The Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation awarded scholarships to local high school and adult students during the foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28.
Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees President Sharon Baisley and Board of Trustees member Sarah Crowe spoke to guests and handed out certificates to students. Crowe also talked about accomplishments for each of the award winners in attendance and called the event one of her “favorite nights of the school year.”
The awards ceremony and dinner took place at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer. During the event, Board of Trustees members and school officials were recognized, and thanks were given to the Herkimer BOCES Culinary and Hospitality program for preparing and serving the dinner and to event sponsors Day Automation, King + King Architects and M&T Bank. Special guests in attendance included teachers, principals and district superintendents.
The goal of the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation is to expand access to higher education for students in the region who are in career and technical education fields. Since 1991, the foundation has provided more than 360 scholarships – totaling more than $205,000.
The foundation’s largest fundraiser each year is the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Golf Tournament, which takes place this year on Monday, Aug. 11, at the Cedar Lake Golf Club.
For information on registering for the 2025 golf tournament or making a donation, send an email to kmills@herkimer-boces.org or call 315-867-2000.
General Scholarship Awards
The General Scholarship Awards winners receive $1,000 scholarships for their first year of college and then earn additional funding for their second year if certain criteria are met.
The scholarships are open to students who are majoring in vocational education in their high schools or at Herkimer BOCES and plan to go to college the next school year.
The following students won the foundation’s General Scholarship Awards:
· Victoria Galletta, from Dolgeville Central School District
· Anthony Gaetano, from Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District
· Derek Newtown, from Central Valley Central School District
· Aiden Dibble, from Richfield Springs Central School District
· McKenna Coffey, from Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District
· Nathan Cornacchia, from West Canada Valley Central School District
· Camryn Marshall, from Owen D. Young Central School District
· Anthony Smith, from West Canada Valley Central School District
Career Awards
The Scholarship Foundation presented the Career Award for students who gain employment in a Career and Technical Education field prior to or soon after graduation and incur expenses as a result of that employment. This award allows the reimbursement of up to $1,000 for trade-specific expenses such as employment clothing, personal protective equipment, tools, supplies, certifications, credentials and/or licenses.
The following students won the Career Award:
· Brayden Darrow, from Central Valley Central School District
· Chase Harrer, from Little Falls City School District
Alternate Scholarship Recipients
The following students were selected as alternates for scholarship awards:
· Kadence Lyman, from Central Valley Central School District
· Maxwell Pullis, from Owen D. Young Central School District
· Victoria Galletta, from Dolgeville Central School District
· Jesse Bowman, from Richfield Springs Central School District
Adult LPN Awards
Awards of $1,000 were given out to Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program students who are studying to become licensed practical nurses.
LPN Scholarship Awards:
· Colleen Shrewsberry, a Utica resident
· Cassandra Tesiero, a Palatine Bridge resident
LPN Scholarship Award Alternate:
· Stephanie LaFountain, an Ilion resident
Special Scholarship Awards
The Special Scholarship Awards were established through donations and go to students pursuing careers in certain areas.
The following students won special incentive awards this year:
· Victoria Galletta, from Dolgeville Central School District, won the Hummel Family Scholarship Award, which goes to a student who completed a Herkimer BOCES technical education program with a final two year average of at least 80%, plans to attend college for further training in the field of business and has demonstrated community-minded focus throughout the student’s high school career.
· Camryn Marshall, from Owen D. Young Central School District, won the Harry J. Enea Sr. Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student who will be pursuing entrepreneurship and/or small business, has been actively involved in community programs and volunteer work for the betterment of others and has demonstrated leadership in causes that promote the well-being of the less fortunate.
· Anthony Smith, from West Canada Valley Central School District, won the Chester A. Scerra Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student pursuing an education in the field of culinary/hospitality.
· Kadyn Pedrick, from Little Falls City School District, won the Paul A. Bouck Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student who is entering a field of study that relates to agriculture, a rural-related field or other related areas.
· Makayla Evangelista, from Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District, won the Mower Family Farm Scholarship, which goes to a student who will be pursuing occupations in the field of agriculture.
· Baleigh Eysaman, from Central Valley Central School District, won the Chris Brockway Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student who completes the Herkimer BOCES Criminal Justice program and will be attending college for a career of the student’s choice.
· Zoey Brownrigg, from Central Valley Central School District, won the William E. Busacker Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student who plans to attend a college, career training institute or vocational licensure school; is actively involved in school and/or community programs/activities that foster personal growth such as sports, theater, journalism or career/academic interest organizations, and has demonstrated leadership in causes that promote change to the status quo or compassion for the less-fortunate.
· Jillian Hutchinson, from Herkimer Central School District, won the Robert A. Moore Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student who has completed the Herkimer BOCES Visual Communications Media Arts program with a final two-year average of at least 80% and consistently exhibits the qualities of cooperation and professionalism.
· Daimeon Morrison, from Poland Central School District, won the William E. Whitehill Jr. Scholarship, which goes to a student in a technical education program who has demonstrated perseverance and has set clear goals for the future.
· Brayden Darrow, from Central Valley Central School District, won the Papaleo/Dady Family Scholarship, which goes to a student who successfully completes a two-year technical education program at Herkimer BOCES.
· Cameron Wilkes, a Cassville resident, won the Special Nursing Award, which goes to a Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student selected by the instructors of the program.
· Kashiana Fresco, a resident of Frankfort, won the Linda A. Sagatis Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student entering the Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program who exemplifies the qualities of empathy, compassion, respect, friendliness and dedication to patients and loved ones.
Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation 2025 award winners who attended the 34th annual awards ceremony pose together on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer. From left, front: Poland student Daimeon Morrison, Dolgeville student Victoria Galletta and Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program students Kashiana Fresco, Cameron Wilkes, Cassandra Tesiero and Stephanie LaFountain. Back: West Canada Valley student Anthony Smith, Central Valley student Derek Newtown, Central Valley student Brayden Darrow, Richfield Springs student Aiden Dibble, Little Falls student Chase Harrer, West Canada Valley student Nathan Cornacchia and Herkimer student Jillian Hutchinson.
Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation 2025 award winners who attended the 34th annual awards ceremony pose together on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer. From left: West Canada Valley student Anthony Smith, Central Valley student Derek Newtown, Poland student Daimeon Morrison, Dolgeville student Victoria Galletta, Central Valley student Brayden Darrow, Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Kashiana Fresco, Richfield Springs student Aiden Dibble, Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Cameron Wilkes, Little Falls student Chase Harrer, Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Cassandra Tesiero, West Canada Valley student Nathan Cornacchia, Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Stephanie LaFountain and Herkimer student Jillian Hutchinson.
Dolgeville student Victoria Galletta poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Central Valley student Derek Newtown poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Richfield Springs student Aiden Dibble poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
West Canada Valley student Nathan Cornacchia poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
West Canada Valley student Anthony Smith poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer student Jillian Hutchinson poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Poland student Daimeon Morrison poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Central Valley student Brayden Darrow poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Little Falls student Chase Harrer poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Cassandra Tesiero poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Stephanie LaFountain poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Cameron Wilkes poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Kashiana Fresco poses with a certificate on stage at the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.