Vecellio Family Foundation Has Provided $2.3 Million For 270 Students Since 1973
It’s not just a song lyric. Children really are the future and the Vecellio Family Foundation is helping shape the future by investing in the education of tomorrow’s promising leaders.
With career interests in journalism, medical science and more, 10 college freshman are getting a big boost toward meeting their goals through $100,000 worth of scholarships awarded by the Foundation in 2008.
Recipients include two Vecellio Group employee dependents: Mercedes Machado, daughter of Jose Machado, General Manager of South Florida Materials Corp (part of the Vecenergy division); and Natasha Rosales, whose father, Jose Rosales, is a Superintendent with Ranger Construction — South.
Mercedes Machado is attending the University of Florida, where she is double majoring in journalism and psychology. Her goals include writing sports for a local publication, becoming a psychologist and eventually publishing her own magazine. She graduated from J. P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Fla., where she co-captained the girls’ basketball team and wrote sports for the school paper.
Natasha Rosales also attends UF, where she is majoring in pre-medicine. She was senior class president, volleyball team captain, and a student reporter for Broward Teen News while attending MacArthur High School in Hollywood, Fla.
Mercedes and Natasha are both recipients of a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship, named to honor V&G’s late co-founder.
Eight additional scholarships were awarded through the Foundation’s West Virginia programs, established to give back to the communities where Vecellio & Grogan got its start.
Lynsi Boyd, representing Shady Spring High School, was selected for a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship. Lynsi is attending Concord University.
Liberty High School graduate Dominick Cangemi also received a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship. He is attending West Virginia University.
Three students at Woodrow Wilson High School received scholarships honoring Leo Vecellio, Sr., Rick Vecellio (late brother of Leo Vecellio, Jr.) and Al Janutolo (former long-time V&G employee). The recipients are Emily Butcher, attending The College of Wooster, and Rachel Fedders and Michael Lynch, both students at Wake Forest University.
Another scholarship honoring Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., went to Independence High School graduate Morgan Bryant, who is attending Marshall University.
A Dr. Dante Castrodale Memorial Scholarship, named for Leo A. Vecellio, Sr.’s brother-in-law, was awarded to Alexis Montgomery, a Wake Forest University student.
The 2008 Rick Vecellio Memorial Conservation Scholarship/Youth Conservation Award went to Matthew Thompson, attending Glenville State College.
The annual scholarship program was started in 1973. To date, the Vecellio Family Foundation has awarded more than $2.3 million in scholarships to 270 students, along with supporting numerous other educational, industry and charity organizations.
Scholarship recipients are chosen by an independent review board — not by VFF or the Group — based on SAT/ACT scores, school transcripts and other indicators of potential future success.