Mineola Chamber Awards Annual College Scholarships

Every year the grants two scholarships to one senior from and one from .

“One of the most proudest moments that we have is when we give money to young people as they begin really their third set of schooling for the rest of their lives,” Mineola Chamber President Ray Sikorski said last Tuesday during the chamber’s monthly meeting at .

Each candidate is interviewed by three chamber members – Judge Robert Rosenthal, Joy WIlder and Robin Valentine – who determine who will be awarded the $2,000 scholarships.

Originally dubbed the Mineola Chamber of Commerce scholarships, the award was renamed this year in honor of Jerry Mehlman, one of the founders of the Mineola Chamber, who recently passed away.

Patrick Cahill was this year’s scholarship recipient from Chaminade High School.

“This definitely is a tremendous honor,” said Cahill, who will be attending Fordham University in the fall.

Ryan Jenkins was the recipient from Mineola High School and will be attending Sacred Heard University in Connecticut.

“The scholarship will be really appreciated for next year,” Jenkins said.

“I think I spoke to (Principal) Mr. (Ed) Escobar, he said that you were instrumental in kind of bringing the team from where it was to another level, which is a wonderful thing,” Sikorski said of Jenkins, who played secondbase on the Mustangs’ baseball team this year.