Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 awards $151,000 in annual scholarships to 27 area students

Dorchester, MA Sheet Metal Workers Local 17, a division of the SMART Northeast Regional Council (SMART NERC), awarded their annual scholarships, allocating $151,000 towards the futures of 27 area high-school seniors and college students. The program, 100% funded by the membership of Local 17, ranges from one-time $750 scholarships to four-year scholarships totaling $16,000.

For every hour a member works, seven cents is contributed to Local 17’s scholarship fund. Over time, this commitment and the collections have added up, making a big difference for hundreds of local students in paying for tuition, books, and other academic fees.

“Our scholarship program is part of our union’s commitment to giving back to the communities where our members live and work,” said SMART NERC president Bob Butler. “When we invest in these hard-working students, we’re helping build the future of these communities.”

“We’re grateful to be able to provide these 27 deserving recipients with a head start toward realizing their educational and career goals,” said SMART NERC financial secretary-treasurer Russell Bartash.

Since 1983, the program has awarded over $2.1 million in scholarships based on performance on the state Labor History Exam or through a lottery drawing.

Scholarship recipients include:

Four Year Scholarship Winners:

• Cassandra Gordon, senior at Quincy High School

Amount: $16,000 ($4,000 per year)

Sponsor: Grandfather, Frank Serra

• Rachel McDonald, senior at Marshfield High School

Amount: $14,000 ($3,500 per year)

Sponsor: Father, Jason McDonald

• James Elwell, senior at Boston Latin School

Amount: $12,000 ($3,000 per year)

Sponsor: Father, Paul Elwell

• Grace Kapetanakos, senior at Weymouth High School

Amount: $10,000 ($2,500 per year)

Sponsor: Father, Angelo Kapetanakos

• James Mackin, senior at Weymouth High School

Amount: $8,000 ($2,000 per year)

Sponsor: Father, Joseph Mackin

Memorial Scholarship Winners

$4,500/One Year Scholarships

• Sarah Johnson, student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Joseph J. Nigro Memorial Scholarship

Sponsor: Father, David Johnson

• Elizabeth Willie, senior at Boston Green Academy

Charlie F. Geary Memorial Scholarship

Sponsor: Mother, Areesa Willie

• Michael Stallings, Jr, senior at Westwood High School

James M. Kelly Memorial Scholarship

Sponsor: Grandfather, Nicholas Imbrunone

Lottery Scholarship Winners

$4,000/One Year Scholarships

• Edward Reilly, senior Abington High School

Sponsor: Grandfather, Louis Russell

• Stella Cortese, student at UMass Lowell

Sponsor: Father, David Cortese

• Daniel Scolaro, student at St. Anslem College

Sponsor: Father, John Scolaro

• Meaghan Turgeon, student at UMass Dartmouth

Sponsor: Father Robert Coache

• Wyatt Campbell, student at Norwich University

Sponsor: Grandfather, Francis Cooper Jr

• Courtney Magnarelli, senior at Burlington High School

Sponsor: Grandfather, Richard Taylor

• Hunter Hugvenin, student at Trine University

Sponsor: Grandfather, Kenneth Lewin

• Zachary Falasca, student at Wentworth Institute of Technology

Sponsor: Father, Christopher Falasca

• Illyana Anastasio, student at Massasoit Community College

Sponsor: Father, Thomas Anastasio

• Lily Mackay, student at Skidmore College

Sponsor: Grandfather, Frank Serra

• Ava Lescinskas, student at Merrimack College

Sponsor: Grandfather, Ronald Lescinskas

• Michael Sheehan, student at Northern Essex Community College

Sponsor: Father, Michael E Sheehan

• Layla Reilly, senior at Abington High School

Sponsor: Grandfather, Louis Russell

• Domenic Kovatsi, student at Lasell University

Sponsor: Father, Stephen Kovatsi, II

• Megan Brown, student at the University of Tampa

Sponsor: Father, William Brown

• Iyanci Lopez, senior at Greater Lowell Technical High School

Sponsor: Father, Lenell Lopez

• Benjamin DeBoer, student at Curry College

Sponsor: Father, James DeBoer

• Kayla Keany, student at Regis College

Sponsor: Grandfather, Michael Keany

• Brooke Marcotte, student at Maine College of Art & Design

Sponsor: Father, William Marcotte

Alternate Scholarship Winners

$750/One Year Scholarships

• Sarah Bennett, student at University of Hartford

Sponsor: Father, David Bennett

• Cole Ricciarelli, student at Bryant College

Sponsor: Father, Mark Ricciarelli