Westwood UNICO Awards Scholarships, Donates to EPIC School, Elects New Officers

At its June 18 meeting at the Florentine Gardens, Riverdale NJ, the Westwood chapter of UNICO National awarded four $1,000 scholarships to students of local high schools. Paul Gugger of the chapter chaired the nominations committee. 

The Fred DiRossi Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Renee Gioe, a graduate of Westwood H.S. who will major in accounting at Muhlenberg College. The scholarship was established to honor Fred DiRossi, a former resident of Washington Township and past member of Westwood UNICO, and is available to graduating local high school seniors of any major but who are of Italian descent.  

The Josephine Cifelli/Marie Hanlon Elementary Education Scholarship was awarded to Brielle Soluri , a graduate of  Pascack Valley H.S. who will attend Montclair State University. She will major in Elementary & Special Ed/Psychology.  This scholarship is available to local high school seniors, undergraduate students, or graduate students of Italian descent who are pursuing a degree in education.  

Two Ben & Marie Miraglia Nursing Scholarships, in memory of Ben & Marie Miraglia former UNICO members and residents of Washington Township, were awarded to Ken McGlone and Alyssa McLeod.  This scholarship is offered to graduating seniors, undergraduate students or graduate students pursuing a degree in nursing, regardless of nationality. Ken is studying nursing at Sacred Heart University, while Alyssa has just graduated from Pascack Valley H.S. and will attend Ramapo College.   

At the same June 18 meeting, a check for $8500 was presented to the EPIC School to help educate autistic students. Additionally, new officers were sworn in, effective for the upcoming year. They are President Steve BiFulco, 1st VP Frank LoPiccolo, 2nd VP Howard Synder, Sergeant-at-Arms Marie Hanlon, and Secretary Cathy Gurman. Treasurer Dina Pizzella will continue for a 2nd year. 

UNICO National is a nationwide non-political and non-sectarian service organization whose membership consists exclusively of US citizens of Italian heritage (through birth or marriage), having good character and reputation. UNICO engages in a wide variety of charitable, educational and cultural activities.