The Black Dirt Scholarship Fund awards four scholarships annually, an initiative that has grown over the years in amount and scope. The Fund offers a $1,500 scholarship to each of four applicants. Applicants are evaluated on their character and level of dedication to the service of others through community volunteer service and/or community work experience. The Pine Island Chamber of Commerce sponsors these scholarships, which are funded with a portion of the proceeds from the Chamber’s Black Dirt Feast and Pumpkinfest events.
Pine Island Chamber of Commerce
Black Dirt Scholarship Winners
Our 2024 Award Winners
Our thanks to Sondra Hall for providing photos and bios.
Samantha Brady
Samantha will be attending SUNY Oswego where she will be studying Business. Like some of her fellow scholarship winners Samantha has volunteered over 100 hours of community service. With the WVHS Student Senate, she participated in food and clothing drives, and ran two cancer awareness basketball games last year. Frequently helping at blood drives, she ran the entire blood drive this fall and worked extra hard recruiting 60 students to donate blood. She was a Class of 2024 Officer, running fundraisers for prom and other class events.
She was President of WVHS Homecoming Committee, helping to run all
festivities including parade set up, float building, and setting up the pep rally. She has coached for the Warwick Youth Track club and helped at track meets and races. Samantha was the Mid Distance Captain of the Varsity Indoor Track and Field team when they won the Division Championship. She was a member of the group Fiddle Frenzy since the 5th grade, playing the violin with the group for community events as well as helping teach the younger children songs. As member of the WVHS Symphony Orchestra she became first chair.
And finally, she was a member and Vice-President of the WVHS Treble Choir. In her essay she wrote, “I would define a successful individual as someone who contributes positively to society, is open to learning, capable of adapting to change, works hard, and also maintains a healthy balance of work and family life. I try to keep these qualities in mind while thinking about my future and what I’d like it to look like. I try to stay as organized as possible and line up my priorities.”
Olivia Holland
Olivia will be attending Georgetown University to pursue a course of study in history. Olivia had been an Odyssey of the Mind competitor since the 3rd grade. A Two Time World Champion, Two Time Silver Medalist at World Finals, Six Time World Finalist, and International Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award Winner.
In 11th grade she volunteered to be the Head Coach of the Middle School team who succeeded as State Champions. She was the co-founder and president of the High School Positive Psychology Club that focused on the study of positive psychology/sociology and found ways to introduce it to the student population, leading 20+ members bi-weekly. She was the first female student sent from WVHS to represent the American Legion State Auxiliary at the State-wide Leadership Convention. As a Drama Club member since the 8th grade, she volunteered as Park Avenue Elementary’s Student Director and Choreographer.
She was a member of the French Club, Chamber Orchestra, Meistersingers (secretary), Student Government, National Honor Society, the Model United Nations (VP), a Wildcat Ambassador, and tutored students in geometry, algebra, history, English and French. She co-organized a Ukraine UNISEF Fundraiser and a WWF Prevent Wildfires Fundraiser. In her essay she wrote “Success, as far as I am concerned, is finding the things that make you want to get up each and every morning, and implementing those things, regardless of how insignificant they may seem, to help better the world around you.”
Lena Jodry
Lena will be attending Fordham University to study Political Science and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies on a pre-law track. Lena has recognized the importance of participating in our community and has served as a representative on New York State Senator James Skoufis’s Youth Advisory Council, as a WVHS representative on the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the Renovation of a Local Park with the Village of Warwick. She was secretary of the Warwick Valley High School’s Youth in Government Program, and event chair of the Young Democrats of Orange County.
She was a Girl Scout with Troop #206 since kindergarten. She was vice-president of the WVHS Drama Club and helped with the WVMS Drama Club and assisted younger students with the Warwick Reformed Church Theater Company. She was a member of the WVHS Treble Choir and Meistersingers participating in local Holiday Caroling. She was active in the WVHS Magazine, The Survey and progressed from a staff writer, to managing editor, to editor-in-chief. And as Co-founder and leader of Free Peer Tutoring Organization, she organized and ran free-of-charge tutoring during COVID for K-8 students.
