Scholarship recipients aim to be heroes: Fredonia, Dunkirk grads presented with awards - Evening Observer

Nov 10, 2024
Seated, from left, are Jovanna Brielo and Zachary Zentz. Standing are Bill Makuch, Kurt Maytum and Dunkirk Police Chief David Ortolano.
The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation recently assisted the Chautauqua Fallen Heroes Scholarship committee in presenting the Chautauqua Fallen Heroes Scholarship awards. This year the committee proudly awarded scholarships to Jovanna Brielo and Zachary Zentz.
Brielo, a 2024 graduate of Fredonia High School, is majoring in criminal justice at Hilbert College. “After joining the Criminal Justice class at BOCES, every day my love for the field grew,” said Brielo in her application for the award. “One of my favorite things is working on and learning about case law and how cases affect us as citizens and officers of the law. Without this class I feel like I would be a completely different person. I know for a fact that my goal is to be a police officer. Then once I get through college and am old enough, I am going straight to the police academy.”
A 2024 graduate of Dunkirk High School, Zentz is majoring in Criminal Justice at SUNY Fredonia. “I want to give back to the community that gave me so much growing up and strive to make it a better place,” said Zentz. “I want to be an honest and loyal officer and show the world that we can rebuild trust and restore the relationship between the police and the community. I want to be in the position to help those in need during critical incidents and ensure the safety of all involved. I want to start new programs in our community for the youth to keep them off the streets and be mentored by other professionals in a positive way. I want to choose a rewarding career that makes a difference! To me being a police officer is one of the most reputable and prominent professions out there and I can’t wait to be one of the good guys in blue!”
The Chautauqua Fallen Heroes Fund was established at the NCCF in the fall of 2001. The primary purpose of this fund is to provide support to the families of county heroes – firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, and other local uniformed heroes – who have been killed or critically debilitated in the line of duty. The fund also provides scholarships to students interested in careers in public safety. To qualify, applicants must be pursuing a career in law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services.
For additional information on this scholarship, visit www.nccfoundation.org/fallen-heroes-1 or e-mail scholarships@nccfoundation.org. A list of other scholarships is available on the website www.nccfoundation.org/scholarships-home.
Since its incorporation in 1986, the NCCF has invested more than $21 million in northern Chautauqua County through strategic grantmaking, targeted scholarships, and leadership and community collaborations. The NCCF is a tax-exempt charitable organization inherently committed to enhancing the northern Chautauqua community and encouraging local philanthropy. As a nationally accredited community foundation, the NCCF has proven compliance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, demonstrating integrity, equity, accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in meeting the needs of its community. For more information on the NCCF, visit www.nccfoundation.org or call 716-366-4892.
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