Gananda Dollars for Scholars announces recipients of almost $35K of scholarships at annual Awards Ceremony

 

On Monday June 5, 2017 the Gananda Dollars for Scholars awarded scholarships totaling $34,800 to 32 students from the school district's Class of 2017 and 16 from the Class of 2016.  All qualified applicants were selected for at least two awards.  A total of 103 scholarships ranging from $100 to $1200 were announced.  Some award sponsors, along with previous recipients, helped with the presentations. Mr. Tom Mayberry, co-owner of The Golf Club at Blue Heron spoke about essential traits in working toward success--FOCUS.  An opening slide show featured former scholarship recipients with a "Where Are They Now?" theme.  Many continue their volunteer activities in their adult lives.

 

Receiving scholarships were:

  • Alexander Buchko-Alfred State University for Carpentry-Gananda Sports Boosters and Maureen Louise McGary Doway Memorial Scholarship.
     
  • Melissa Camp-Buffalo State College for Dietetics and Nutrition-Gananda Youth Lacrosse Scholarship, Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Justin Chamberlain-Monroe Community College and Liberty University for Exercise Science-Airy Acres Sportsmanship Award, Palmyra Moose Family Life Center Scholarship.
     
  • Alexa Ciprich-St. Bonaventure University for University Sports Management/Communication-Nettie Bullis Prize in Business and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Jordan Cunningham-Monroe Community College for Business Administration-Gananda Sports Boosters and Mac's Pizza Shack Award.
     
  • Evan Donaldson-Niagara University for Hospitality Management-Walworth Grange Award and Invest Your Time Scholarship.
     
  • Caitlin Donnelly-SUNY Geneseo for Biology-Liebert Family Visual Arts Scholarship, Abraham Bullis Prize in Math and The Lyons National Bank Valedictorian Scholarship.
     
  • Trevor Emerling-SUNY Cobleskill for Fish and Wildlife-- Maureen Louise McGary Doway Memorial Scholarship and Macedon Police Association Award.
     
  • Ryan Finnegan-Salisbury University for Marketing-Gananda CSEA/Dee Happell Memorial Scholarship, Gananda Sports Boosters, JD Chapman Agency, Inc. Award, Rich Struzzi Memorial Scholarship.
     
  • Kathleen Frauel-St. John's University for Physician's Assistant-Walworth Chamber of Commerce Award, Macedon Town Ambulance Corps Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Tess Gibala-Broxholm-SUNY Oswego for Zoology-Gananda CSD Distinguished Panther Award, Foundations of the Future, K&D Disposal Salutatorian Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Burgandy Hermann-MCC for Creative Writing-Re/Max I Heart My Hometown Scholarship, Ruben A. Cirillo Award.
     
  • Lauren Johnson-SUNY Potsdam for Childhood Education-Walworth Fire Dept. Auxiliary and Drumlin Square Lodge 1180 Award.
     
  • Thomas Keenan-SUNY Stony Brook for Political Science-Gananda Performing Arts Boosters Scholarship, Re/Max I Heart My Hometown Scholarship, Foundations of the Future, and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Patrick LaPlant-MCC and Rochester Institute of Technology for Engineering-Gananda CSD Distinguished Panther Award, Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Jacob LeBerth-RIT for Game Design and Development-Richard Mann Award, K&D Disposal Academic Excellence Scholarship.
     
  • Emily McIndoe-RIT for Computing Exploration-Dr. John Guerrieri Award, K&D Disposal Academic Excellence Scholarship.
     
  • Nathan Miller-SUNY Alfred for Mechanical Engineering-Boy Scouts of America-Troop 167 Eagle Scholarship, Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Alina Mueller-University of Rochester for Neuroscience, Pre-Med track-Macedon Center Twirlette Award, Macedon Ambulance Corps Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Emersen Pero-St. John Fisher College for Pharmacy-Emily Paige Bickert Human Spirit Award, Foundations of the Future, and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Katherine Poulsen-SUNY Geneseo for Spanish/ Adolescent Education-Western Wayne Art Group-Thomas McCune Award, Gananda Community Youth Theatre Award, Gananda Performing Arts Group, and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Joshua Ramsey-Finger Lakes Community College for Engineering-The Golf Club at Blue Heron Hills Award and Long Acre Farms Award.
     
