IWC Gives $7,000 To Local College Bound

Seven lucky high school seniors will be splitting $7,000 in scholarship money thanks to Woonsocket’s Italian Workingmen’s Club.

Six of the seven gathered at the on Diamond Hill Road on Wednesday, with smiling parents in tow, for the announcement of the scholarships.

The scholarships range from $750 to $1,250 each. First preference for the scholarships was given to students whose parents are regular members of the club, and other recipients were chosen from lists provided by Woonsocket High School and Mount St. Charles based on academic excellence and financial need.

This is the eleventh year that the Club has given out scholarships. Since 2001 they have given $97,000 worth of scholarships to area students. The money for the scholarships comes from the Club’s annual Italian Open golf tournament, according to Mike Kind, member of IWC Board of Directors. (The event is on July 22 this year, but has already sold out.)

The recipients are Brook Badeu, of Woonsocket High School, who will be attending URI in the fall; Yentl Burgos, of WHS, who is going to CCRI Lincoln; John Casey, of WHS, who will be studying at New England Tech; Alexandra Felice, of Bellingham High School, who is going to Curry College; Trevor Plante, of Mount St. Charles, who is attending Assumption College; and Brianna Masse, of MSC, who will be attending Keene State.

Christina Goulet, WHS, also received a scholarship, but wasn’t in attendance at the ceremony.

Parents watched as their children posed for pictures with a giant check in front of the club on Wednesday. One parent thanked Mark Zagaglia, IWC president, and Kind for their work in providing the scholarships. 

Another parent said, “They don’t give those tuitions away, so every little bit helps.”

The IWC counts 625 people as members. 140 of those are “regular” members, or of Italian descent, according to Kind. The Club’s location at 947 Diamond Hill Road is well known in the area for holding large events.