Chamber, Perri Committee Honor Two B-BP Grads

More than 100 people came out to support the Vinny Perri Scholarship Committee as it hosted its 21st annual charity golf tournament Monday at Rock Hill Country Club to award scholarships to two 2011 Bayport- Blue Point graduates.

Exactly 122 golfers took to the 18-hole course in Manorville to raise money for the scholarships and the Chamber. “We hope to raise between $6,000- $8,000,” said Vinny Perri Committee Chairman Peter Herting.

Partnered with the , the Vinny Perri Scholarship Committee gave out two $1,500 scholarships to Andrew Schultz and Katherine Jurlando for their athletic and academic excellence, while golfers dined on succulent lobster dinners.

To win the scholarships, Schultz and Juriando had to submit resumes, personal statements and grades along with three letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors. In addition, member Harry Posanski said the scholarship committee “looks for students who participate in a minimum of two varsity sports with lettering.” Sportsmanship and the exhibition of teamwork are also taken into account.

The Vinny Perri scholarship is not the only monetary award Schultz received this year. Last month he received a $500 scholarship from the Chamber at its for being an outstanding community participant.

Past winners of the scholarship include 2006 graduate Tom Brown, who went on to graduate from Ithaca College. Patrick Dooley, a 2007 graduate also won. He recently earned a degree from Cornell University.

Juiando was awarded a scholarship in memory of Michael G. Marchan Jr., the Vinny Perri committee’s founder and chairman who passed away last year.

Marchan started the Vinny Perri golf tournament and scholarship committee in memoriam of Perri’s community efforts in the Bayport Little League and other athletic activities.  “Vinny Perri was a very community oriented gentleman,” Herting said.

Though there was no winner of the tournament, awards were given to participants with the longest drive, the lowest gross and closest to the pin.

The tournament also featured a chance to win $1 million by getting a hole-in-one on the 18th hole. Tom Leonard and Steve Marchan swung their hearts out. Close, but no cigar! The $1 million check is still unclaimed.

Herting said he was glad to give out the scholarships in memory of two important men and it was fun to have business owners and community members there.