America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
Victoria Celenza, a 16-year-old junior at Albertus Magnus High School in Bardonia, knows the value of a Catholic education. When her local Catholic elementary school closed in eighth grade, she attended a public school for a year.
“You can really see the difference,” the poised teenager told CNY. “I love the atmosphere (at Albertus Magnus). Everyone is just so much happier and friendlier and the teachers are nicer. This is my third year and I love it.”
The Celenzas were among 246 families with children in Catholic elementary and high schools to receive Edward Cardinal Egan Scholarships in ceremonies at the New York Catholic Center in Manhattan Nov. 4. The awards, totaling $275,000, ranging from $900 to $1,425 depending on need, were given by the Tri-State Italian-American Congress to deserving elementary and high school students of Italian-American heritage.
“All of my kids went to Catholic school from kindergarten right up through high school,” said Margie Celenza, Victoria’s mom. “This scholarship helps an awful lot. We’ve put four kids through and she’s our last. Financially it’s very expensive, but it’s worth every dime. The values, the morals that they learn, the faith, you can’t put a price on it.”
Their own school principals nominate the students. A committee of the archdiocese’s Department of Education then selects the scholarship winners.
“I’m just happy to help this family out because I know that I probably would have lost Melissa if she had not had some kind of financial help,” said Sister Mary Ann D’Antonio, S.C., principal of St. Raymond’s Academy for Girls in the Bronx, referring to 17-year-old senior Melissa Pinto.
“Melissa is a very hard-working student,” Sister Mary Ann said. “She certainly has come a long way in four years.”
Melissa agreed, saying, “I haven’t failed anything at St. Raymond’s and I’m in the 90s now. I used to be happy when I got 70s.”
Over the past nine years the Tri-State Italian-American Congress has donated more than $1.6 million to hundreds of needy students in the Catholic school system.
“This is one of my great pleasures in life,” said Judge Louis Fusco Jr. president of the congress, who was joined at the ceremony by Cardinal Egan. “It’s a great thrill to see these children getting scholarships. I love these kids. I love them as if they were my own.”
Manhattan Elementary Schools
Holy Cross: Francesca Stanley.
Most Precious Blood: Anthony Calabrese.
Our Lady of Pompeii: Alessandro and Arianna Dominici.
Sacred Heart of Jesus: Johnny Lowe.
Bronx Elementary Schools
St. Angela Merici: Donna Jacobelli.
St. Barnabas: Nikko Miele, Tara Schumacher, Hailey Fanzo.
St. Benedict: James Miller, David Fraguada, Danielle Corsa, Rachel and Rebecca Menna, Alyssa and Adriana Pedoto, Salvatore Zambuto.
St. Clare of Assisi: Zachery Casella, Anthony, Joseph and Lia DellaCamera.
St. Frances de Chantal: Alana and Amanda Colarossi, Laurin Donnelly, Vincent Fitzpatrick, Alyssa Marco, Gianna Papantoniou, Sofia Ricci, Joseph and Daniel Trosa.
St. Francis Xavier: Katelyn Schillaci, John LaDisa, Angelina Ubertini.
St. Helena: Giovanni Chiodi, Danielle Santonastasio.
St. Lucy: Gianni Vince Caban.
Our Lady of the Assumption: Kristina Bell, Santina Gambitta, Allesandra Montesino-Legalante, Marcella Osso, Philip Reilly, Christian Robles, Amanda, Michael and Frank Schultz.
St. Raymond: James Fitzgerald, Vincent Mignaldi, Joseph Volpi.
St. Simon Stock: Juliece, Emilio, Heaven, Junessa and Hainsley Watts.
St. Theresa: Alanna Martino, Gianna Torres, Christina and Reanne Phillips, Hailey Polgano, Antonia Mancini, Francesca and Damien Hegarty, Dante Natoli, Joseph and Giuliana Scovotti, Nicholas Massey, Jomarie Benedetto, Gianna and Vincent Deglatini, Anthony, John and Gabriella Navarra, Sara Ann Abrahams, Antonio and Elena Iannacito.
Villa Maria Academy: Vittoria and Antonia Paturzo, Frank and Isabella Palompelli, Giulia and Justin Piccininni, Victor and Giancarlo Pena, Anastasia Romanowski, Christina Jane Racanelli.
Visitation: Cameryn Verderame and Nickolas Djonovic, John LaForgia, Diana and Loradana Quintieri, Alyssa Martinez and Arianna Muccio.
Staten Island Elementary Schools
St. Adalbert: Daniel Giordano.
St. Ann: Paul and Vincent Vittorioso
Blessed Sacrament: Stephanie Trimarchi.
St. Charles: James and Mia Costanzo, Julianna, Anthony and John Cretella, Kaitlyn LoPiano, Antonia Prestine, Noelle Salvatore.
St. Christopher: Kaitlyn Valvo, Taylor Semo, Michael Braccia.
St. Clare: Joseph Temperino, Alexa LaBarbera, Luke Santore, Ashley and Justin Gambardella, Jonathan Finazzo and Joseph Finazzo-Averaimo, Kortney and Kevin Galyas.
Holy Rosary: Nicholas Compitello, Salvatore Mule.
St. Joseph’s: Olivia Friedman, Nicholas Hoyt, Adrianna Martucci, Stephanie Spinelli.
St. Joseph Hill Academy: Gianna Bompartito, Brianna Coppolo, Theresa Hall, David LaGanga.
St. Joseph-St. Thomas: Isabella Buttaro, Adriana Primavera.
Our Lady Help of Christians: Angelo, Elijah and Georgia Gradilone, Adam Gulcen, Matthew Luele, Matthew Montalto, Victoria, Peter and Lucas Rapaglia, Antonio and Anna Raspatelli, Mario Scarcella and James McCarthy, Matthew Silano.
