Twenty two students entering college receive Long Island Junior Soccer League Scholarshi​ps

(Via Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association) – With 1,500 travel teams in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens, the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) is the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

The LIJSL Scholarship Program began in the early 1980’s when one boy and one girl each received a scholarship and it has grown just as soccer continues to grow in the United States. Over three decades later, the LIJSL under the direction of Scholarship Committee Chairperson Lynn Scarpati awards college scholarships to its players based on academic and athletic merit as well as community service. This year was no exception as 22 LIJSL players received scholarships on July 20 at a ceremony at the Huntington Hilton in Melville. The newest award, the Pat Grecco Scholarship, is named after the previous Scholarship Chairperson and Hall of Famer of both the LIJSL and ENYYSA who moved to North Carolina during the past year.

Chairperson Scarpati stated, “When you read the bios of all 22 scholarship recipients, the common theme is perseverance pays off.”

LIJSL Scholarship recipients:

• Justin Carfora attending Holy Cross, Pat Grecco Scholarship
• Nicholas Cestaro attending Holy Cross, Vincent Gubin Memorial Scholarship
• Matthew Cimini attending the University of Michigan, Vincent Gubin Memorial Scholarship
• Hayk Matevosyan attending Fordham University, Vincent Gubin Memorial Scholarship
• Haley Cascone attending Hofstra University, Eurosport Scholarship
• Jeffry Valencia attending Onondaga Community College, Bobbi Marks Memorial Scholarship
• David Glass attending Guttman Community College, Bobbi Marks Memorial Scholarship
• Elizabeth Brierton attending SUNY Geneseo, Bobbi Marks Memorial Scholarship
• Bryan Kilmeade attending Syracuse University, Matthew Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
• Jordan Finzel attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Michael Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
• Kaitlyn Meyers attending Wingate University, Michael Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
• Helen Saballos attending Nassau Community College, Carolyn Page Memorial Scholarship
• Allison Hand attending Barnard College, Sandra Atlas Bass Scholarship
• Kieran Hall attending Molloy College, Frank Gorman Memorial Scholarship
• Brian Bingham attending Notre Dame, Peter C. Collins Presidential Scholarship
• Kailee Crockett attending Misericordia University, John Pinezich Memorial Scholarship
• Kelly Wynkoop attending the University of Delaware, Michael Secko Memorial Scholarship
• Douglas Toledo attending Stony Brook University, Jonathan Marc Serota Memorial Scholarship
• Michael Polimeni attending Nassau Community College, Modell’s Scholarship
• Christine Beaudet attending Penn State, Modell’s TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship
• Mallory Duggan attending Marist College, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship
• Matthew Pappacena attending Northeastern University, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship