Albion Alumni Foundation awards $130,000 in scholarships

Posted 11 August 2022 at 10:57 am

Photo courtesy of Kathy Winans, Albion High School teacher and Senior Class advisor: The Jonathan Doherty Legacy Award recipients include, from left: Ethan Ferchen, Ann Faery and Samantha Johnson.

Press Release, Albion Alumni Foundation

ALBION – Each year during the Albion High School Class Night ceremony, the Alumni Foundation presents scholarships to graduating seniors who meet specific scholarship criteria. These awards provide financial assistance to help seniors continue to pursue their educational goals.

This year the Foundation awarded approximately $130,000 in scholarships to Albion High School Class of 2022 graduates.

The Foundations’ scholarship committee had the task of choosing recipients of 48 academic, vocational, service, leadership, arts and athletics scholarships. They poured over numerous applications and chose students that best fit the scholarship qualifications. It wasn’t an easy decision as there were many candidates with strong applications.

Several newly created scholarships were presented this year. The Jonathan Doherty Legacy Award was presented to three students. Each received a $100 scholarship and a plaque that was inscribed: “In memory of Jonathan Doherty, a true Purple Eagle, this scholarship celebrates Jonathan’s spirit of caring, skills at making the most of opportunities available to him, and using his strengths to help build a better Albion Community.” This scholarship was created by the Foundation in memory of Jonathan who passed away in May, 2022. He was an active member and supporter of the Alumni Foundation and was often seen volunteering at various Alumni events including homecoming, the annual Christmas Concert and Class Night. These three award recipients embody Jonathan’s enduring community spirit and care for others.

Photo courtesy of Mollie Radzinski, Albion Central School District: Alumni Foundation President Steve Hicks congratulates Sawyer Braley as he receives the inaugural Hoag Skilled Trades Scholarship. Jovany Trejo also received the scholarship.

The new Hoag Skilled Trades Scholarship, as well as the Gil and Christine Pritchard Vocational Scholarship, are two important recent award additions that assist students as they continue to advance their education in vocational and skilled trades fields.

The main focus of the Alumni Foundation is a Scholarship Program that continues to grow and benefit more students each and every year. Scholarship funding is made possible through memberships and gifts from AHS Alumni and community members, as well as individuals and organizations that contact the Foundation to establish a scholarship. The Foundation manages the funds and awards the scholarships annually during the Class Night event.

The Foundation is grateful to the generous donors that work with us to create and sustain these scholarships. Our donors are making a difference for a lifetime for Albion graduates by affording them opportunities to continue their education and pursue their dreams.

To learn more about how you can create a scholarship, contact Steve Hicks at steve@albionalumni.org. If you are interested in donating to any of the Foundation’s scholarships you can go to www.albionalumni.org or write: Albion High School Alumni Foundation, P.O. Box 345, Albion, N.Y. 14411.

Congratulations to all 2022 scholarship recipients!

ALBION HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS – Reuben Rivers & Carson Bader
PAUL R. HAINES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Emily Harling
SAINT-GOBAIN ADFORS TECHNICAL FABRICS SCHOLARSHIP – Kyle Kuehne
ELIZABETH BALCOM SMITH SCHOLARSHIP – Emily Harling
GOLDEN PERFORMANCE AWARD – Rowan Ford
JIM AND SUSIE FRASER HEALTH CAREERS SCHOLARSHIP – Makiya Jones
DR. LEE N. MINIER SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP – Kenzi Hapeman
ALBION ALUMNI FOUNDATION PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP – Leah Kania
COACH RICHARD DIMINUCO SCHOLARSHIP FOR ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE – Jahmeek Riley
HARRY W. SALCHAK SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP – Sydney Mulka
A.B. “DICK” EDDY “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” SCHOLARSHIP – Leah Kania
THE NANCY ELAINE LaGAMBA SCHOLARSHIP – Reuben Rivers
THE DR. PAUL MAHANY FAMILY SCHOLARSHIPS – Charley London, Nicolina Creasey, Olivia Bieber, Emily Graham
THE HOAG ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIPS – Belen Rosario-Soto, James Beach, Kyle Kuehne
PANEK FAMILY FARM AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP – Lilian Mathes
THE HORTON SCHOLARSHIP – Nicolina Creasey
THE WAYNE A. BURLISON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Leah Kania and James Beach
GLASSNER FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP – Jahmeek Riley
JOHN PANEK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP- Alyson Knaak
RONALD L. SODOMA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Aurora Serafin
MASONIC RENOVATION LODGE #97 SCHOLARSHIP – Belen Rosario Soto

Photos by Tom Rivers: Erin and Rhiannon Moody, parents of the late Brennan Moody, present a memorial scholarship in his name to Rowan Ford and Jeffrey Brown. High School Assistant Principal Katharine Waite is at left.

EDWARD B. ARCHBALD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – James Beach
DR DAVID & ANITA LONG AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIP – Leah Pritchard
D’ANDREA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP – Carson Bader
BRANDON BRUSKI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Nicolina Creasey
THE RALPH AND PEARL POELMA GOOD NEIGHBOR/COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP – Carson Bader and Kate Beach
THE JAKE AND ANNA VREEBURG SCHOLARSHIPS – Kate Beach, Sawyer Braley
THE INGE HUME ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP – Kate Beach
THE ROBERT P. VAN DEUSEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Jeff Brown
THE MOORE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND – Elisa Bropst
THE SHERMAN AWARDS – Leah Kania, Leah Pritchard
THE BENJAMIN DENNIS KIRBY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Jeff Brown, James Beach & Rowan Ford
THE SCOTT WHITTIER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS – Kenzi Hapeman, Jahmeek Riley
BABBITT FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP – Charley London
THE MATTHEW K. GARDNER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Kenzi Hapeman
SCOTT H WARD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Leah Kania
CRAIG ANDERSON SCHOLARSHIP – Sydney Mulka
THE BRENNAN MICHAEL CARLYLE MOODY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Jeffrey Brown and Rowan Ford
THE JARED M. FEARBY SCHOLARSHIP – Sawyer Braley
EDWARD FANCHER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – James Beach
GIL AND CHRISTINE PRITCHARD VOCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP – Lilian Mathes
LAMONT FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP – Alicia Allen
KELLY SIDARI RICKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Emily Harling
GWENYTH HUGHSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Carson Bader
NICHOLAS KOVALESKI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Leah Pritchard
WILLIAM J COXETER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Sydney Mulka
HOAG SKILLED TRADES SCHOLARSHIP – Sawyer Braley and Jovany Trejo
JONATHAN DOHERTY LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP – Ann Faery, Ethan Ferchen, Samantha Johnson

Karen Sodoma, wife of the late Ronald Sodoma, presents a scholarship to Aurora Serafin. Mr. Sodoma was a long-time superintendent, principal and teacher at Albion. His daughter Rebecca is in back at left.