OUR 2011 AWARD RECIPIENTS
On Tuesday, 6/7/2011, I was present at the Port Richmond High School Awards Assembly and awarded our scholarship to three deserving Student Athletes. Students who attend the Awards Assembly, know that they are getting an award/s, however they do not know which ones. I once again made the presentation and the awards went to, Austin Chea, Abiola (Abby) Baruwa, and Tiara Summers.
As a family, we review all the information that comes to us about all the candidates that have been recommended for the award. We unanimously agreed on the three above.
On 6/24/2011, I met with Austin, Abby and Tiara. Until our meeting, the recipients were not aware of the amount of the award they were receiving from Nick's Fund. When I told them that they would be receiving $ 5,000.00 each, the look on their faces should have been recorded. Their words of thanks meant a lot. We spoke with each other for a while. I presented them with a memorial tee shirt and a "Tribute To Nicky Love DVD". I found the three recipients to be extremely congenial and well spoken. I enjoyed my visit with them a great deal. We took our picture together for this article and saying goodbye, I wished them the best and told them to keep in touch! A little about each of the recipients is to follow:
Austin Chea, Barbara Scaramuzzino, Tiara Summers, Abby Baruwa
Tiara Summers - Tiara took courses such as Film, Geometry, Government and Marine Science. She claims that Marine Science was particularly interesting to her and she received good marks in that class, she says that she just loved learning about marine life. Tiara ran track for Port Richmond High and was a member of the cheerleading squad. She won MVP for Track & Field, was voted the Fastest Female Runner on Staten Island, and she won the President's Award for Educational Achievement. She will be attending Alfred State University SUNY College in Alfred, New York. While attending Alfred she will be taking the necessary courses needed to pursue a career in Nursing.
Abiola (Abby) Baruwa - Abby played volleyball for Port Richmond and was on the Gymnastic Team. Scholastically doing very well during the years that she attended Port Richmond. Abby took a few A.P. classes, but states that AP Government was the course she enjoyed the most. She claimed that it was the only course that academically challenged her, stating both the teacher and the course itself pushed her to think in ways she wasn't used to and allowed her to think outside the box.
Abby was a member of National Honors Society, Permanent Honor Roll, and received the Perfect Attendance Award. She received the Presidential Citizenship Award, Presidential Award for Educational Excellence and Educational Achievement. She also earned the English Department Award of Honor, and the UFT Award of Social Studies. Abby will be attending Brooklyn College in the fall. In her fall semester she will be majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biology. She claims that she has many aspirations for the future and is considering a career in law (Attorney), medicine (Neurologist) and psychology (Forensic). She is also considering being a History Professor.
Austin Chea - Austin was involved with LaCrosse first and then played Basketball for Port Richmond High. During his senior year in Port Richmond Austin took, Honors English, Government, A.P. Physics, Pre-Calculus, was in the JROTC, the Jazz Band and the Marching Band. When asked what he enjoyed best out of all of those, he says it was the Jazz Band because he felt he got the chance to better understand the instrument he plays and to increase his skills. He was the Captain of the Wrestling Team, earning twelve (12) PSAL Championship Medals, he also won the Music Award. Austin will attend the Community College of Staten Island in the Fall, he will major in Biology. He aspires to graduating college, and then joining the U.S. Air Force and will use his G.I. Bill to help him pay for Medical School after he completes his two years of Service on Active Duty.