TCIAFFI awards record number of scholarships, names winners of golf tournament
At the Mayor’s Breakfast opening the 23rd Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival at 7:30 a.m. on August 12, a record 20 students will each be awarded a $500 scholarship. The previous record of 19 scholarships was established in 2009. This makes a total of 177 scholarships, valued at $88,500, that have been presented to assist Tuscarawas County students with their education since the festival began. To be present for this record event, reservations can be made by calling 330-339-8203. Profits from the festival events are used to provide scholarships.
The following students will be receiving awards:
- Dylan Knight, a Dover High graduate, who plans on attending Robert Morris University and majoring in Business Management will be presented a scholarship sponsored by McInturf Realty, Inc. Knight is the son of James and Brenda Knight of Dover.
- The Pete and Joanie Perazzi Memorial Scholarship is being awarded to Michael Bazzoli. Graduating from New Philadelphia High, Bazzoli will be attending Ohio University and plans on majoring in Sports Management. His parents are Kevin and Tracy Bazzoli of New Philadelphia.
- TCIAFFI is funding five scholarships and the first one will go to Lindsey Stutzman. This is a second year award for Stutzman. The daughter of Jeff and Tammi Stutzman, of Sugarcreek, graduated from Garaway High in 2010 and is attending Kent State University, majoring in Human & Family Development.
- Also a Garaway graduate, the second scholarship will be presented to Molly Gerber. The daughter of Robert and Roxie Gerber plans on majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Gerber family resides in New Philadelphia.
- Indian Valley High graduate Danielle Ridgway will be receiving the third scholarship from TCIAFFI. Majoring in Secondary Education at Walsh University, her parents are Brian and Jackie Ridgway of Gnadenhutten.
- Jennifer Smolak will be attending Kent State University with assistance from the fourth scholarship. A Tuscarawas Central Catholic student, she is the daughter of John and Cindy Smolak, of Dennison, and plans to major in Early Childhood Education.
- Another Tuscarawas Central Catholic graduate, Giovonna Rion, will be receiving the final TCIAFFI scholarship. This is a second year award for the daughter of Kraig and Mary Rion, of Dover. Known to her friends as “G”, she attends Walsh University and majors in Early Childhood Education.
- The first of two Dominic and Annina D’Alessio Memorial Scholarships will be awarded to Kara Brooks from Newcomerstown High School. Planning to attend Kent State University at Tuscarawas to pursue a major in Early Childhood Education, she is the daughter of Mark Brooks and Hanna Perry, of Newcomerstown.
- The second D’Alessio Memorial Scholarship will be presented to the valedictorian of Tuscarawas Central Catholic’s Class of 2011, Madison Adams. The daughter of David Adams and Heather Scott, of New Philadelphia, will be pursuing a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Michael’s Restaurant in New Philadelphia is sponsoring the Cindy Conidi Memorial Scholarship, which is being awarded to Mallorie Wilkin, a Dover High graduate. She will be attending Stark State College, studying Occupational Therapy. Her parents are Michael Wilkin and Melinda Bechtel, of Dover.
- For the second consecutive year, Cameron Casimir will be awarded the “Skip” Rondinella Memorial. A sophomore at Bowling Green State University majoring in Exercise Science, Casimir graduated from Dover High in 2010 and his parents are Edward and Sue Casimir, of Dover.
- Dover High graduate Frieda Ibarra will be presented with the first of two Helen Alesiano Martin Memorial Scholarships. She will be majoring in Physical Education at Goshen College. Her parents are Guillermo Ibarra and Clara Schnapauff, of Dover.
- The second Helen Alesiano Martin Memorial Scholarship is going to third-year recipient, Allison Antonelli. She is in her third year at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, majoring in Entertainment Design. Graduating from Buckeye Career Center in 2009, she is the daughter of John and Betty Jane Fischio, of Dover.
- The Salutatorian of the Class of 2011 at Claymont High School, Jason Hemperly, is receiving the scholarship sponsored by J.D. Byrider of Dover. Hemperly’s plans are to attend Tennessee Tech University and major in Chemical Engineering. He is the son of Walter Hemperly and Shelby Toland, of Uhrichsville.