In her essay Lena wrote that “I want to devote the rest of my life to helping people whose identities fall under a misrepresented minority. I saw just how unfair the world around me was, and how different individuals who do not fit the ‘standard’ are not provided the same opportunities as those who do. I saw just how disproportionate the justice system is for disabled women, and I want to change this. I want to become an attorney with a focus on disability and women’s rights. I never want people to feel as if they do not deserve the same adequate representation as those who identify within the majority, because they do. I want to be a positive force in other people’s lives.”
Anastasiya Kuchynska
Anastasiya will be attending CUNY Hunter College to study biology on a pre-med track. Her background as a community volunteer includes math tutor, Junior Ambulance Corps, and as a dedicated Horse Groomer and Assistant for Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center.
Anastasiya was a member of the National Honor Society, Varsity Swim Team, Chamber Orchestra and Mixed Chorus. She has worked as a Water Safety Instructor and Senior Lifeguard. Some of her awards include the Seal of Civics Readiness, The Army Athlete Award, RPI Medal, HOBY WLC Ambassador and the Tri-literacy Seal for English, Spanish, and Ukrainian. Anastasiya also enjoys horseback riding and dancing Traditional Ukrainian,Jazz, Ballroom, Ballet, and Lyrical. In her essay she wrote, “A person must also learn to be accepting of learning from others and accepting other viewpoints in order to grow in their knowledge. A successful person strives to be the best version of themselves as they can be, therefore, listening to other’s opinions and taking them in and gaining a new point of view will allow you to become more well-developed and thus successful in collaborating with others.”
She is a recipient of numerous local, state, and federal youth achievement and recognition awards for her active role in volunteering to assist the migrant farmers who have, for generations, harvested the food that we enjoy each year. Due to the fact that her mom came from Mexico, and that most of the people she works with are immigrants, she wants to become an immigration lawyer. It’s a field that has always interested her. She knows the struggles that migrant families face; growing up with them has only made her stronger.
Our 2023 Award Winners
Our thanks to Sondra Hall for providing photos and bios.
Vanessa Ortiz Aguilar
Vanessa will be attending SUNY Oneonta to pursue a course of study in Political Science. Since the winter of 2021, she has been working as a Community Health Worker for the Warwick Area Farmworker Organization. going out to the camps to the local farmworker and farmworker families, providing them information about many topics that affect us all. Some topics include climate change, safety on the farm, mental health, and recently Prevention of Diabetes. She enjoys helping out the people in her community, knowing that she can connect with their circumstances. Vanessa has also volunteered at the Dulce Summer camp, Hot Meals Program, YOLOS (Young Outstanding Latina Organization), Christmas Store at WAFO, experiences that she will never forget.
She is a recipient of numerous local, state, and federal youth achievement and recognition awards for her active role in volunteering to assist the migrant farmers who have, for generations, harvested the food that we enjoy each year. Due to the fact that her mom came from Mexico, and that most of the people she works with are immigrants, she wants to become an immigration lawyer. It’s a field that has always interested her. She knows the struggles that migrant families face; growing up with them has only made her stronger.
Ella Sussner
Ella will be attending Binghamton University to become a Biomedical Engineer on her way to becoming an orthopedic surgeon. She is a talented scholar athlete who speaks three languages (English, Hungarian, and French) with an outstanding pedigree in community service: Captain of the Warwick EMS Junior Corps; President of the Warwick Sports Medicine Club; Mu Alpha Theta National Honor Society; and WVHS Wind Ensemble drum major. She tutored middle school students of all abilities in many subjects after school, and she was the manager of the Warwick Boys Varsity Swim Team, where she set up and ran swim meets, assisted with paperwork and stats, and helped to run practices and work on technique. During her time as Captain of the Warwick EMS Junior Corps, she assisted with planning meetings, keeping track of members, and helping with training and drills; meanwhile, she participated in being on call and assisting EMTs in patient care from the scene of the accident, the ambulance, and to the hospital.
As a child she endured a bout with osteochondritis dissecans, a complicated bone disorder, which required an extensive recovery period. She has had the opportunity to even further explore orthopedics, by shadowing Dr. Shubin Stein and attend a Perry Initiative event, which allows high school girls to do an all-day lab with orthopedic skills, like internal fixations, casting, and more while being guided by residents and attendings.
Adella Kurosz
Adella will be attending SUNY New Paltz where she will pursue a degree in Art Education. As senior year co-captain of the Warwick Valley Swim and Dive Team provided the experience and training she needed as the Homestead Village lifeguard. During 2019 she participated in the Summer Youth Leadership Academy, which gave her the opportunity to meet local elected leaders while developing personal leadership skills.
