Years of school work, extracurricular activities, community service and vocational training go into preparing young people in our area for their futures.

The dedication of these students and the adults who help them – parents, teachers, volunteers, business and civic organizations – all combine to offer a pathway to rewarding careers and opportunities to give back to their communities.

Here are some of the young people who now look ahead to the next step in their lives and the people behind them who help build a pathway to their future success.

Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber Foundation Scholarship Awards

This year’s winners were once recognized at the Chamber’s annual organization meeting and scholarship award ceremony at the Hollow Brook Golf Club on June 6.

The winners are: Sofia Ilardi, Croton-Harmon; Alex Robinson, Hendrick Hudson; Ashley Carozza, Lakeland; Ariana Okoth, Peekskill; Ava Harmon, Putnam Valley; Ava Vogel, Walter Panas. Robert Mansfield, Lakeland; Jazmin Alvarez, PNW BOCES; and Flavino LoPresti, Putnam Valley.

The Foundation’s annual Golf Outing that raises money for the scholarships will be held at Hollow Brook on Monday, Sept. 30. The Foundation has awarded over $100,000 in academic and technical certificate scholarships. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact the Foundation at the Chamber offices, 914.737.3600

Rotary Club of Peekskill

The winners of this year’s scholarships awarded by the Rotary Club of Peekskill are: Raymond Lapolla Scholarship: Barbara Chisholm, Dr. Joseph Fontana Scholarship: Christian Laughlin, George Sampson Scholarship: Angel Fransisco, Robert Flower Scholarship: Jordy Panza and Benjamin Ramirez, Carmella & Nicholas Bertoline Business Scholarship: Maylin Vasquez and Janira Martinez, Aaron Manzer Scholarship: Martin Palomeque, Bruce Bellom Scholarship: Krish Pandya, Denise Calabrese Scholarship: Gabriel Pasato, Daniel Sadofsky Scholarship: Jazmin Alvarez and Martin Palomeque, Dr. Robert J. Hales Scholarship: Ariana Okoth, Club President All Around Achievement Award -$500 Chiara Quick.

Athletic and Fellowship Awards

Peekskill Academic scholarship winner is Ariana Okoth and fellowship recipient is Jazmin Alvarez. Hendrick Hudson recipients include Athletics,  Alexa Robinson and Kyle Peske, Academic, Rachel Keefe, Fellowship, George Wright, All Around Achievement: Chiara Quick. Walter Panas recipients include Kevin Bryan and Kailey Burdett for Athletics, Johan Easaw for  Academics and Patille Guekjian for fellowship.

Congratulations to Cadet Program Squad Leader and Intern, Krish Pandya, on his receipt of the Bruce Bellom Scholarship Award from the Rotary Club of Peekskill. Krish is a graduating senior from Walter Panas High School and an active member of the school’s Law Enforcement Club as well as the Department’s Cadet Program. Cadet Program advisor, and Community Resource Officer, PO Eddie Ramirez proudly assisted in recognizing Krish for his achievements.  Christopher Calabrese, Linda Kellett-Belger, Richard Swann, and the family of the late Bruce Bellom also recognized Krish’s contributions.

Peekskill Community Kitchen Program

A great time was had at the community dinner to celebrate the graduates of the Peekskill Community Kitchen program.  This program involves participants ages 16-24 undergoing a 12-week training program on food management, which culminated in a delicious meal prepared by the youth. Graduates are pictured here with city officials in the dining room and kitchen at the Neighborhood Center.

Peekskill Education Foundation

The Peekskill Education Foundation through its many generous donors awarded five graduating Peekskill High School seniors Centennial Scholarships totaling $25,000. They were honored at a recent Board of Education meeting.

Peekskill High School athletic scholarships

The following five senior scholar-athletes signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at area colleges: Naseer Johnson – Nassau Lions (Wrestling) Amir Thames – Monroe Mustangs (Football) Ezekiel Jones – Western Connecticut State University Wolves (Basketball) Andre Gonzalez, Jr. – Monroe Mustangs (Football) Martin Palomeque – Hunter College (Wrestling) They are pictured at a Board of Education meeting with their letters of intent, their parents and coaches.

Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES scholarships

Congratulations to Peekskill’s PNW BOCES students Brandon Culthberson and Jazmin Alvarez Moya who were each awarded scholarships.

Career and Technical Education programs prepares students for careers. Students may find employment upon graduating high school, decide to enroll at a two- or four-year college or do a combination of both. Scholarships can help students achieve their career goals by lessening the financial burden.

Scholarships fall into one of three categories: BOCES 2 specific, including those that are only available to career and technical education students; local scholarships; and scholarships related to career and technical education.

Peekskill Junior National Honor Society

Congratulations to Peekskill Middle School students who were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society this year.

The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is an American international student organization that consists of chapters in middle schools (in the range of grades 6-9 depending on the school). To be considered for membership, applicants must reach the five standards which include leadership, citizenship, character, service, and scholarship. For the scholarship standard, the student scholar must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from a scale of 4.0.