The Verona Chapter of UNICO National, the nation’s largest Italian-American service organization, is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s scholarships.
Scholarship applications were sent to Verona High School, Mount Saint Dominic, Seton Hall Prep and St. Peter’s Jersey City and any graduating senior who was a Verona resident could apply. 23 applications were received, so awarding seven scholarships was a challenge. In fact, the Scholarship Committee was charged with the task of awarding six scholarship, however, because of the caliber of applicants, a second Labor Day 5-K Scholarship was awarded for 2022. Also new this year is the Salvatore and Michelina Lachina Family Scholarship which celebrates a student who has a vocational focus in trades such was plumbing, electric or construction. This scholarship honors the memory of the parents of the Lachina Family.
The UNICO National motto is “service above self,” and the scholarship winners most certainly live this mantra through their many extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, grades, SAT scores and employment. The Scholarship Committee always finds joy in the readings of the students’ essays. Did you know that “The Boss” – Bruce Springsteen – is part Italian (on his mother’s side)? Several Committee Members did not. Thanks to the student who highlighted this when asked to write about an Italian-American. Students and two guests were invited to a Scholarship Awards Dinner on Tuesday, June 7 at the Verona Community Center where they were presented their award letter and a $1,000 check.
Congratulations to the 2022 scholarship recipients:
- Nicholas J. Martini Scholarship – Lucy Hogan, Verona High School
- Msgr. Capozzelli Scholarship – Emma Hogan, Verona High School
- Alati Family Scholarship – Benjamin Ferrara, Seton Hall Prep
- Salvatore & Michelina Lachina Family Vocational Scholarship – Nikolas Socci, Verona High School
- Brian Piccolo Athletic Scholarship – Sara Bochicchio, Verona High School
- Labor Day 5-K Classic Scholarship – Julianne French, Verona High School
- Labor Day 5-K Classic Scholarship – Evan Bannon, Verona High School
We are thankful to the Scholarship Committee members: Pam Riley Blake, Vincenzo Cappello, Nicki Carpinelli, Mickey Lawrence and chairperson Father Jerry Racioppi. The Committee is grateful to Selene Rivera at Verona High School who was a great help in working through paperwork submission and follow-up.
We would like to also thank the ad book sponsors of our 50th Anniversary Dinner held in late May at Richfield Regency. Please frequent and support these businesses and organizations:
- Shook’s Funeral Home, Cedar Grove
- Shook-Farmer Funeral Home, Roseland
- The Gideon Group, Cedar Grove
- Benjamin Fierro, D.M.D., General & Domestic Dentistry, Cedar Grove
- McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP, Attorneys at Law, Morristown
- Lynne Mortimer, Coldwell Banker Realty, Upper Montclair
- Franklin Steak House Tavern, Fairfield
- Maureen Coltre, Weichert Realtors, Livingston
- Prout Funeral Home, Verona
- Dr. Thomas Malanga, Chiropractic Physician, Verona
- Marc D. LLC Home Improvements
- The Belle Tones, female vocal trio
- Lakeside Deli and Eight Hills Caterers, Verona
- Avenue Bistro, Verona
- J&L Home Improvements, Verona
- Ferrante Press Printers, Verona
- Brookdale Dental Group, Bloomfield
- The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Verona
- Remember When Antiques, Verona
- Home Sweet Home, Madison and Verona
- The Cameos, NJ’s Favorite Oldies Group
- Smash Insurance, Verona
- Verona PBA Local 72
- Two Guys Tees, Verona
- Bruce Snogans, Hearth Realty Group, Verona
- St. Anthony of Padua Society & Members, Verona
- Heavenly Finds Thrift Shop, Livingston
- The Mane Place II Salon, Verona
- Toscano Roofing, Verona
- UNICO National, Montville Chapter
- UNICO National, Garfield Chapter
- UNICO National, Cedar Grove Chapter
- UNICO National, Keystone Chapter, Dunmore, PA
- UNICO National, Saddle Brook Chapter
- For more information or if you would like to become a member of UNICO Verona, check us out on Facebook at “Verona UNICO” or email us at [email protected].