But she also contributed to her community as an artist and musician. She was the treasurer and president of the Warwick Valley Art Club (2019–2023); she also participated in the 2021 Warwick Valley Pride Art show, the Albert Wisner Public Library Art Show in 2021, The Lower Hudson Region Digital Media Show in 2022, and the Arts Build Confidence Showcase in 2023. Since 2022 Adella has been an active participant in the Doc Fry Music Sessions, a collaborative community concert series with a focus on teens. It revitalized a dormant music scene for teenagers and includes an art gallery that encourages growing artists. Adella’s creations in art range from a clay doll constructed over wire to pumpkins carved in the style of Beetlejuice.
Our 2022 Award Winners
Our thanks to Sondra Hall for providing photos and bios.
Amelia Brown
Amelia will be attending Princeton University where she will pursue a course of study in neuroscience. She is a member of National Honor Society and served as the Student Government Treasurer, 2018-2022. She has worked as an unpaid intern at Hackensack University Medical Center and as a lifeguard at American Pools and WVHS where she was CPR/AED Certified. She has been awarded the Sojourner Truth Award for Creative Arts (2021), the University of Rochester Frederick B Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award (2021), the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (2021), the Director’s Award for Orchestra (2021), and the Orlowski Science Research Scholarship Junior Award (2021). Amelia is an acclaimed violinist. She is the Concertmaster and Co-founder of the Hudson Valley Ebony Strings and a self-employed violin teacher offering private lessons to students. In her essay she revealed that “When I give to the community, whether that is through playing my violin at the library or volunteering at a local soup kitchen, I am giving people the gift of comfort and happiness. When someone receives that gift, they are, in return, giving me a renewed sense of satisfaction and contentment with life.”
Erin Eicher
Erin will be attending the School of Visual Arts, where she plans to achieve a BFA in Cartooning. She took a three-week college program during July of 2021, a live figure drawing class, a class about traditional inking, and a class about comic making. By the end of the three weeks she had created and printed an eight-page graphic novel, available to read on her website, erineicher.com. As a senior project she created a 12-page graphic novel that she self-published in June 2022. Erin is a member of the National Honor Society and has tutored students after school and at lunch. She also is a member of The Meister Singers and Treble Choir, which caroled around the Village of Warwick during the winter, performed as a pre-show to the Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, and with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the world’s oldest a cappella group. Erin has received the RIT Innovation and Creativity Award, the PTA Reflections Award-States Level, and the Lower Hudson Region Media Arts Teachers Association President’s Award. In her essay, Erin wrote “Following graduation from the School of Visual Arts, my career goal is to write and illustrate graphic novels that benefit my community. I want to make a change in young kids’ lives parallel to how my favorite author/illustrators have helped me grow as a person, as well as an artist. I aspire to be the-incentive of young budding artists, just as my favorite authors have for me. Additionally, I believe that successful people recognize that the unique similarities and differences in community members benefit the entire community, and I intend for my artwork to be inclusive.”
Sophia de Jong
Sophia will be pursuing a course of study in physical therapy at SUNY Oneonta. As an honor roll student at S.S. Seward High School, Sophia was active in a wide variety of programs. She was a contender for the HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth) New York East Leadership program, President’s Award recipient, High School and Middle School Student Council. Meanwhile she helped to organize dinners, thrift shop, events at Sugar Loaf Church; she recorded basketball games and the Game Book at school sports events; she helped set up and cleaned up after school dances, Tricky tray events, and school games; and she helped teachers in class. In her essay, Sophia wrote “To me, success is all determined by character. Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Steven Spielberg as well as countless others should be recognized for their ability to realize that they were more than the life they were given. That the bad days did not define them. Their passion and character drove them to take the extra steps in life and tum themselves and their passions into something greater. Each of these individuals had a vision and stopped at nothing to make that dream come true. I believe that even if they failed at creating something they still tried which is beyond admirable. This is one of the biggest aspects of a successful individual. This is the best lesson to take away from individuals like them as they are proof of just what success is.”