  • Matthew Rapp-St. Bonaventure University for Liberal Arts-Walworth Fire Dept. Award and Gananda Youth Lacrosse Scholarship.
     
  • Katherine Riethmeier-Valparaiso University for Actuarial Science-Gananda Sports Boosters Award and Get-It-Straight College Scholarship Award.
     
  • Bryanna Roos-Nazareth College for Biomedical Science-Walworth Order of the Eastern Star Award, LuAnne D. Palatas Bentzoni and Michael E. Palatas
    Memorial Award and Phone-a-thon Award.

     
  • Nathaniel Rothwell-SUNY Buffalo for Biochemistry-Assemblyman Bob Oaks Award, Gananda Sports Boosters Award, Foundations of the Future and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Jared Skrotzki-MCC- Boy Scouts of America-Troop 167 Eagle Scholarship, Joshua Peter Bourgeois Memorial Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Sara Stoner-SUNY Geneseo for Psychology and Spanish-Gananda Sports Boosters Award, Foundations of the Future, Joshua Peter Bourgeois Memorial Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Matthew Szlucha-SUNY Polytechnic Institute for Interactive Media and Game Design-Steinmiller Associates, Inc. Award, Blue Panther Award.
     
  • Jacob Thomas-Marine Reserves and SUNY Geneseo for Engineering-Gananda Parents' Association Scholarship and Physician Business Solutions Award.
     
  • Amy Tichacek-SUNY Fredonia for Childhood Education-Foundations of the Future, Susan H. Alexander Memorial Scholarship and Phone-a-thon Award.
     
  • Camryn Vogt-University of Kentucky for Business Management-Liebert Family Visual Arts Scholarship, Ryan J. Loftis Memorial Scholarship and Gananda Employees Care About Kids Award.

Every year, Gananda Dollars for Scholars organizes several fundraisers to generate scholarship funds.  The "phone-a-thon," the largest fundraiser, distributed a total of $6000 to 15 graduating seniors this year.  The Foundations of the Future donor recognition wall has generated $3000 in scholarships this year which is shared by 6 students this year.

There were 2 new scholarships sponsored by Mac's Pizza Shack and K & D Disposal.  Thank you to these local businesses who offered to establish new scholarships for our students.  Be sure to express your appreciation by your patronage.

The featured scholarship of the evening was the The Golf Club at Blue Heron Hills Award which has recently changed hands and is now owned by Tom and Debbie Mayberry.  Their support is worthy of recognition.

Winners of the Phone-a-Thon Awards are recognized for their consistent demonstration of high personal and academic standards throughout four years of high school.  These same students will receive an additional amount as college sophomores through the multi-year Scholarships Plus initiative when they confirm both the successful completion of their first year of college and the registration for the second.  The following 15 graduates of 2016, who received Phone-a-thon Awards as college freshman, will share $3000 as sophomores through Scholarship Plus:  McKenna Cannon-Bailey, Brandon Courteau, Nicholas Cunningham, Madeline Donegan, Benjamin Donnan, Owen Howard, Giulia Mahoney, Ryan McDowell, Jennifer Powell, Nicole Rink, Justin Rooney, Seth Schukraft, Monika Sekulovska, Aleksandra Sprague, Alexis Stanyard and Allison Stark.

10 Super Senior Volunteers were also recognized for their outstanding record of volunteering to help others where they see the need.  Going well beyond GDFS' minimal requirements of 20 hours, the following students were honored for their volunteerism.  They are: Thomas Keenan, Lauren Johnson, Patrick LaPlant, Nathan Miller, Alina Mueller, Emersen Pero, Katerine Poulsen, Joshua Ramsey, Jared Skrotzki, and Amy Tichacek.   

Gananda Dollars for Scholars is a community-based, nonprofit organization that raises scholarship funds for qualified Gananda graduates.  These scholarships help to further the education of students who have a strong work ethic and make contributions to the community.  GDFS is supported by local individuals, organizations and businesses, and is a part of Scholarship America.  For more information on Gananda Dollars for Scholars and its activities, visit www.gananda.org/GDFS.  To initiate a new scholarship or to volunteer, contact Lisa Fox at (315) 986-3980.