Scranton Area Community Foundation Celebrates 2024 James F. Swift Scholarship Recipients
PHOTO: JAMES F. SWIFT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
1st row (left to right): Barbara O’Hara, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board Governor; Allyson Stafursky; Joel Cali; Makenna Stugus; Angela Zeng; Meghan Wong; Matthew Howard; Holly Burke, Frank Caputo, Grants and Scholarships Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation. 2nd row (left to right): Ava Decker; Antonia Piraino; Caden Brennan; Ryan Coleman; Lorna Lynch; Jayde Waibel; Sarah Wolfe. 3rd row (left to right): Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants and Scholarships, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Geanna Kirchner; Hunter Geise; Ethan Symuleski; David McKenney; Jayden Evans. 2024 James F. Swift Scholarship recipients missing from photo: Noah Beckish, Jocelyn Brown, Carolyn Chakiris, Elizabeth Cummings, Celia Emiliani, Kate Evans, Nikauri Fernandez, Emma Field, Sarah Goetter, Savannah Lockwood, Alexa Williams.
Scranton, PA – The Scranton Area Community Foundation proudly announces the recipients of the 2024 James F. Swift Scholarship. This year, twenty deserving students from thirteen local high schools have been selected to receive this esteemed scholarship, providing $5,000 per year for up to four years to support their higher education expenses.
The following students are first-time recipients of the James F. Swift Scholarship: Noah Beckish (North Pocono), Caden Brennan (Carbondale), Jocelyn Brown (Carbondale), Holly Burke (Scranton Preparatory), Carolyn Chakiris (Mid Valley), Elizabeth Cummings (Old Forge), Celia Emiliani (West Scranton), Kate Evans (West Scranton), Nikauri Fernandez (Holy Cross), Emma Field (Scranton), Sarah Goetter (Mid Valley), Geanna Kirchner (Dunmore), Savannah Lockwood (Dunmore), Antonia Piraino (Lakeland), Allyson Stafursky (Valley View), Makenna Stugus (Abington Heights), Alexa Williams (Riverside), Sarah Wolfe (Riverside), Meghan Wong (Scranton), and Angela Zeng (Abington Heights).
Additionally, the Foundation is pleased to renew scholarships for 57 students who have demonstrated continued academic excellence and commitment to their educational goals:
Ava Aulisio, Emma Aversa, Jacquelyn Bitter, Alexander Bond, Jillian Brennan, Cameron Butka, Joel Cali, Sofia Capozzi, Kaeden Carr, Riley Clarke, Ryan Coleman, Alyssa Cosklo, Ava Decker, Jayden Evans, Erileidi Fernandez, Sofia Flores-Weidner, Hunter Geise, Sadid Hassan, Courtney Hazelton, Matthew Howard, Emma Illian, Elina Joshi, Michael Kazmierczak, Eliana King, Kendal Johnson, Lorna Lynch, Dana Mackin, Hailey Matechak, Sara McCormack, Finley McHale, David McKenney, Thomas Milewski, Connor Monahan, Ayman Mounota, Owen Morgan, Julia Murphy, Mia Muskey, Paige Pezanowski, Ron Prislupski, Meredith Purcell, Mila Racibor, Ritu Regmi, Taralyn Reilly, Lexee Risner, Michael Rodyushkin, Kayla Rose, Chloee Rumford, Ryan Salony, Michael Sewack, Gabrielle Snee, Christian Snee, Ethan Symuleski, Alexis Tanana, Benjamin Thompson, Martin Turi, Jayde Waibel, and Molly White.
The James F. Swift Scholarship Fund, established in 2002 through a generous gift from Mr. James F. Swift to the Scranton Area Community Foundation, has awarded over $5 million since its inception, benefiting more than 340 local students. Following Mr. Swift’s vision, the fund aims to empower students graduating from high schools in Lackawanna County to pursue their academic and professional dreams.
Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, expressed gratitude for Mr. Swift’s enduring legacy, stating, “His generosity has made higher education more accessible for generations of students in our region.”
Congratulations to each recipient for their exceptional achievements and dedication to their academic goals!
The Foundation’s commitment extends beyond financial support; it collaborates with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to offer additional financial aid opportunities through the Partnership for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Program.
For more information on the James F. Swift Scholarship Fund and other initiatives by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, please visit www.safdn.org or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Director, at 570-347-6203.