The Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation awarded scholarships to local high school and adult students during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27.
Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe welcomed guests, spoke about the award winners’ accomplishments and presented certificates to students. Board of Trustees member Laura Mikus helped hand out the certificates to students.
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 by Stark Tech, King + King Architects and M&T Bank.
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 394 scholarships totaling $233,500.
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. 10, at the Cedar Lake Golf Club.
For information on registering for the 2026 golf tournament or making a donation, send an email to kmills@herkimer-boces.org or call 315-867-2044.
College Awards
The College 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:
• Havonna White, from Herkimer Central School District
• Nalla Luczynski-Perch, from Little Falls City School District
• Rocco Santomassino, from Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District
• Katherine Velazquez, from Little Falls City School District
• Carlee Nichols, from Dolgeville Central School District
• Isabelle Beacraft, from Little Falls City School District
• Molly Rauch, from Dolgeville Central School District
• Conner Herringshaw, from Central 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:
• Anna Mead, an adult student and Ilion resident
• Molly Vickers, from Dolgeville Central School District
Alternate Scholarship Recipients
The following students were selected as alternates for scholarship awards:
• Nyssa Lopez, from West Canada Valley Central School District
• Kaden Kleist, from Dolgeville Central School District
• Sierra Atwater, from Poland Central School District
• Cody Cool, from West Canada Valley 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:
• Samantha Frere, a Little Falls resident
• Tanya Dodson, a Fort Plain resident
LPN Scholarship Award Alternate:
• Melody Mazariegos, 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:
• Sierra Atwater, from Poland Central School District, won the Chester A. Scerra Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student pursuing an education in the field of culinary/hospitality.
• Rocco Santomassino, from Frankfort-Schuyler 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.
• Katherine Velazquez, from Little Falls City 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.
• Nalla Luczynski-Perch, from Little Falls City 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.
• Fatuma Jeilani, a Utica resident, won the Special Nursing Award, which goes to a Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student selected by the instructors of the program.
• Betty Koenig, an Oriskany resident, 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 2026 award winners who attended the 35th annual awards ceremony pose together on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer. From left, front: adult student Anna Mead, Herkimer student Havonna White, Little Falls student Nalla Luczynski-Perch, West Canada Valley student Nyssa Lopez, Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Melody Mazariegos, Dolgeville student Molly Vickers and Poland student Sierra Atwater. Back: Frankfort-Schuyler student Rocco Santomassino, Dolgeville student Carlee Nichols, Dolgeville student Molly Rauch, Little Falls student Katherine Velazquez, Dolgeville student Kaden Kleist, Little Falls student Isabelle Beacraft, Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Samantha Frere, Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Betty Koenig and Central Valley student Conner Herringshaw.
Herkimer student Havonna White holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Little Falls student Nalla Luczynski-Perch holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Frankfort-Schuyler student Rocco Santomassino holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Little Falls student Katherine Velazquez holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Dolgeville student Carlee Nichols holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Little Falls student Isabelle Beacraft holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Dolgeville student Molly Rauch holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Central Valley student Conner Herringshaw holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
West Canada Valley student Nyssa Lopez holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Dolgeville student Kaden Kleist holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Adult student Anna Mead, an Ilion resident, holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Dolgeville student Molly Vickers holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Poland student Sierra Atwater holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Samantha Frere, a Little Falls resident, holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Melody Mazariegos, an Ilion resident, holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program student Betty Koenig, an Oriskany resident holds a scholarship certificate and poses on stage with Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the Herkimer BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer.