Sparkling Ice partnered with each scholarship winner to celebrate their authenticity and individuality. Watch the winners’ video submissions to learn more about their journey and how they plan to use their education to contribute their gifts to the world.
In 2024, this scholarship was established by the estate of Marion Munisteri. It is awarded to a student on the Brooklyn campus.
1. Mary Ellen Miscione Giasi Endowed Scholarship
In honor of her late father, this scholarship was established by Mary Ellen Miscione Giasi ’65 to honor her parents and perpetuate their message that formal and informal learning, family, hard work, faith in God and courage are the keys to a rich life. This scholarship is open to full-time undergraduate students enrolled on the Brooklyn campus.
Dolores Allen was a St. Joseph’s alumna who was a student from February until June of 1926, and who went on to become a French teacher in the public school system. Her gift has helped St. Joseph’s to establish the Thomas and Dolores Allen Endowed Scholarship, which will be awarded to a student who demonstrates the positive energy and spirit of dedication and determination that Thomas and Dolores had.
The scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the Social Sciences Department, who is a member of Footprints yearbook staff or the Social Services club and who demonstrates financial need.
2. Leopold and Theresa Miscione Endowed Scholarship
Mary Ellen Miscione Giasi established this scholarship in honor of her parents who taught her that the keys to a rich life were formal, informal and lifelong learning, hard work, family and faith. Her gift helps undergraduate students pursue careers in the physical sciences, technology and engineering – fields traditionally dominated by men – who may otherwise not be able to afford to attend St. Joseph’s University.
In honor of her mother, the late Patricia A. Dyon ’55, established this scholarship. This fund provides financial assistance to a female student on the Long Island campus who is majoring in biology.
In memory of her aunt, Geraldine Farrell Gibney ’65, this scholarship was created in 2016. The gift from her estate provides funding to support a full-time student on the Brooklyn campus who has unmet financial need and is an English major or minor. This scholarship can be applied to tuition and fees balances only.
3. Roseanne and Richard Pergolis Endowed Scholarship
In her estate, Norma Mallia provided for this scholarship to be awarded annually to an honors student attending the Brooklyn Campus. During her time at St. Joseph’s, Norma was involved in the Undergraduate Association, Loria and Delta Epsilon Sigma. Upon graduation, she went on to teach in the New York City public school system and later worked at High School Redirection.
The family of Mary DeBellis established this scholarship in her memory, with preference given to a female undergraduate who is enrolled full time at the Brooklyn Campus. This student must be the first in her/his family to attend college and demonstrate financial need as determined by the University’s Office of Financial Aid.
The Catherine Regan Fetherston Endowed Scholarship was established in honor of her sister, who had a developmental disability. This scholarship celebrates her nonjudgmental and loving nature and helps students who aspire to work with children who have special needs.
4. Rosemary Chapman Endowed Scholarship
Thomas and Rosemary Chapman were dedicated to their family, friends, their faith and the community. They loved gardening, traveling, entertaining and giving back through generous charitable contributions. This scholarship, established in their memory, is awarded to SJNY Brooklyn full time on-ground undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need.
A lifelong friend of St. Joseph’s University, Eileen Mulcahy donated a portion of her estate to establish this scholarship. A member of The Aquinas Society, Mulcahy remained committed to helping the University and its students. This scholarship is awarded to a full time on-ground student at the Brooklyn campus and is available to both male and female students.
Mary Butz ’69, a chemistry major, was a leader in her field of education and served on the University Board of Trustees. Her dedication to students and love of learning impacted the lives of many. This scholarship is for students on the Brooklyn campus and has a preference for those who are first generation college students.
5. Eunice P. Kilboy Graziano Endowed Scholarship
In 2023, Michael Graziano established this scholarship in memory of his mother. Eunice grew up in Brooklyn and attended our campus at a time when young women did not always have the opportunity to attend college. A History major, she was active in the Glee Club and would go on to a long career in education.
This scholarship benefits a full-time female student who is attending SJNY Brooklyn campus, preferably a sophomore. Recipient must be a student of Italian heritage and the first in their family to attend college, and demonstrate financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
Recipients will receive the award at their high school during a special awards ceremony in the presence of their peers, teachers and parents. They will also receive a $1,000 Sparkling Ice gift card for future use. Applicants will be evaluated on academic achievement and the creativity of their submission, which is intended to showcase what makes them unique and how they want to contribute their gifts through further education.
6. William T. Miller Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship, established by the estate of William T. Miller ’36, is given to an incoming or current matriculated student majoring in a humanities discipline (Arts; World Languages; Literatures and Cultures; History; Music; Philosophy; and Theatre). The scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement.
The Agnes Woods Gill Endowed Scholarship was created in memory of Mrs. Gill, a long-time St. Joseph’s University alumna who majored in history and education. She became a teacher in the New York City public schools and died in 2022. This scholarship is awarded to students on the Brooklyn Campus.
Sparkling Ice’s Flavorful Futures Scholarship Program celebrates students whose passion and creativity are evident in their submissions that showcase what makes them unique and how they plan to contribute their gifts through education. Five scholarships of $5,000 are awarded each year. Winners are selected by a panel of judges. Interested applicants can apply at www.sparklingice.com/flavorful-futures/.
7. Marion Munisteri Endowed Scholarship
The scholarship, established in 2022, honors the memory of SJU alumna Marion Munisteri who was passionate about helping others. It is awarded annually to a Brooklyn Campus student who has demonstrated academic ability and financial need.
This award, made possible by the generous estate of Margaret McDermott Roberts ’60, was established in her honor to help students who aspire to work with people with developmental disabilities, and is awarded to an adult gerontology primary nurse practitioner master’s degree student or an undergraduate child study major.
The late Bernadette Riepe ’43 was a math teacher and mother of five. Her estate provided this award that is awarded to a Brooklyn Campus student who has demonstrated high achievement. This is a full time scholarship for students in good academic standing, who are the first generation in their family to attend college. This scholarship is applied to tuition and fees balances. Preference will be given to a female student.
8. Sylvia Covino Endowed Scholarship
A Brooklyn native, Sylvia Covino was a member of the Science and Italian-American Clubs. In her will, she donated this scholarship that honors her memory by benefiting students with one or more physical disabilities.
The Jessica Ortiz Memorial Scholarship was established by her family in 2016 in honor of their late daughter, a longtime SJNY student. It benefits a full time SJNY student attending the Brooklyn campus who is an upper classman with the expressed intention of teaching history/social studies/government on a secondary level. The recipient must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need as determined by the University’s Office of Financial Aid.
This scholarship was established by alumna Catherine Regan Fetherston ’60 in memory of her sister, Marie, who had a developmental disability. It is intended to celebrate Marie’s non-judgmental and loving nature while helping those who seek careers in the field of disability care.
9. Stephen Somers ’82 Endowed Scholarship
A 1982 graduate of Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary in Elmhurst, Queens, Somers grew up working hard while his parents struggled to provide for their family. His determination to excel helped him earn academic scholarships and become the first in his family to attend college.
After graduating from the Brooklyn campus, Somers pursued a career in the flavor and fragrance industry. He juggled work and his studies to achieve his bachelor’s degree in chemistry while growing within the company he worked for. He soon began purchasing companies and ultimately established Vigon International Inc., a fragrance and flavor manufacturer in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Somers is a loyal supporter of Gordon College and continues to demonstrate his commitment to helping others through his generous philanthropy. His gift creates two new endowed scholarships for students from Cathedral Prep who enter as freshman on the Brooklyn campus and who are science majors in honor of his beloved chemistry professor, S. Mary Maier.