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The Fall River Scholarship Foundation awarded $61,000 in scholarships to 51 students recently at its annual Awards Ceremony at Whites of Westport.
James Rogers, president of the Foundation, opened the event by congratulating the students’ parents for instilling in their children the importance of focusing on education in pursuit of their career goals. Rogers urged the recipients to adopt a second career of volunteering.
Matthew Kuss was the master of ceremonies for the event which attracted over 150 people. He introduced Mayor Paul Coogan who gave greetings on behalf of the city to the recipients.
Rene Kochman, the director of FRED TV and the Person of the Year, was the guest speaker. He noted that FRED TV was one of the best school media outlets in the country. Students here have a better opportunity to develop their media skills by actually producing films and videos in the Durfee High School studio. Hundreds of his graduates now work in professional television in Boston, New York, and major outlets throughout the country. At the close of his remarks, he cautioned that all should enjoy the media world but always take a critical and responsible view of the contents on all social media.
Tom Coury greeted the recipients upon their arrival, Callie Moran registered them at the reception table, and Dr. Philip Silvia assisted in the distribution of scholarships to the students. A dessert buffet followed the awarding of the scholarships.
The recipients and their donors are listed below.
Three $2,000 scholarships were awarded. The recipient of the Brendan Rockett Memorial Scholarship was Kathryn Gauvin. The Pauline Rogers Memorial Scholarship went to Erline Gomes, and Hailey Robertson received the Representative Matthew Kuss Memorial Scholarship.
Bay Coast Bank’s donation of $10,000 has provided six $1,5000 scholarships. The recipients were Ava Guillemette, Owen Moniz, Olivia Perreira, Aiden Rodrigues, Brooke Tabicas, and Madison Tabicas.
Seven additional $1,500 scholarships including the Governor Michael Dukakis Memorial Scholarship to Laura Ames: Nicholas Christ Honorary to Nina Azeemi: Representative Matthew Kuss Memorial to Savanna Silva, Pauline Rogers Memorial to Ariel Pimentel, the Martha Marchio Kay Memorial to Isabelle Chekares, and the Jim Tavares Memorial to Julia Raposa.
Jim Harkin established two $1,500 scholarships in memory of his parents, Thomas and Alice Harkin, and two in memory of Emile and Irene Boilard, his wife’s parents. The recipients were Abigayle Correira, Madison DeCosta, Jack Librera, and Beverly Jean.
Thirty-three students received a $1,000 scholarship, including Julia Matos who received the Lynne Sullivan Honorary Scholarship. Other Honorary Scholarship recipients were Emma McDonnell for the Senator Michael Rodrigues scholarship, and Makayla Gonsalves for the Mayor Paul Coogan scholarship.
Daniel Cerrrato received the John Correiro Memorial Scholarship in honor of John Correiro, former Fall River Superintendent of Schools and dedicated Fall River Scholarship Foundation director.
An additional $1,000 Bay Coast Bank scholarship was awarded to Guadalupe Garcia Carillo.
Jack Gauvin received the Rene Kochman Honorary Scholarship and Shkreera Younge was the recipient of the Anthony Cordeiro Honorary Scholarship.
An $1,000 Honorary Scholarship in the name of the New Boston Bakery in recognition of their assistance to the Foundation was awarded to Brooke Macedo. The Charles Moran Memorial was given to Lilliana Melo. Alieu Bojang received the Dr. Philip Silvia, Jr. Honorary Scholarship. A new scholarship in memory of Geraldine Silvia was awarded to Tawhid Syed.
The Thomas Cory Honorary Scholarship was received by Landry Caron, and the Joseph Rebello Memorial Scholarship was granted to Brady Como.
The Saulino family gave four $1000 scholarships. Attorney John Saulino presented a $1000 memorial scholarship in the name of his brother Michael S. Saulino to Alyssa Medeiros. The Mrs. Helen D. Saulino Memorial Scholarship was given to Kaylee Kusinitz. He also gave a $1000 memorial scholarship in the name of his aunt, Mrs. Mary Saulino to Daniel Matuszek. An additional scholarship in memory of Mrs. Rose Saulino Sasso was awarded to Monica Smith.
Other Honorary Scholarships in recognition of their service to local education include Kevin Aguiar to Abdikadir Haji, Kimberly Moniz to Colin Fleet, Doctor Thomas Jean to Ruby Garcia Carillo, Gerry Lord to Ethan Stewart, Marc Megna to Olivia DeMelo, Steve Burton to Ethan Medeiros, and Rhondella Richardson to Laura Perinho Raposo.
Dylan Estrella was awarded a special honorary scholarship in the name of E.J. Dionne, a Washington Columnist and Fall River native.
Marco Melo received the Melissa Hartnett Memorial, Ancient-Nubia Pegg, the Claire Potvin Memorial, and Olivia Perreira, the Karen Miller Memorial.
Christan Esteves received a memorial scholarship in the name of Attorney James Deveney, the Foundation’s founding attorney.
Additional Memorial Scholarships include Dean Donald Howard to Abigail Kettle, Betty Schoonover to Allison Kettle, Lou Barrett to Kyla Bonanca, Tom Ellis to Brooke Silvia and Frank Grimes to Sumaiyea Uddin.
A special highlight was the twentieth awarding of the Reverend Paul McCarrick Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to Devin Viera.
Jaire Bernardo and Lilah Krauzykwere each were awarded a $1,000 memorial scholarship in memory of Roland “Aime” Lafrance, the founder of White’s Restaurant.
During the 30 years, the foundation has awarded a total of $945,000 in scholarships to 1,050 students. Their goal is to break the million-dollar mark next year.
The Fall River Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization recognized as a 501(c) 3 organization. Memorial and honorary $1,000 scholarships may be established by contacting Jim Rogers at jimanddee@comcast.net.
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