Avon Organization Grants Scholarships To Seniors

UNICO is the largest Italian-American service organization within the United States. Founded October 10, 1922 by Italian doctor Anthony P. Vastola, UNICO supports numerous charitable, scientific, cultural, and educational projects. Throughout the past 30 years, the Avon Chapter has made significant contributions to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Gifts of Love, Wounded Warriors Project, and more.

UNICO is honored and proud to further our communities by recognizing distinguished young students sure to emerge as social leaders and scholars. With the Avon UNICO Scholarship, UNICO grants at least three awards to resident Avon seniors who—via both their academic achievements and community service endeavors—best exemplify UNICO’s motto of “Service above Self.”

This year, UNICO is pleased to award scholarships to two incredibly accomplished—academically and otherwise—Avon High School graduates: Jake Barry Coppen and Caroline Mascoli. Mr. Coppen is the founder and president of the Avon High School Finance Club, as well as captain of the baseball team. He has volunteered with Healing Meals and the Avon Old Farms Special Olympics, and hopes to pursue neuroscience while at Villanova University. Ms. Mascoli is the captain of Avon High’s field hockey team, has served as both secretary and president of the Music Service Society, and is secretary of the National Honors Society. She volunteered with the Church of Saint Ann and the Connecticut Children’s Hospital, and plans to be an engineering major at the University of Connecticut.

UNICO is also honored to award scholarships to both Taylor Armstrong of Northwest Catholic High School and John Eschert of Avon Old Farms School, respectively. As the Senior Class Secretary, Northwest Catholic News editor-in-chief, and founder and executive board member of Future Leaders for America, Ms. Armstrong is an outstanding leader. She volunteers with Hartford’s St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church and will attend Bucknell University. Mr. Eschert is an extraordinary student; he received both the Hamilton College Book Prize and the Pennsylvania University Book Prize, as well as founded Helping Hands for Connecticut during junior high. As an Eagle Scout, he was Senior Patrol Leader and helped build training modules for the Avon Fire Department. He plans to pursue dentistry and oral surgery while attending Middlebury College. Indeed, he perfectly epitomizes UNICO’s mission and community values. Congratulations to each of the honorees.