Scholars 2017

2017 SoLII Scholarship Recipient Profiles

Spring 2017 Recipients

	Anne Ambrosio – Michael J. Grant Campus St. Joseph's College - History with a concentration in Adolescence Education Anne was part of the Honors Program Learning Community at Suffolk County Community College, and is now a member of the History Club at St. Joseph's. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "The SoLII Scholarship has given me the opportunity to connect with people at Suffolk County Community College and St. Joseph's College. This new network of friends is very supportive of me and I know they will help me with whatever my future has in store for me."

	Olivia Jean DiStefano – Ammerman Campus St. Joseph's College - Speech Pathology/Communication Studies Having struggled with speech as a child, speech pathology is an area of study that is close to Olivia's heart. She finds reward in helping people learn and aiding them in achieving goals they never thought would be possible. Olivia credits Professor Dante Morelli with her love of Communications; she took every communications class possible with him. Outside of the classroom, Olivia formed long–lasting relationships with her fellow PTK members while serving as her chapter's Historian.

	Peter Tarantino – Ammerman Campus Five Towns College - Theatre Arts Peter entered the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival as an Irene Ryan acting nominee for his portrayal of Duke Vincentio in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. After winning the regional competition, Peter then progressed to National Finals where he won the New Play Network Outstanding Performance of a Contemporary Work award. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "I advise everyone to make it a goal to be a leader and believe in themselves even if no one else does."
Fall 2017 Recipients
	Brandon Battaglia – Ammerman Campus St. Joseph's College - Secondary Education/ History In high school, Brandon was inspired by his history teacher to pursue a degree in History Education. He plans to take part in the Study Abroad Program at St. Joseph's College so that he can visit important historical sites and view primary sources in person. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "The only thing that stands in your way is yourself. You are the easiest thing to change!"

	Charles Bellini – Ammerman Campus LIU Post - Accounting As a Get There From Here scholar, Charles participated in multiple community service opportunities, was in a commercial for the school, and helped assist in several school–related activities. He was also in the Business and Accounting Club which was extremely informative. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "Try to get involved and lead whenever you can and I am sure that it will not go unnoticed."

	Anthony Cain – Ammerman Campus Five Towns College - Music Education Anthony wants to make a difference in others' lives through the gift of music as his high school music teacher Mrs. Kelly once did for him. While at Suffolk County Community College, Anthony performed in Informal Recital, where he demonstrated his talents to his fellow students. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "Winning this scholarship reassured me that my goals for the future are meaningful and worth pursuing."

	Joseph Carnabuci – Michael J. Grant Campus St. Joseph's College - Business Administration While at Suffolk County Community College, Joseph was president of the Business Economics Club. Through this organization, he had the opportunity to learn from people in the business world, which enhanced what he learned in the classroom. What advice would you give to future applicants? "The day you know that you qualify for the scholarship, get to work. You will change your mind on your essays. I did multiple times and it turned out well for me. Most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for help; you have great people that will help you."

	Shannon Cavanaugh – Michael J. Grant Campus St. Joseph's College - Secondary Education/ History, Social Studies Shannon is very passionate about history, and has always wanted to impact the minds of younger generations. She has an insatiable desire to do something amazing such as making a difference in the lives of adolescents. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "My advice would be to be open and honest – just trust the journey."

	Lory Cazeau – Michael J. Grant Campus St. John's University - Criminal Justice Lory is majoring in criminal justice and plans to attend law school in the future. She wants to give a voice to the oppressed, the people we don't pay attention to, and the ones we don't listen to. She wants to make sure that everyone is treated equitably and that justice is served swiftly and certainly. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "It let me show my mom that her hard work, sacrifices, sleepless nights, and all the time she invested in me was finally paying off."

	Christopher Chiusa – Michael J. Grant Campus Molloy College - Psychology Christopher considers his involvement with the Forensics Team to be life–changing. He learned all the nuances of debate, improved his ability to communicate, experienced a variety of cities across America, and developed friendships. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "I implore all those aspiring to win a SOLII Scholarship to value absolute academic success, involvement in extracurricular activities, and the value of giving 100% of yourself."

	Demi Jones – Eastern Campus LIU Post - Nutrition and Dietetics While attending Suffolk County Community College Demi was president of the Nutrition Club, where she ran a food drive for the Eastern Campus food pantry during the holiday season, and coordinated a cookie bake with the Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Demi is also a CrossFit enthusiast who spends most of her time in the gym, but also credits the competitive nature of her sport with giving her the extra drive to excel in school.

	Jaclyn Kletchka – Ammerman Campus St. Joseph's College - Child Study While at Suffolk, Jaclyn was honored to be the President of the Alpha Zeta Nu chapter of PTK and represented the chapter at the annual convention in Nashville. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "The scholarship has affected me by instilling faith and confidence in the mindset that hard work, commitment, and dedication can produce positive and enhancing results. This will undoubtedly serve me well for the rest of my life."

	Anthony Mercurio – Michael J. Grant Campus Stony Brook University - Nursing Following a missionary trip to Uganda, Anthony realized that his purpose in life was to help people spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. At Suffolk County Community College, his leadership as President of Phi Theta Kappa led the chapter to win both first place in the New York Region and an International Award for its Hallmark Honors in Action Research Project. As a nurse, Anthony would like to work in a children's hospital and participate in medical missions abroad, with the hope of making a change in the world.

