Operating Engineers Local 825 awards $10,000 scholarships

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Local 825 of the International Union of Operating Engineers selected Veronika Lynn Geiger-Durso of Howell and Chelsea Vena of Matawan as two of six scholarship recipients honored for their civic-mindedness and commitment to academic excellence.

The scholarship program is open to the children and grandchildren of Local 825’s members, and this year, program administrators awarded six scholarships valued at $10,000 ($2,500 annually over four years) and three one-time grants of $1,500 to promising high school seniors from throughout New Jersey.

Veronika, daughter of Joseph and Linda Durso, attends Howell High School. She will pursue a course of study in Pre-Med at Rider University before planning to attend graduate school at Columbia University, with a fellowship, as she endeavors to become a neurosurgeon.

Chelsea, from the family of member Charles T. Vena, Jr., attends Saint John Vianney High School. She plans to enter Bentley University and major in Marketing with a minor in Sports Management. Her career goal is to work in the sports industry.

“We take pride in our families and try to help our members in every way we can,” said Greg Lalevee, business manager of Local 825. “With the high cost of college education, these scholarships and grants are an important part of our programs, and we are thrilled to honor two deserving young women.”

Local 825 honored the nine recipients at an awards dinner, this past week, in Edison.

Headquartered in Springfield, Local 825 of the International Union of Operating Engineers represents more than 6,700 members throughout New Jersey and in five counties of lower New York State, including Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware.