September 25, 2024 — Winners of this year’s Joseph Scacalossi Scholarships were recognized by President Spence at a ceremony in early August.
Jake Baker is a full-time student attending LeMoyne College in Syracuse, with dual enrollment at Syracuse University. He is pursuing degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
Jake has been involved in team sports throughout his life and spent much of his high school career in Albany playing Lacrosse. He also played junior varsity Basketball and Football at Columbia High School. He has received several accolades for his athletic accomplishments, including the NYSPHSSA Award and the Times Union All-Star Award for Lacrosse.
Jake also received several awards for scholarly achievements, including induction into the National Honor Society. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2023, and made LeMoyne College’s Dean’s List for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
Community has been a large part of Jake’s life as well, as he focused on being a member of the Executive Student Council and raised more $75,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2023. He participated in many fundraisers throughout his high school career and prepared and served food to the homeless population as part of Joseph’s House & Shelter.
Alexandra Robillard is a graduate of Iroquois Central High School in East Aurora, who is attending the University of Rochester. She is studying Biomedical Engineering.
Alexandra was heavily involved in sports while in high school. As a freshman, she received the Scholar Athlete Award for Varsity Field Hockey and continued to win the award each year. She also received awards for Softball and has earned several medals at individual Tae Kwon Do competitions.
When she wasn’t on the field or in the Tae Kwon Do studio, Alexandra was enjoying music, spending 11 years playing piano and eight playing the saxophone. She has performed as part of the Southtowns Piano Festival and the Erie County Music Educators Solo Festival.
Alexandra’s efforts to give back to her community meant volunteering through her church, by making pillows and sleep materials for the homeless, serving food at soup kitchens, and more. She took pride in her school by volunteering for campus clean ups, book fairs, and more.
Alexandra graduated Iroquois Central High School as the Class 2024 Salutatorian, has achieved academic excellence in science and language, and the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence.
Alec Torquato received his Advanced Regents Degree from Sachem East High School in Farmingville,. Now, Alec attends the University of Central Florida in Orlando, pursuing a degree in Hospitality Management and Real Estate.
Ice Hockey has kept Alec’s attention since 2015. He has participated in recreational ice hockey leagues and club ice hockey leagues, as well as Track and Field competitions throughout his high school career. Alec has even been employed as a Certified Ice Hockey Official for USA Hockey and the National Ice Hockey Officials Association.
As a student, Alec was inducted into several honor societies, including the National Honors Society, Foreign Language Honor Society and Business and Marketing Honor Society. He also spent his time in high school focused on creating activities and a sense of community at his school as part of his class and student government.
For 12 years, Alec has been a member of the Boy Scouts of America and received the Eagle Palm Award three times at the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Additionally, he spent his time as a Boy Scout leading and participating in food drives, clothing drives and environmental service projects. At the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Alec spent his time collecting food and supplies for those hardest hit by the crisis. He was awarded an award in 2020 from the BSA, as well as the 8th Legislative District Citation of Recognition for responding to the community needs during the pandemic. He received the 8th Legislative District Citation again in 2022 for assisting elderly community members during a severe snowstorm in 2022.
Craig Costa is attending Campbell University this fall. He is studying Mechanical Engineering. As a high school student, Craig was involved in almost every aspect of student life, including as his Class Vice President, a member of the student council and a theatre club member. He graduated third in his class with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Distinction with Honors, Mastery in Math, Mastery in Science and the NYS Seal of Civic Readiness.
When he was not studying, acting, or presiding over student government, Craig was participating in school athletics as part of the Varsity Cross Country and Indoor/Outdoor Track team. He is now a member of Campbell University’s Division I Cross Country and track teams.
Craig loves volunteering, especially when it comes to his local Little League. He maintains four Little League fields in his community and has worked to recruit more students to help maintain the fields nearly year-round.
Audrey Seymour is a graduate of Liverpool High School. She graduated in June with a 95% grade point average. While looking for more opportunities to earn money for college, she founded the “Dollar for Scholars” Scholarship and is now a proud recipient.
Audrey was a busy high school student, maintaining good grades while also being a member of the Ski Club, Key Club, Varsity Golf, Junior Varsity Soccer and Symphonic Orchestra. She was also inducted into the National Honors Society and was a member of the Student Association of Political Awareness.
Despite being busy with sports and music, Audrey still found time to complete more than 50 hours of community-based volunteering.
