A collage of scholarship recipients and alternates

The Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation recently awarded up to $18,650 in scholarships to local students.

Scholarship awards are normally given out during a dinner celebration at Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, but that dinner was canceled this school year because of the coronavirus public health crisis. Instead, foundation organizers mailed the awards to students along with gift certificates to Paesano’s Pizzeria in Mohawk to celebrate their accomplishments with their families.

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. To date, the foundation has provided more than 300 scholarships – totaling more than $175,000.

General scholarship winners receive awards for their first year of college and then again for a second year if they meet required criteria. This year, the foundation increased its awards from $650 per year to $750 for the first year and $850 for the second year.

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 scholarships:

  • Brandon  Adams, of Frankfort-Schuyler
  • Marietta Altieri, of Herkimer
  • Nicholas Duffy, of Frankfort-Schuyler
  • Mckenzie Horan, of West Canada Valley
  • Zackery Kleist, of Dolgeville
  • Emily Miller, of Dolgeville
  • McKenzie Pritchard, of Mount Markham
  • Michael Quinn, of Frankfort-Schuyler
  • Olivia Talarico, of Frankfort-Schuyler
  • Chloe Williams, of West Canada Valley

Maxwell Breit, of Frankfort-Schuyler, and Mark Shikula, of Frankfort-Schuyler, were named as alternate recipients.

There also are special incentive awards available each year for students pursuing careers in certain areas that awards were established for through donations.

The following students won special incentive awards of $100 each this year:

  • Talarico won the William E. Busacker Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student who has been actively involved in school and/or community programs and has demonstrated leadership.
  • Altieri won the Papaleo/Dady Family Scholarship, which goes to a student who has completed a two-year program at the Herkimer BOCES Technical Education Center and has demonstrated good attendance, teamwork and commitment to a career field.
  • Quinn won the Hummel Family Scholarship, which goes to a student who has demonstrated a community-minded focus throughout high school and is furthering education in the field of business.
  • Kleist won the William E. Whitehill Jr. Scholarship, which goes to a student in a Herkimer BOCES Technical Education program who has demonstrated perseverance and has set clear goals for the future. Additionally, $750 LPN scholarships were awarded to two Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program students: Kari Foster, of Dolgeville, and Tammy Wilday, of Fort Plain. Hannah Laurion, of Waterville, was named the alternate for the LPN scholarship. Kimberly Wilson, of Utica, received the $750 Special Nursing Award.