The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation donated nearly $95,000 to local students and non-profit organizations during an awards ceremony in Bloomfield. In this photo, Richard and Lois Nicotra pose with Staten Island high school seniors who each received a scholarship. May 28, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A student from every Staten Island high school has been awarded a scholarship from The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation.
The scholarships were part of a total $94,843 awarded to Staten Island organizations, schools, and students. The checks were given during The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation Award Ceremony on Wednesday at “The Circle,” located on the Corporate Commons Three campus in Bloomfield.
“Every award ceremony is special, but this, yet again, feels like the start of something new, because around this mountain we are welcoming for the first time recipients of the Nicotra scholarships,” said Kristine Garlisi, chief operating officer of the Nicotra Group and executive director of The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation.
Richard Nicotra greets some of the students who received a scholarship. May 28, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson)
Twenty-four student scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded — with one recipient from every public, private, Catholic and special education high school in the borough. Recipients received scholarships to attend college, with a preference to attend a Staten Island college or professional school.
“One student from every high school on Staten Island will be granted a scholarship to further their education, and we’re so proud to do that,” said Lois Nicotra.
The scholarships are the latest donations from the Nicotras in support of education on Staten Island. Last year, donations were given to every Staten Island elementary school. This fall, there will be something planned for the middle schools, according to Richard Nicotra.
The scholarships are part of $94,843 awarded to Staten Island organizations, schools, and students. May 28, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson)
“In conjunction with the gift that we gave to the elementary schools, more than half of our total giving from the Foundation has gone to schools and school-based support, such as anti-bullying programs, enrichment programs, funding class trips, and now we are ready to do even more,” said Lois Nicotra.
Additionally, five scholarships were awarded to children of employees who work for Lois and Richard Nicotra.
Grants were also awarded on Wednesday to non-profit organizations across the borough.
The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation was founded in 2011 and aids non-profit organizations on Staten Island and provides scholarships for college to employees’ children and grandchildren.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).
© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here.
Ad Choices
