On Thursday, June 17, 2010, at the Locust Valley Inn, the Locust Valley Rotary Club hosted this year’s scholarship winners. As part of the Club’s commitment to the youth of the community and to their education, the club has granted six college scholarships of $2000 a piece this year to Heather Conn, Anthony Gaspari, Alexa Rivadeneira, Elizabeth Rizzo, Henry Drew Roberts, and Marissa Rupp.  In addition, a scholarship has been awarded to Marianne Avari to honor the memory of educator and Rotarian Joseph Stimola, Sr.. Each recipient demonstrated an exemplary record of service to our community.

Heather Conn is a dancer, who, while balancing a rigorous academic schedule, has spent half her school day at the Long Island High School for the Arts, in addition to participating in numerous dance programs in New York and Boston.  She has used her love of dance as a vehicle for serving others, as a performer and as a teacher of children. At school, Heather participates in the Marching Band’s Flag Corps. Heather has also been devoted to Animal Rescue. She will attend the Tisch School of Arts at NYU this fall.

Anthony Gaspari has been active in service to his community, his church and his school, St. Dominic’s in Oyster Bay.  In addition to being an honors student, Anthony has served as President of his class. He has also been President of the Science Olympiad team and the Math Honor’s Society.  He has played for the tennis team and participated in Student Ambassadors and Future Business Leaders of America.  Anthony helps young and old, teaching catechism to grade school students and visiting the elderly both locally and in Florida. Anthony will be studying Osteopathic medicine at NYIT in September.

Alexa Rivadeneira served as Co-President of the Interact Club for the past two years. From Relay for Life to food drives and toy drives, Alexa has been the face of community service at her school. In addition, she earned excellent grades and was active in the student newspaper and the student government. At a young age, Alexa became a published author. She hopes to publish a second novel in the near future and will attend the University of Delaware this fall.

Elizabeth Rizzo is a top student at Our Lady of Mercy in Syosset and has chosen to focus her hours of service at the Glen Cove Hospital as President of the Junior Volunteer corps serving to brighten the day of the patients and lighten the load of the staff. She has also tutored fourth graders in math and English and been active in her school’s service organization and Italian club. She will attend Villanova in the fall.
As salutatorian of the current graduating class at LV high school, Marissa Rupp served as the Treasurer of the Student Government and President of the Art club. As the Vice President of Interact, she participated in the walks, the toy drives and more. Marissa possesses just that combination of leadership and service that exemplifies the Rotary motto, service above self. She will attend UNC Chapel Hill.

Drew Roberts is an exemplary student, athlete and humanitarian. Sharing the responsibility of leading the Interact Club with Alexa Rivadeneira for the past two years, Drew has organized countless service activities at his school. In addition, he has served as the President of the school’s student government and as a tutor for his peers in math and science. During his summers he has worked to become a senior counselor at the YMCA Camp Woodstock.

Marianne Avari has grown up with an international perspective, spending her summers abroad. She has excelled academically in the LVHS IB program, participating in a research project regarding the brain. Marianne has volunteered during the summer for United Cerebral Palsy and served her school founding a Psychology Club. Tutoring has been the particular focus of her community service, helping students with difficulty in math. She was accepted early decision to Johns Hopkins where she plans to be a psychology major and pre-med. With her dedication to the study of science and to helping other students, she has been awarded the Joseph Stimola, Sr. Memorial Scholarship.