EXETER — Julianna Borzell’s brother John lost his life in an accident in September 2011. Julianna honored him in May 2012 in the best way she knew how — by awarding a scholarship in his memory at Wyoming Area High School’s annual scholarship dinner.
“He always wanted to help others,” Julianna said. “That was just his personality. In this way, we can help others through his name.”
The John Anthony “Beno” Borzell Memorial Scholarship was one of many scholarships awarded to Wyoming Area Secondary Center students May 25 at the school’s annual scholarship and awards celebration. This year, $183,000 were awarded to 62 students to ease the cost of post-secondary studies.
Attendees congregated inside the secondary center’s cafeteria for the affair, which encouraged bonding between donors and their recipients. The socially-centric format is modeled after an event Wyoming Area Scholarship Chairperson Rosella Fedor attended while presenting a scholarship at Luzerne County Community College. Since founding the event in 2009, Fedor and other committee members have added 60 scholarships, using nothing more than word-of-mouth to reach donors.
“We do not solicit,” Fedor said. “It works because of all these people. They come to us. I think kids deserve these opportunities and there are donors willing to put forth this effort.”
In addition to awarding students scholarships, Wyoming Area Class of 2001 member Dr. Katie McHale offered advice as the night’s main speaker.
“I’m trying to tell them it’s OK to be from a small town, it’s OK to change your path and it’s OK to follow your destiny,” McHale said. “You can make your own path and come out on top.”
Julianna awarded her brother’s memorial scholarship to four student-athletes who declared majors in environmental sciences or a similar field. Each received $1,700 towards their college expenses (17 was John’s football and baseball number), as well as a lapel pin featuring the number surrounded by angel’s wings. As of this year, 21 students have benefited from the scholarship.
“I knew his legacy and I read his story and everything about it; I felt it when I read it,” said scholarship recipient Caitlin Butchko.
This fall, Butchko begins studying at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre to be a physician’s assistant. She played lacrosse and soccer in high school and plans to play lacrosse in college.
“I was inspired, motivated and all of his qualities I see in myself,” Butchko continued. “I figured he lives in me now.”
Julianna figures that, too. She calls the 21 students a “donor family.” Butchko and classmates Dylan Kostak, Nikolas Athmann and Tristan Sokach-Minnick are now a part of that family.
“I just thought that I’d be able to represent him as well as I possibly could,” Sokach-Minnick said about the scholarship’s namesake. “It’s a nice scholarship to represent.”
Requirements varied by award. The two recipients of West Pittston High School Alumni Association’s first contributions to Wyoming Area students were chosen by merit.
The now-closed school’s mascot was the ram, which WPHS alumna Ellen Quinn said also served as an acronym for “Right Attitude Means Success.” The organization had that mantra in mind when awarding their scholarships to Austin Alder and Kara Dooner.
Other commendations, like Wyoming Area Class of 2006’s $550 scholarship, were awarded on more unique terms.
“Since we’re the Class of 2006, we awarded our scholarship to the student ranked 26th in the class,” Wyoming Area alumna Cassandra Coleman-Cocoran said.
Kara Moscatelli, one of 57 other students recognized during the event, was not ranked 26th in the class; that honor went to Lindsey Feeney. However, Moscatelli said she applied to nearly 30 scholarships — she won the Jennifer M. Sidari, M.D. Memorial Scholarship.
“The story was just so inspirational and I felt like I just related a lot to how she was as a person and I just felt very inspired,” Moscatelli said. “It was definitely the number one scholarship I was hoping to get. I crossed my fingers and I got it.”
Moscatelli said the spirit of competition is felt throughout the student body as due dates loom for each scholarship.
“In every single class the week leading up to when the scholarships were due, every single student was, ‘What ones did you apply for? Did you apply for any?’”
This was the first year Wyoming Area Secondary Center Principal Dr. John Pollard attended the celebration.
“It’s a tremendous showing of the brilliance of some of our students and the giving nature of our community,” Pollard said. “We’re very fortunate to have this community support for our kids. I think it’s a good time for everybody to come back together.”
For those who agree with Pollard, Fedor and the scholarship committee added a save-the-date for May 24, 2018 at the end of this year’s program.
Members of Wyoming Area Class of 2018, prepare your essays.