- Tony and Georgie Korns are sponsoring the scholarship to be presented to Apryl Thursby. Graduating from Newcomerstown High, she will be attending Kent State University, pursuing a degree in Accounting. Her guardian is Tina Weir of Newcomerstown.
- Graduating from Tuscarawas Valley High, Nicole Donant will be receiving the Douglas and Lisa Fontana Memorial Scholarship. The daughter of Steve and Linda Donant, of Bolivar, will be attending Kent State University at Tuscarawas to study Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
- Dana Wheeler, a graduate of Buckeye Career Center, will be receiving the scholarship sponsored by Hennis Care Centre. Majoring in Zoology at Santa Fe Community College, her parents are Larry and Joyce Wheeler, of Strasburg.
- Michael Grim, a Claymont High graduate, who plans to major in Broadcasting at Kent State University at Tuscarawas is being awarded the Alison Petricola Honorary Scholarship, provided by WJER, Gary and Zach Petricola. Grim’s mother is Veronica Taylor of Uhrichsville.
- The Johnny and Franny Pace Memorial will be given to Newcomerstown High graduate Jacob Everhart. The son of Edwin and Rebecca Grim, of Newcomerstown, will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Kent State University.
- The scholarship sponsored by Truck Sales & Service, Inc. is awarded to Strasburg High graduate Shelby Seifert. She will be studying Environmental Engineering at Ohio State University. Her parents are Jeff and Sue Seifert, of Strasburg.
The Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation, Inc. congratulates all the scholarship recipients, and wishes all the recipients, past and present, good luck in their quest for knowledge and would like express pride in being part of that quest.
In other news, the 15th annual John Vesco Memorial Golf Tournament was held Saturday, July 9 at Green Valley Golf Club. Named for longtime member and former chairperson of the tournament, it is sponsored by the Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation, Inc. and all benefits derived from the tournament are used to provide scholarships. The format is a two-man scramble and this year’s winners were the team of Dave Horning and Bob Lance, who were last year’s runners-up, shooting 11 under par.
Tied for second, at 10 under, were the teams of Justin Agar and Rich Grasselli and the team of Doug Evans and Brian Thompson. Thompson, playing with a different partner in 2009, also finished in the runner-up spot. Next year’s tournament will be held on July 14.
The following students will be receiving awards:
- Dylan Knight, a Dover High graduate, who plans on attending Robert Morris University and majoring in Business Management will be presented a scholarship sponsored by McInturf Realty, Inc. Knight is the son of James and Brenda Knight of Dover.
- The Pete and Joanie Perazzi Memorial Scholarship is being awarded to Michael Bazzoli. Graduating from New Philadelphia High, Bazzoli will be attending Ohio University and plans on majoring in Sports Management. His parents are Kevin and Tracy Bazzoli of New Philadelphia.
- TCIAFFI is funding five scholarships and the first one will go to Lindsey Stutzman. This is a second year award for Stutzman. The daughter of Jeff and Tammi Stutzman, of Sugarcreek, graduated from Garaway High in 2010 and is attending Kent State University, majoring in Human & Family Development.
- Also a Garaway graduate, the second scholarship will be presented to Molly Gerber. The daughter of Robert and Roxie Gerber plans on majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Gerber family resides in New Philadelphia.
- Indian Valley High graduate Danielle Ridgway will be receiving the third scholarship from TCIAFFI. Majoring in Secondary Education at Walsh University, her parents are Brian and Jackie Ridgway of Gnadenhutten.
- Jennifer Smolak will be attending Kent State University with assistance from the fourth scholarship. A Tuscarawas Central Catholic student, she is the daughter of John and Cindy Smolak, of Dennison, and plans to major in Early Childhood Education.
- Another Tuscarawas Central Catholic graduate, Giovonna Rion, will be receiving the final TCIAFFI scholarship. This is a second year award for the daughter of Kraig and Mary Rion, of Dover. Known to her friends as “G”, she attends Walsh University and majors in Early Childhood Education.