She is attending the University at Albany this fall, seeking a degree in Human Biology and on a Pre-Health Track.
Courtney Koprevich graduated as Salutatorian of her class at Frontier High School. As a high school student, Courtney showed school spirit and leadership as part of her school’s student government and found an interest in technology at the Computer Programming Club.
She was inducted and participated in the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Honor Society. Additionally, she found the time to participate in Varsity Soccer, Varsity Lacrosse and the Symphonic Orchestra.
When she was not busy with sports, studying, or programming, Courtney enjoyed volunteering in her community and at school. Perhaps most of all, Courtney enjoys cooking and spending time with friends and family.
She is attending Robert Morris University this fall, studying Statistics and Data Science.
Maeve Talbot is a student attending Marywood University. She is a sophomore at Marywood University this fall.
In high school, Maeve was the treasurer for her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. She was also the treasurer for the Concession Stand Club. Maeve loved to be involved in as much as possible, and joined the Drama Club, Connect Club and took a role as part of the yearbook staff in her senior year.
Sports are a big part of Maeve’s life, and as a student she played her favorite sport—tennis—as part of her high school girls’ varsity team.
Maeve is proud to be involved at her local church and volunteers to help the community. She also took a role in education as part of her church’s “Sunday School” program.
Aside from academics, Maeve enjoys tennis, finding time for friends and family, creating art and—perhaps most importantly—spending plenty of time with her dog.
While attending Marywood University, Maeve is studying architecture.
Riya Mistry is a graduate of Shenendehowa High School, where she was a member of the Math Honors Society, World Language Honor Society, National Honors Society and Rho Kappa Honor Society.
Riya’s high school career went far beyond her academics as she spent time as a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and the non-profit Distributive Education Clubs of America. She also spent time as part of her Class Student Council and Student Faculty Administration Senate, Youth Court, Leo Club, UNICEF and the Society of Women Engineers.
Riya ran track, played volleyball and wrestled as part of her high school extracurricular activities.
She is a long-time volunteer at the Regional Food Bank in her area and was a part of the Girl Scouts of America. When she isn’t volunteering, she continues to enjoy wrestling and weightlifting.
Riya is attending Clarkson University this fall, seeking a degree in Engineering and Management.
Jackson Brauer is a graduate of Orchard Park High School. Jackson received everal awards to offset the cost of college, including the Tri-M Honor Society Scholarship, the Kelly Anne Ryan Memorial Scholarship, the Orchard Park School Related Professionals Association Scholarship and several others.
For Jackson, there was almost no aspect of student life he did not participate in. During his high school career, Jackson was accepted into the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and served as President of the Tri-M Honor Society. Additionally, Jackson loved TV, Music and Acting, and participated in the Drama Club, the Orchard Park School Play and Musical, the Quaker Television Club, Swing Chorus and Area All State Chorus.
Jackson proudly participated in Orchard Park’s “Tech Wars” and produced a prize winning short independent film.
When he isn’t acting or producing, Jackson was swimming as part of his school’s varsity swim team.
He volunteered at Feedmore of WNY, Friends of the Night, HomeSpace and the SPCA.
This fall, Jackson is attending Ithaca College and studying Television, Film and Digital Media Production.
Emily Curley is a high school graduate from Sackets Harbor Central School. She achieved high honors and was a part of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. She graduated third n her class and was the class treasurer for her high school career. Emily is attending the University at Buffalo and studying Architecture.
Emily is the recipient of several other scholarships, including the Northern Credit Union Scholarship, the Natalie Bauer Memorial Scholarship, the American Legion Scholarship, and several others.
Emily served as a leader in sports. She was captain of her high school’s soccer, basketball and softball teams. She was also a part of the Whiz Club and Art Club.
Emily loved volunteering in her community and helped to organize and participate in her local “Coaches for Cancer” game each year. She also participated in a program called “Patriot Pal,” which enabled her to teach and look after elementary school students. Her love of teaching and children led to other volunteer opportunities, including chaperoning for dances.
As part of her volunteer work, she also worked with her local Legion and cleaned her community and neighborhood with other members of the National Honor Society.
The PEF Joseph Scacalossi Scholarship provides each recipient $1,000 a year for four years. Dependents of PEF members or PEF Retirees who are current high school seniors or college freshmen can apply to be considered for the 2025 Joseph Scacalossi Scholarship Fund.