The College Women’s Club of Cranford awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships to graduating Cranford seniors at its annual awards banquet on Tuesday, June 14 at the Westwood in Garwood. Marge Szymona was the banquet chairperson and Arline McCloskey is the club president.
The College Club awarded scholarships to Alyssa Carosi, Jennifer Shore, Isabella Speer, Kacey Waleski, and Jillian Walter. Christina Finn received the award for the highest ranking senior girl. Rebecca Cucuzzella and Travis Williams were the recipients of the Tribute Award. All of the recipients are Cranford High School graduates who throughout their high school careers have maintained a high GPA while taking honors and AP courses.
Alyssa Carosi will be attending the College of New Jersey as a five year B.S./M.S. Special Education/Elementary – Math major and she will participate in TCNJ’s iSTEM certification program. While at Cranford High School she has taken honors and AP classes and has been on the Honor Roll. Her extracurricular activities include Future Educators of America, serving as president during her senior year, Peers Rooted in Integrity and Developing Excellence Leadership Program, Special Olympics Young Athlete Program, The College of New Jersey Bonner Summer Fellows Program, volleyball, women’s chorus, and the concert choir for three years. She has also been a member of the Principal Advisory Council and has been a teacher assistant at Trinity Episcopal Day School, and participated in Kean University Urban Teacher Academy Program during the summer.
Jennifer Shore will be attending Rutgers University in the honors Arts and Science program. While at Cranford High School Jennifer was a member of the National Honor Society and the Mathematics Honor Society. She was a member of the University Program and the Science Academy. She was the recipient of the Brandeis Book Award, as well as a NJ Stars and an AP Scholar recipient. She was also awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award. Jennifer’s community service includes volunteering as a dispatcher for the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad, math tutor, coach for the Cranford 8U softball team, and a clinic supervisor and coach for the Cranford Softball League. She was a four year starter on the CHS softball team, a PRIDE leader, a DECA officer, and a member of the Student Government Club.
Isabella Speer will be enrolling at Penn State University pursuing a double major in Math and Math Education. While at Cranford High School Isabella was an active member of the University Program, the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society, Student Council, Future Educators of America and the Math and French Clubs. Isabella was an AP Scholar and NJ Stars. She has been a PRIDE facilitator who mentors freshmen and tutors a young high school student every week.She has been a member of the CHS Track team and the Girls Basketball program. As a member of her church youth group Isabella has traveled to West Virginia to help with projects to alleviate the extreme poverty in Osage County. She has volunteered at a soup kitchen and a women’s shelter, has been a student teacher and tutor at CHS. She was a member of PRIDE, the peer leadership group and secretary of the Student Council.
Kacey Waleski is headed for Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Kacey has been involved with the Girl Scouts since kindergarten and received the Gold Award which is the highest award given by the Girl Scouts.
Her volunteer work includes Autism Awareness Walk, Relay for Life, Veteran’s home Bingo night, and the Rotary Interact Club. Kacey has been on the varsity volleyball team for three years. She was a member of PRIDE, the Student Council for three years serving as president during her senior year.
She was a member of the National Honor Society, the Model United Nations, a member of the yearbook staff for three years, serving as editor during her senior year, and an Executive Council member.
Jillian Walter will be attending Villanova University where she will be a business major. Jillian was a member of the National Honor Society, the Math National Honor Society , the University Program, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and the Science Academy. At Cranford High School Jillian was a member of the Cross-country and the Spring Track Varsity team, the Golden C Business Club, the Math League, PRIDE and the PRIDE Steering Committee, and DECA, a national business club. Jillian was a member of the St. Michael’s and St.Theresa’s Youth Group and took mission trips to West Virginia each year to help build homes and spread faith during spring break. Jillian cocreated and ran Jillian and Amanda’s summer camp for 4th through 6th grade girls.
The award for the highest ranking senior girl was presented to Christina Finn who will be attending Georgetown University majoring in Biology with plans to become a physician. While at Cranford High School Christina was a member of the State/Regional, National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, a NJ STARS Scholarship Recipient and the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award Recipient. Christina volunteered at Children’s Specialized Hospital helping disabled children with a modified swim class.
She was also a PRIDE Leader, a Relay for Life participant. Christina was the first-ever high school intern at JFK Medical Center where she shadowed professionals in the Brain Trauma Unit. She was CHS Visions President, a member of the Science Academy, University Program, and the Prologue Club.
She was a four year member of the cheerleading squad and was the captain for her senior year.
The College Women’s Club of Cranford has a number of fundraisers throughout the year including the Annual Community Calendar sale and the spring garage sale. All the money raised is used to fund the scholarships awarded annually to Cranford seniors.
(above l-r) Christina Finn, Jennifer Shore, Kacey Waleski, Travis Williams, Tribute Award recipient, Isabella Speer, Jillian Walter, and Alyssa Carosi.
