On Thursday, May 16, Police Athletic League participants, families,
friends, supporters and staff visited the PAL William J. Duncan
Center in Manhattan to celebrate the recipients of the Robert J.
McGuire Scholarship. Fred Wilpon and PAL Board member Robert
J. McGuire joined PAL Executive Director Frederick J. Watts to
present the awards to the PAL students. The 13th annual awards
ceremony highlighted the goals, achievements and aspirations
of recipients, applauding the efforts of Beyonce from the south
Bronx. A total of 11 students from PAL centers citywide were recognized.
(Above, l-r) Robert J. McGuire, PAL Board of Directors vice chairman;
Fred Wilpon, New York Mets owner and Frederick J. Watts,
PAL executive director. Photo by Rick Gilbert
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR UNE 14-20, 2019 71
‘Million dollar scholars’
Michael J. Deegan, Interim
Superintendent of
Schools in the Archdiocese
of New York, announced the
names of six students who received
more than $1 million
in scholarship money for colleges
all around the country.
The six students are:
Kristian Amado Olvera,
La Salle Academy: Kristian
will be the first member of
his family to attend college,
and has received a full-ride
scholarship to Villanova University.
In addition to being
the Valedictorian of his high
school class, Kristian was
sophomore and junior class
president as well as student
council president during his
time at La Salle Academy.
Kristian is a true example of
what Catholic education can
accomplish, and was also a
student at Guardian Angel
elementary school. He plans
on making a positive impact
on society. He will attend:
Villanova University.
Stephen Crespo, Mount St.
Michael Academy: Stephen
will be joining Columbia University’s
Class of 2023 in the
fall where he has been named
a Thompson-Muñoz Scholar.
He is a dedicated member of
the Mount Saint Michael student
body and has achieved
both academic and personal
success. He is the Valedictorian
of his graduating class
and has also served as the
President of his graduating
class and has also served as
the President of Spanish National
Honors Society and
leader for the Campus Ministry.
Stephen has attended
Catholic school his entire
educational career which
has been extremely infl uential
in his road to success. He
attributes much of his success
to the support available
at Saint Luke’s School and
Mount Saint Michael, as well
as his own faith/upbringing.
He plans on majoring in Biology
next fall while pursuing
a career in the medical
fi eld, where he hopes to make
change in the bias which
plagues many minority and
low-income communities,
such as the one he has grown
up in. Exposure to the fi eld
through the rigorous science
track at the Mount, membership
in the Sports Medicine
Club and an internship at
Memorial Sloan-Kettering
have reaffi rmed his passion
for the subject. He will attend:
Columbia University.
Ashley Davis, Preston
High School: Ashley will be
a first-generation college
student as she plans to attend
New York University’s
School of Engineering on
a full-tuition scholarship.
As an active member of the
Preston community, Ashley
was a part of Stage Crew,
Newspaper, Student Council,
and an admissions recruiter.
Ashley has received a Catholic
education for 15 years,
and previously attended St.
Francis of Assisi School. She
is ready to go forth as a compassionate
leader for change
in the world using the values
that Catholic education has
given her. She will attend:
New York University.
Adriana Bracco, Preston
High School: Adriana
was on the Honor Roll for all
four years of her time spent
at Preston High School. Additionally,
she has earned
membership in the National
Honor Society as well as the
Italian Honor Society. Adriana
has been active on Preston’s
Student Council and
even served as Vice President
of Recruitment and Development
on the Council’s
Executive Board. Adriana is
a longtime Catholic student,
and even went to Villa Maria
Academy, a Catholic school
in the Bronx. She will attend
Sacred Heart University in
the fall. She will attend: Sacred
Heart University.
Blessing Njoku, Preston
High School: Blessing Njoku
came to Preston High School
from St. Francis of Assisi Elementary
School. She plans to
attend Trinity College on the
pre-med track with a great
scholarship. Throughout her
years at Preston High School
she has attained leadership
positions in the Latin Honor
Society, Preston Echoes newspaper,
and Student Council.
She plans to use the principles
of dignity, honor, respect,
and compassion that she has
been taught as she goes forward
into the future, and is
grateful for the opportunity
to attend Catholic schools.
She will attend: Trinity College.
Kathy Tran, Academy of
Mount St. Ursula: Kathy will
be attending Fordham University
and will be majoring
in Computer Science. She
has shown great interest in
science by being engaged in
clubs such as the Engineering
Club and the Eco-Science
Club of which she is the
president. Over the course of
her high school career, she
has taken both AP and Honors
classes which shows her
dedication to her academics.
Kathy plans to pursue a career
as a software engineer
where she can inspire other
young women to get involved
in the STEM field. Kathy is
also a proud graduate of St.
Nicholas of Tolentine Elementary
School. She will attend:
Fordham University.
When asked about how
they navigated the college
application process, many
of them pointed towards successful
time management.
“The faster you get your applications
in, the less time
you’ll spend stressing over
deadlines. If anything, it’s
best to set earlier deadlines
for yourself to ensure
that you stay on track and
aren’t fussing over little details
last minute,” says Ashley
Davis. Adriana Bracco
agreed and added “Put your
heart into it. Nothing can be
accomplished without putting
your heart and hard
work into whatever you have
to do.”
Driver Safety Program, July 13th
As a service to his constituents,
Assemblyman Michael
Benedetto will be sponsoring
an NYS DMV Approved Insurance
Reduction Program
on Saturday, July 13, from 9:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The course is
held at Fort Schuyler House,
3077 Cross Bronx Expressway.
Registration for this class
begins on Monday, June 17. To
reserve a seat, please call Assemblyman
Benedetto’s offi ce
at (718) 892-2235. The cost is
for this class is $29. Space is
limited.
This 6-hour course will refresh
your driving knowledge
with a review of time-tested
safe driving tips.
Those who complete the
course will receive a reduction
of approximately 10 percent
from the base rate of
automobile and motorcycle liability
premiums each year
for three years.
PAL HONORS BEYONCE OF THE S. BX.
BY TONY
SALIMBENE
Remember -
Flag Day is Friday,
June 14th
Sgt. William
Carney was
the fi rst Black
American to
earn the Medal Of Honor. A
former slave, serving with the
Massachusetts Colored 54th
Infantry during the Civil War,
he retrieved the fallen fl ag
from the injured fl ag bearer,
holding it high to guide troops,
although severely wounded
numerous times. Though relieved
of duty and in need of
medical attention, he refused
to let go of our fl ag, holding it
high until that battle was over
and the troops, seeing where it
was, gathered and were safe.
This is why our fl ag does not
touch the ground.
Never throw your old U.S.
fl ag in the trash. Sam Young
Post celebrates Flag Day
and the Leonard
Hawkins
Post has a nice
box for your
drop-off convenience.
OK,
I’ll make sure
Old Glory gets
a proper retirement
too. Thank you.
Our June Sunday post
meeting is the 23rd, the 4th
Sunday this time (our usual
3rd Sunday is Father’s Day).
Remember to meet at TN Memorial
Post 1456, 1456 Shore
Drive, for our elections,
awards and BBQ. Regular
meeting time.
Until next time: I recall
my dad being so proud when
I became commander of his
post, Post 253. I’ll remember
our next door neighbor
and member Victor Hartman
(WW1) too. Happy Father’s
Day dads, here and in
heaven, where I hope we will
all meet again someday.