- The first of two Dominic and Annina D’Alessio Memorial Scholarships will be awarded to Kara Brooks from Newcomerstown High School. Planning to attend Kent State University at Tuscarawas to pursue a major in Early Childhood Education, she is the daughter of Mark Brooks and Hanna Perry, of Newcomerstown.
- The second D’Alessio Memorial Scholarship will be presented to the valedictorian of Tuscarawas Central Catholic’s Class of 2011, Madison Adams. The daughter of David Adams and Heather Scott, of New Philadelphia, will be pursuing a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Michael’s Restaurant in New Philadelphia is sponsoring the Cindy Conidi Memorial Scholarship, which is being awarded to Mallorie Wilkin, a Dover High graduate. She will be attending Stark State College, studying Occupational Therapy. Her parents are Michael Wilkin and Melinda Bechtel, of Dover.
- For the second consecutive year, Cameron Casimir will be awarded the “Skip” Rondinella Memorial. A sophomore at Bowling Green State University majoring in Exercise Science, Casimir graduated from Dover High in 2010 and his parents are Edward and Sue Casimir, of Dover.
- Dover High graduate Frieda Ibarra will be presented with the first of two Helen Alesiano Martin Memorial Scholarships. She will be majoring in Physical Education at Goshen College. Her parents are Guillermo Ibarra and Clara Schnapauff, of Dover.
- The second Helen Alesiano Martin Memorial Scholarship is going to third-year recipient, Allison Antonelli. She is in her third year at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, majoring in Entertainment Design. Graduating from Buckeye Career Center in 2009, she is the daughter of John and Betty Jane Fischio, of Dover.
- The Salutatorian of the Class of 2011 at Claymont High School, Jason Hemperly, is receiving the scholarship sponsored by J.D. Byrider of Dover. Hemperly’s plans are to attend Tennessee Tech University and major in Chemical Engineering. He is the son of Walter Hemperly and Shelby Toland, of Uhrichsville.
- Tony and Georgie Korns are sponsoring the scholarship to be presented to Apryl Thursby. Graduating from Newcomerstown High, she will be attending Kent State University, pursuing a degree in Accounting. Her guardian is Tina Weir of Newcomerstown.
- Graduating from Tuscarawas Valley High, Nicole Donant will be receiving the Douglas and Lisa Fontana Memorial Scholarship. The daughter of Steve and Linda Donant, of Bolivar, will be attending Kent State University at Tuscarawas to study Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
- Dana Wheeler, a graduate of Buckeye Career Center, will be receiving the scholarship sponsored by Hennis Care Centre. Majoring in Zoology at Santa Fe Community College, her parents are Larry and Joyce Wheeler, of Strasburg.
- Michael Grim, a Claymont High graduate, who plans to major in Broadcasting at Kent State University at Tuscarawas is being awarded the Alison Petricola Honorary Scholarship, provided by WJER, Gary and Zach Petricola. Grim’s mother is Veronica Taylor of Uhrichsville.
- The Johnny and Franny Pace Memorial will be given to Newcomerstown High graduate Jacob Everhart. The son of Edwin and Rebecca Grim, of Newcomerstown, will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Kent State University.
- The scholarship sponsored by Truck Sales & Service, Inc. is awarded to Strasburg High graduate Shelby Seifert. She will be studying Environmental Engineering at Ohio State University. Her parents are Jeff and Sue Seifert, of Strasburg.
The Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation, Inc. congratulates all the scholarship recipients, and wishes all the recipients, past and present, good luck in their quest for knowledge and would like express pride in being part of that quest.
In other news, the 15th annual John Vesco Memorial Golf Tournament was held Saturday, July 9 at Green Valley Golf Club. Named for longtime member and former chairperson of the tournament, it is sponsored by the Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Foundation, Inc. and all benefits derived from the tournament are used to provide scholarships. The format is a two-man scramble and this year’s winners were the team of Dave Horning and Bob Lance, who were last year’s runners-up, shooting 11 under par.
Tied for second, at 10 under, were the teams of Justin Agar and Rich Grasselli and the team of Doug Evans and Brian Thompson. Thompson, playing with a different partner in 2009, also finished in the runner-up spot. Next year’s tournament will be held on July 14.
Published: July 11, 2011
