Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Community Foundation of Oyster Bay awarded its George and Abby O’Neill Community Service Scholarship to two Oyster Bay High School graduating seniors this year after what foundation leaders described as an exceptionally competitive selection process.
For only the second time since the scholarship was established three years ago, the foundation expanded the award beyond its usual single recipient, granting $5,000 scholarships to valedictorian Mia Bencal and Giovanna Sherlock.
The scholarship recognizes graduating seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, community service and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
“This year we decided to give it to two different candidates, which was really exciting,” said Community Foundation President Julia Vaughn. “Both were young women who are graduating seniors who demonstrated substantial academic success, but also while putting a lot of effort into community service.”
Students applying for the scholarship must maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average and submit an essay describing their community service, along with a resume highlighting their accomplishments and volunteer work.
Bencal’s application highlighted extensive volunteer work at St. Francis Hospital, where she gained experience that reinforced her plans to pursue a career in medicine. Vaughn said Bencal’s essay reflected both her commitment to service and her long term career goals.
Sherlock’s application focused on her volunteer work as a religious education teacher at St. Dominic’s Church and her aspirations for a career in law and public service.
Community Foundation Treasurer John Bonifacio reiterated that selecting a winner proved unusually difficult because both applicants excelled in different ways.
The scholarship is funded through the Community Foundation’s general fundraising efforts rather than a dedicated endowment. Bonifacio said the award aligns closely with the organization’s broader mission of supporting residents and strengthening ties with the Oyster Bay community.
“We basically came up with it because we wanted to build a relationship with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District,” Bonifacio said. “What better way could we do that than by giving a scholarship to a student who exhibits community service, a love of Oyster Bay, and obviously has the grades.”
Named in honor of Community Foundation co-founders George and Abby O’Neill, the scholarship reflects the couple’s longstanding commitment to education and community service. Although the foundation plans to return to selecting a single recipient in future years, Vaughn said awarding two scholarships this year reflected the strength of the applicant pool.
The scholarships were presented during Oyster Bay High School’s annual Senior Awards Night on May 21.
“I want to express my immense gratitude for the very generous scholarship I received from the Oyster Bay Community Foundation at my senior awards night,” Bencal wrote in an email to the foundation on the Fourth of July. “As a Girl Scout, I appreciate how the foundation has given back to the Oyster Bay community, as well as the students through the scholarship program.”
For more information on the Community Foundation and how to support them, visit OysterBayCF.org.
