Thanks to the generosity of many local business sponsors, 14 students at the BOCES Seaway Career & Technical Education Center have received $200 Potsdam Rotary business scholarship awards, despite the cancellation of a major Rotary fundraising event.
The club's annual scholarship gala was again cancelled, this spring, due to COVID-19 guidance. However, the event's local business sponsors still made donations toward the scholarships.
Samantha Major of Brasher Falls Central School, a student in the Software Development and Business Design Program, also was selected as Potsdam Rotary Student of the Year from among all of the Potsdam Rotary BOCES Student of the Month recipients for the 2021-2022 academic year. Major received a $500 scholarship award from Rotary, funded by proceeds from the Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament.
The 14 Potsdam Rotary business scholarships were made possible by donations from the businesses listed with the students below.
Automotive Technologies: Dakota Allen of Massena Central School (TJ Toyota, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Automotive Technologies: Leon Forbes of Potsdam Central School (Foster’s Collision, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Building Trades: Joshua Hall of Colton-Pierrepont Central School (Waddington True Value Hardware & Building Supply, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Cosmetology: Kitanna Newton of Potsdam Central School (Lifestyles Salon by Sara Sharlow, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
CREATE: Akishia Crowe of Norwood-Norfolk Central School (Midwife Sunday, Sunday Smith, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Criminal Justice: Collin Bromley of Norwood-Norfolk Central School (SUNY Potsdam Law Enforcement Training Institute, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Culinary Arts: Rachel Major of Brasher Falls Central School (Yum Yum's Chilly Delight, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Education & Human Services: Pandora Gagliano of Potsdam Central School (North Country Savings Bank, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Health Careers: Brooke White of Massena Central School (Harris Medical, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
HVAC/R: Garrett Villnave of Norwood-Norfolk Central School (Northern Mechanicals, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Metalworking: Kaleb Hamilton of Colton-Pierrepont Central School (Northern Mechanicals, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
New Visions-Medical Careers: Jessica Horner of Brasher Falls Central School (Core Access Therapies, Dr. William Pena, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Natural Resource Management: Nicholas Tebo of Norwood-Norfolk Central School (Thew Associates, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
Software Development & Business Design: Raymond Miller Jr of Potsdam Central School (Community Bank, Exclusive Sponsor $200)
The Rotary Club of Potsdam Rotary Club was founded more than 90 years ago on the foundation of community service by business leaders in many professions. The club presents its monthly Rev. William and Crystal Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award to Seaway Tech students selected from 15 programs.
The Potsdam Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon at Yum Yum's Chilly Delight in Potsdam as well as online.
Samantha Major of Brasher Falls Central School, a student in the Software Development and Business Design Program at the BOCES Seaway Career & Technical Education Center, was selected as the Potsdam Rotary Student of the Year from among all of the Potsdam Rotary BOCES Student of the Month recipients for the 2021-2022 academic year. Major received a $500 scholarship award from Rotary, funded by proceeds from the Potsdam Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament. Left to right: Rotarian Beck Tessier, Major, and Rotary President Taylor Robertson with son Sam.
Fourteen BOCES Seaway Career & Technical Education Center students received $200 Potsdam Rotary business scholarship awards. Front Row (l-r): Rotarian Beck Tessier, Rotary President Taylor Robertson with son Sam, Pandora Gagliano (EHS, Potsdam); Rachel Major (Culinary Arts, Brasher Falls); Samantha Major-Rotary Student of the Year (Software, Brasher Falls); Brooke White (Health Careers, Massena); Kitanna Newton (Cosmetology, Potsdam); and Nicholas Tebo (Natural Resource Management, Norwood-Norfolk). Back row (l-r): Collin Bromley (Criminal Justice, Norwood-Norfolk); Jessica Horner (New Visions-Medical Careers, Brasher Falls); Raymond Miller (Software, Potsdam); Leon Forbes (Auto Tech, Potsdam); Kaleb Hamilton (Metalworking, Colton-Pierrepont); Dakota Allen (Auto Tech, Massena); Garrett Villnave (HVAC, Norwood-Norfolk); Joshua Hall (Building Trades, Colton-Pierrepont). Not present for photo: Akishia Crowe (CREATE, Norwood-Norfolk).