2^nd Class of ’71 Scholarship Awarded to GHS Senior Gabe Zullo –
Inspiring and Bittersweet

On May 29, the second annual “Class of 1971 Scholarship for a Deserving Senior” was awarded to Gabriel Joseph Zullo—a warm and hardworking 17-year-old who succumbed to Ewing’s sarcoma on the same day as the awards ceremony. Gabe’s mother was on hand to accept the award, despite the tragic loss of her son earlier that day.

“He was truly a one-in-a-million young man,” said Bill Travis, who, along with Hilary Moxey, presented the $1,000 check. According to his family, Gabe battled his cancer for more than four years. “He never let his cancer define him, instead focusing on the joys in life, such as family, friends, and school.”

When the Guilderland counselors recommended Gabe for the 1971 scholarship, our committee had high hopes he’d be able to start college in the fall. He had planned to major in computer science and gaming.

On the school website, Superintendent Marie Wiles said that Gabe “beamed with positivity, brightening up any room he was in with his friendly smile. Many students were fortunate to call Gabe their friend. He made a tremendous impact on the Guilderland school community, inspiring all with his capacity to confront adversity with courage and grace.”

Gabe’s interests included technology, singing, and helping others. He was a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout, a member of the Vocal Thunder singing group, and an enthusiastic member of the high school Robotics Team. “Gabriel had a strong faith which took him from altar boy to reader at the children’s Mass to adult acolyte at St. Vincent de Paul Church," his family said.

Read the full obituary published in the Altamont Enterprise.

 

A Healthy Fund Will Allow Ongoing Scholarships

Thanks to the health of our scholarship fund, we have increased the annual award to $1,000, as noted below. (Last year, the award was $500.) We now hope to continue the scholarship indefinitely. Each year the Guilderland High School counseling department is responsible for choosing the winner, based on the following principles:

• Must be a senior in good standing who has a financial need and did not receive any other monetary awards during their senior year.
• The selected student may attend a trade school, 2- or 4-year college or university; enter an apprenticeship; or join the military.

Please Continue to Donate!

Click the “Donate” button on the home page to make your contribution. All amounts welcome!  

A special thanks to those who have set up regular monthly donations. The generosity of our class is truly heart-warming.

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Class of 1971 Scholarship Amount Increased to $1,000
for Deserving GCHS Senior 

Because of your generosity, we have the funds to increase the GCHS Class of 1971 Scholarship Program to $1,000.00 per year for 2024-2028. The program is set up so the GCHS counseling department chooses each annual winner based on the following principles:

• Must go to a senior in good standing who has a financial need and did not receive any other monetary awards during their senior year.
• The selected student may attend a trade school, 2- or 4-year college or university; enter an apprenticeship; or join the military.  

Please Keep Our Scholarship Going! 

The ability to continue the scholarship hinges on your donations. Whether you donate each year or on a regular monthly schedule (as some of you are doing) we count on your funds. We'd love to keep this scholarship going beyond the five years we'd originally planned. We are so fortunate to have attended a great school like Guilderland.

Click the “Donate” button on the home page to make your contribution. All amounts welcome! Thanks so much for helping future GCHS graduates. 

2023 Scholarship Awarded May 31 to Joseph Ciccarelli
Now a Freshman at Merrimack College

Hilary Moxey and Bill Travis were on hand to congratulate Joseph Ciccarelli when he received $500 from the GCHS Class of 1971 on May 31, 2023. “We are proud to have him as the initial winner and we enjoyed meeting him and his family after the awards ceremony,” Bill said.Starting this fall, Joe is attending Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, as a finance major.

According to Candace Galarneau,GCHS school counselor,  “Joe is a friendly, kind, and social young man with a great sense of humor!  He works part time at a local restaurant, volunteers in the community, and is a member of our Italian Club, National Honor Society, and Investment Club. He also plays baseball.” 

Below you can see the thank-you note Joe sent our class. (How many young people do that?)

Scholarship from Class of 1971 Fills Special Need

As noted by the GCHS counselors, the scholarship our class created fills a special need. Sometimes no specific award exists for a student who deserves special recognition. Our scholarship is flexible and applies to students who do not qualify for other monetary awards. See the counselors' letter below. 

Bill Travis, scholarship winner Joe Ciccarelli, and Hilary Moxey at the 2023 GCHS Senior Awards Night.