2021 Award Winners
Luke Blumenberg
Luke will be attending Binghamton University where he plans to study biology in a pre-med program. He is a member of National Honor Society and served as an after-school tutor for other students. He achieved several top honors at S.S. Seward Institute, including the Sportsmanship Award, the President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, the Triple C Award (Commitment, Courage, Character), the Spartan of Excellence Award for Academic Achievement, and the National Outdoor Achievement Award. Luke is an Eagle Scout and learned the importance and value of community service during his time in scouting. This commitment played a critical role in his decision to teach kids how to play basketball during his time at CYO programs, devoting time to the Sugar Loaf Methodist Church Roast Beef Dinner programs, and his eventual Eagle Scout Project decision to build a Gaga Ball Pit for youth summer recreation at the Warwick Town Park in Pine Island.
Katherine Smith
Katherine will be attending the University of Notre Dame, studying neuroscience and behavior, in order to eventually learn more about the brain and neurological diseases. She believes that there is an abundance of neurological disorders and diseases that have much less recognition by researchers and medical professionals when it comes to treatment. Katherine was the captain of the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams; a two-time track NY State Champion; a two-time track All-American; and an MVP in both indoor and outdoor track teams. Meanwhile, she sustained a summa cum laude academic achievement during all four years of high school. She is a leader both inside and outside of the classroom, according to many of her teachers. Katherine was active in the sports medicine club and was a Junior EMS Ambulance Corps member, where she served for four years. As a member of the National Honor Society, she also volunteered to tutor other students. Katherine will be graduating with a Biliteracy Seal from New York State for Spanish.
Paul Gagliano
Paul will be pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Manhattan School of Music. He has been active in Wire Choir, CTEC Awards night, playing for the local camp for children of migrant workers, and community performances at the Albert Wisner Library. Paul has also participated in Fiddle Frenzy, a program that encourages musicians to volunteer their time for the community by playing for local nursing homes, senior centers, supermarkets, malls and festivals. He has also served as Vice President of the acclaimed Meistersingers during his senior year, and is he is also an accomplished violinist. He has been accepted into All-County, and Area All- State for both violin and voice for three years. Paul is a member of the National Honor Society, the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) during 2020, and is a Pine Island Chamber Youth Achievement Award recipient. He has also earned High Honor Role status for the last four years.
2020 Award Winners
Natalie Daigle
Natalie will be attending Vassar College where she plans to study biology and will also play on the women’s lacrosse team. She intends to pursue a research based biological science career and eventually enter the medical field. Natalie is highly involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. She is a member of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta (the Math honors Society), Model UN, and Sports Medicine Club. She served as a student liaison for the Board of Education, is on the Varsity Lacrosse team and is currently the team captain where she has helped to mentor her younger teammates and always displays a positive attitude. She was selected as a Warwick Valley Historical Society student member and serves as a member of their board and is also highly involved in community service. She initiated the Boxes for Soldiers of the Hudson Valley Donation Drive in the Warwick High School last year. She also co-organized the Recycle for Sight Program district, and community-wide.
Vidar Hageman
Vidar will be attending the University of Virginia where he plans to study philosophy. Vidar stands up and speaks out for what he believes in but is also willing to learn from what he doesn’t know or necessarily agree with. He doesn’t shy away from leadership opportunities as is evidenced in his position as Senior Class President and Varsity Basketball Captain. Time and time again, Vidar has shown his dedication to helping inspire change in his community. Whether he is giving his time to support a candidate he believes in, preparing a garden for the Warwick Garden Tour for an elderly neighbor, assisting at our local farm market, singing with the choir at all of the community service gigs and tree lightings around Warwick, Pine Island, and Greenwood Lake, volunteering as a member of the Pine Island Fire Department, or writing a well-researched letter to the editor expressing his concerns about using artificial turf, Vidar does it with a smile, confidence and with heart.
Varin Sawh
Varin will be attending Macaulay Honors College at CUNY where he plans to study mechanical engineering. Varin is involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. He is Warwick chapter President of Mu Alpha Theta, where he has contributed by assisting math teachers with extra help, provided individualized peer tutoring, and assisted with various fund raisers, he helps to conduct the bi-weekly meetings, comes up with community service projects and assists with selecting new members. Varin is Captain of OCAL (Orange County Academic League), a member of Model UN, National Honor Society, Math Team, Debate Club, Spanish Club, and Aerospace Engineering Club. He has also volunteered with Warwick Valley Community Kitchen, the Black Dirt Feast and at the Albert Wisner Public Library.