Our Lady Queen of Peace: Caitlyn and Emma DeMuro, Joseph Falcone, Derek and Gianna van Rouendal, Gianna Vinciguerra.
Our Lady Star of the Sea: Vincent Lacca, Gianna Marie Leone, Vincent Palazzo, Francesca Elena Vincina Pallotta, Robert Regeiro, Nicolette Scarpati, Nicole Supino, Lauren Vierno, Gabriella Camilleri, Daniela Certo, Anthony Ciaramella, Alana DiStefano.
St. John Villa Academy: Benedetto, Serafina and Lydia Togati, Gianna Marie Mariano.
Notre Dame Academy: Gabriella and Isabella Frassetti.
St. Patrick’s: Dominick DeVito, Peter and Brianne Giambrone, Emily Vidal, Anthony and Emily Yurkins, Joseph Amadeo, Julia and Catherine Napoli.
St. Rita’s: Alexandra Gullo, Sal, Michael, Taylor and Brittany Burgio, Steven Shamah.
Sacred Heart: Alyssa Rosiello, Isabella and Sabrina Trembone.
Counties Elementary
St. Patrick’s, Bedford: Louis Natoli, Vincent Salerno.
St. James the Apostle, Carmel: Joseph and Theresa Redendo, Domenic Malfetano, Victoria and Michael Mandara, Haylee Cafarelli.
St. Columbanus, Cortlant Manor: Sabrina Rocco.
Annunciation, Crestwood: Alex Rodriguez.
Kingston Catholic: Aaliyah DelPezzo, Tristan and Devin Hines.
St. Joseph’s, Millbrook: Destiny Kitzweger.
Our Lady of Victory, Mount Vernon: Isabella Facendo.
Holy Name of Jesus, New Rochelle: Christopher Fighera, Alex and Laura DeFilippo, Nicholas Pasquale Tedesco, Kelly Ann Gliemi, Max Avelli.
Sacred Heart, Newburgh: Julianna Alfono, James Barron.
St. Augustine, Ossining: Cassidy Scott.
Assumption, Peekskill: Brunella and Francesca Tissoni.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pelham Manor: Michaela and Gabriella Nanna.
Corpus Christi-Holy Rosary, Port Chester: Salvatore and Antonio Cabibbo, Christina Carriere, Robert Mickatavage.
St. Martin de Porres, Pougkeepsie: Alexis and Nicholas Dragowski, Ava and Jack Francese.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale: Lauren and Hannah Hunter.
Sacred Heart, Suffern: Deonna Mangione, Cristina Carrozza.
Transfiguration, Tarrytown: Lauren Manuele.
St. Paul, Valley Cottage: Nicole Cataldo, Brandon Jemison.
St. Mary’s, Wappingers Falls: Zachary Masucci.
St. Stephen-St. Edward, Warwick: Luke and Fiona Daly.
St. Ann, Yonkers: Carl Bruno, Danielle Santoro.
St. Anthony, Yonkers: Michael DelBene.
St. Eugene, Yonkers: Louis DiNardo.
St. John the Baptist, Yonkers: Brianna Geraci, Nicholas DeMatteo, Sean Cavalluzzi.
St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers: Victoria Nanni.
Manhattan High Schools
Dominican Academy: Victoria Pineyro, Sabrina Bode, Nicolette Cotona.
Notre Dame School: Genna DeMaria, Natalia Palmarini, Jailene Panarella, Bianca Russo.
Bronx High Schools
All Hallows High School: Marc Del Quaglio Jr.
St. Barnabas: Gina Angelini, Jeanette Celetano, Dana Fareri.
Cardinal Hayes: David Ortiz.
Cardinal Spellman: Robert Pirraglia, Thomas Rufino, Gianna Taddeo.
St. Catharine Academy: Francesca Colandro, Alexis Giancaspro, Paula Mannara.
Fordham Prep: Dominic Aceto, Matthew Cerini, Francis DiGiorgi, Anthony Febbo, Christopher Reggio, Anthony Rizzo, James Scerbo.
Msgr. Scanlan: Samantha Franklin, Matthew Iannacone, Daniel Hennessy, Gionaa Casatelli.
St. Raymond Academy (Girls): Kristen Lopez, Melissa Pinto, Tanya Torres.
St. Raymond High School (Boys): Michael Donahue, Mario Santiago.
Staten Island High Schools
St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School: Christopher Caggiano, Vincenzo Fiorentino, Nicholas Matias, Angelo Navetta, Brianna Ravkin, Dominique Arnone, Ariana Contessa, Joseph LaBarbera.
Moore Catholic: Paige Devito-Weiburg, Anthony Mario Scarcella.
Notre Dame Academy: Gabrielle Dorazio, Katrina Giovinazzo, Nicole Gambella, Ashley Palmeri, Gina Costagliola, Nicole Sarracco, Samantha Migliaccio.
St. Joseph Hill Academy: Gabrielle Viso.
County High Schools
Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel, White Plains: Daniella DiFabio, Gabriella Osso.
Albertus Magnus High School, Bardonia: Breanna Brestolli, Victoria Celenza, Alexis Crittenden, Nikki Leone, Andrew Tyler Mangione, Victoria Ochs, Kimberly Sano, Gabriel Shaw.
Blessed Sacrament-St. Gabriel, New Rochelle: Joseph Barretto, Anthony Manza.
Iona Prep, New Rochelle: Joseph Recchia.
John S. Burke Catholic, Goshen: Antonio Criscuolo, Joseph Grasso.
Maria Regina, Hartsdale: Christina Cavalluzzi.
Sacred Heart, Yonkers: Jacqueline Ciboso, Alyssa Marranzino, Kelly Brauer.
