Local students clean up scholarship competitions

Sewanhaka Memorial

Victoria Casso

Sewanhaka Memorial High School graduate Victoria Casso, of Elmont, was recently selected to receive The Race For Education’s Olivia M. Saylor Scholarship, formerly known as the Fleet Indian Scholarship.
Mr. Paul Saylor sponsored the scholarship in honor of his daughter, Olivia Saylor, a 21-year-old who died last January in a Charleston house fire. Olivia was involved in Fleet Indian’s racing career, as well as various Race For Education events supporting the Fleet Indian and ASHADO scholarships.
Casso, who played lacrosse at Sewanhaka and has worked for Dr. James Hunt, plans to attend the University of Kentucky, and major in equine science. Casso’s father, Anthony Casso, worked as an exercise rider for trainer Mark Henning.
The Race For Education also partners with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, New York, to offer the Starting Gate, a college-preparedness program for middle school students, and will partner with Anna House in sponsoring an after-school program for elementary school students. The organization’s combined commitment to scholarships and educational programs for the 2011-12 school year is $120,000.

Taylor Fillipi

Taylor Fillipi, a sophomore at Sewanhaka High School, was one of several local students recently awarded a college scholarship from An Artistic Discovery, a competition sponsored by Congressman Carolyn McCarthy. Fillipi was awarded a $3,000 Adelphi Art Scholarship for her piece, “Hey!”

Elmont Memorial

Kai Miller, an Elmont Memorial High School graduate, was recently announced one of 10 New York students to receive a $5,000 Verizon Foundation scholarship. Nationwide, 350 students receive the award. Miller plans to attend the University of Tampa and major in biology/pre-medicine.