh. Awarded to two seniors who have devoted exceptional time and effort to community involvement and volunteerism
• South Colonie Dollars for Scholars Chapter: $250 each — Cameryn Coetzee and Julia Tenney. Awarded to two seniors who have devoted exceptional time and effort to community involvement and volunteerism.
• South Colonie Dollars for Scholars “Rob Robo” Chapter: $250 — Julia Cogan. Awarded to a senior who entered the “Rob Robo” raffle to “steal” Mr. Robilotti’s parking spot.
• Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match: $500 — Qian Lin Li. Awarded to a senior who has made a difference in their community.
• Edward J. Szesnat III Memorial: $500 for four years — Lily Youngs. Awarded to a senior who is a student athlete or cheerleader and is based on an essay describing a lesson the student learned by playing sports.
• Tabner, Ryan & Keniry LLP: $500 — Lindsey Dobbs. Awarded to a student athlete with an average of 85 or greater who obtained a varsity letter during senior year.
• Greg Aidala Presents: “The Knock-Knock Who’s There?” Scholarship: $250 — Julia Tenney. Awarded to a senior planning on attending college for a degree in the Arts.
• The Lauren Tanski Literature and Arts Scholarship: $500 — Jaren Russell. Awarded to a senior going to college to study literature, photography or other forms of art.
• The Niko Strong Scholarship: $508 — Isabella Rodriguez. Awarded to a senior that was challenged personally, academically, or socially in the beginning stages of high school and was able to turn it around.
• The Vito Ramundo Scholarship: $500 each — Sophie Haas and Mustafa Muhi. Awarded to two seniors who plan to attend Siena College. And are community involvement or students who participated in a team sport.
• Amy Seyboth Tirador Memorial Scholarships: $500 each — Julianna Pinkans and Nicholas Caporale. Awarded to two seniors currently enrolled in the high school music program who have participated in a musical performing group all years in high school. This award is sponsored by the Electrical Workers Local #236 Motorcycle Club.
• West Albany Italian Benevolent Society & Women’s Auxiliary Italian Scholarship: $500 — Isabella Alesandrini. Awarded to a senior who has excelled in Italian I and Italian II with an average of 92 or higher.
• Eleanor B. Grounds Winne Memorial Scholarship: $250 — Kaitlyn Riegert. Eleanor was a graduate of Roessleville Elementary School and taught for more than 20 years. This scholarship is awarded to a student who attended Roessleville Elementary School, had good attendance in high school, and is going into the field of education.