	Joseph Milbauer – Eastern Campus St. Joseph's College - Accounting Joseph is an inspiration and role model to his fellow students. His work at an accounting firm over the past year and a half made him fall in love with accounting, and now he is set to complete his B.S., and eventually, M.B.A. in Accounting. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "Push through, continue forward, and don't forget that this is worth the effort."

	Paige Papile – Ammerman Campus St. Joseph's College - Business Administration Paige was introduced to office life through her job, and found herself intrigued by the many facets that go into running a successful business. As a competitive athlete in the unique sport of baton twirling, Paige was a member of Team USA in 2015. She now continues her journey through coaching. At Suffolk County Community College, Paige was Honors Club President. In this role, she helped raise $11,000 for suicide prevention and awareness through the Out of The Darkness walk.

	Zulma Restituto – Michael J. Grant Campus LIU Brentwood - Social Work Inspired by the many families who are fighting to heal, grow, and stay together, Zulma seeks the opportunity to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. While at Suffolk County Community College, she started Celebrate Recovery, which provides people with a safe place and support as they work through their life challenges. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "Take advantage of all the wonderful support that is available to all applicants."

	Nicole Riccio – Michael J. Grant Campus St. Joseph's College - Psychology Nicole is interested in the intricate workings of the mind and how experiences shape behavior. She wants to use her degree to change the negative stigma of mental illness. This scholarship will help Nicole to show her daughter how obtaining a higher education will allow her to achieve her goal of helping others. Nicole is inspired by kindness and selflessness. She has led a fundraising team for The March of Dimes – March for Babies, and has also rescued and rehabilitated abused dogs that are now spoiled and very happy members of her family.

	Robert Rutherford – Michael J. Grant Campus Adelphi University - Environmental Studies At Suffolk County Community College, Robert was the chairman of the Greener Grant Committee. He will continue his focus on the environment while studying at Adelphi. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "This scholarship has been a goal of mine since I heard about it. Achieving this goal has meant more to me than anything else I have ever done, and I say this with great sincerity. It gives me the knowledge that I can do great things and will forever be part of who I am."

	Anthony Sorisi – Michael J. Grant Campus LIU Post - Accounting The Peer Mentor Program was an integral part of Anthony's experience at Suffolk. It gave him opportunities to get involved with the campus community, which led to his winning a SUNY Chancellor's award. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "Get involved! Don't just join a club or two, try becoming an officer, go to every SGA meeting, and join the Peer Mentor Program."

	Drew Swezey – Eastern Campus Stony Brook University - Health Science Drew's decision to enter the health field was solidified when taking Anatomy and Physiology at Suffolk County Community College. She looks forward to learning more about how our bodies work through her degree in Health Science. What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? I would tell future applicants to be honest. Showing you have potential, drive, and goals to reach are the most important qualities to highlight in your application. You want to express the great qualities to do have and explain why you deserve the opportunity to continue your education on Long Island.

	Alexander Szabo – Ammerman Campus Stony Brook University - Chemistry Inspired by Thomas Edison's constant pursuit of purposeful innovation, Alexander feels obligated to relieve the ailments and afflictions that still exist in the modern world. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "SoLII has been a reminder, to me, that my dreams of a better future are possible. It has granted me the strength to pursue my dreams to the highest degree possible and has paved the way for my path to Stony Brook University."

	Anna Szczepanik – Ammerman Campus SUNY Old Westbury - Accounting Anna discovered her love for accounting while attending Poznan University of Economics and Business in Poland. She enjoys the challenge of solving accounting problems, as well as the important role it plays in all types of business. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "Winning the scholarship makes me extremely proud of myself and pushes me to do even better in the future. The fact that my hard work didn't go unnoticed makes me feel fulfilled."

	Chrysovalantou Tsoumpelis – Eastern Campus LIU Riverhead - Childhood Education Chryso has been involved in the field of education since high school, when she began tutoring children with disabilities. Her experience inspired her pursue a career as a teacher. She was VP of Suffolk County Community College's Film Club, where she produced "Hell Is Upon Us". What advice would you give to future SoLII applicants? "Never think you aren't good enough!"

	Sumayyah Uddin – Michael J. Grant Campus Hofstra University - Psychology with a minor in Fine Arts Prior to enrolling at Suffolk County Community College, Sumayyah was homeschooled. As she acclimated herself into the college community, she worked towards becoming Editor–in–Chief for both Cassandra magazine and the Western Student Press. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "Receiving this scholarship has made me realize that I do work hard, and that I can stand on even ground with the peers that I admire and wish to be like."

	Arianna Zyats – Eastern Campus St. Joseph's College - Hospitality and Tourism Management Fond memories of family trips to Walt Disney World prompted Arianna to major in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She wants to help others visit unique places, explore different cultures, and have unforgettable experiences. How has winning a SoLII Scholarship affected you? "Winning a SoLII Scholarship has had such a positive impact on my life. It has boosted the confidence I have in myself and has enhanced my excitement for the future."