The Gerry No. 5 Veteran Fireman’s Association held its annual Scholarship Reception on Aug. 6, when 15 high-school seniors were honored with various scholarships. Each scholarship is in memory of Gerry members, and they are funded through numerous fundraising efforts.
“If there was ever any doubt that any of the recipients were deserving of these awards, the applications documenting their efforts to succeed (grades, extracurricular activities, community service, and work experience) will make your head spin,” Gerry 5 VFA Secretary Kathy Tankersley Bernier said in a statement. “Each year the Gerry Scholarship Committee has the daunting task of reviewing the numerous applications and narrowing it down to these lucky but hardworking students.”
The Gerry 5 has members from all over the country, and as a result, some of the recipients are from other states, including Ciara Graves, a resident of Virginia, whose father and grandfather are longtime members of the Gerry 5.
Many of the recipients have a wide variety of career interests including STEM studies, sports medicine, and becoming a business owner right in town.
“Congratulations to all of the recipients. We wish them all exciting and successful college years and their future endeavors,” Bernier said in the statement.
The Gerry No. 5 Scholarship Committee is composed of Joan Champlin, Tom Voyer, Norm Sherwood, and Peter Cuffe.
The following students are the recipients of the Gerry 5 VFA 2023 scholarships:
Carter Laramie – John Banks Scholarship, Wiliam Finnegan – Frank M Camarda Vocational Memorial Scholarship, Connor Cronin – Frank M Camarda Athletic Memorial Scholarship, Caroline Brennan – Lorraine E Camarda Family Trust Scholarship, Christopher Locke – Ronald Champlin Memorial Scholarship, Ciara Espaillat – Edgar Snow Doliber Memorial Scholarship, Samuel Annese – Thomas Hartnett Scholarship, Lucas Homan – Joseph Homan Scholarship, Ciara Graves – John S. “Jack” Humphrey Scholarship Fund, Katherine Bickell – Jody E. LaLonde Memorial Scholarship, Nicholas Granata – Thomas Roche Scholarship, Isabelle Harvey – Robert D. Ross Memorial Scholarship, Olivia Hoover – Richard Tutt Scholarship, Alba Mehu-Tormo – Howard “Wardie” Williams Memorial Scholarship, and Ian Maude – John Stuart “Stu” Curtis Memorial Scholarship.