Pine Island Chamber Reveals 2024 Black Dirt Scholarship Winners

By Peter Lyons Hall

The Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce this year’s Black Dirt Scholarship winners. The Chamber is awarding four scholarships of $1500 each to students who demonstrate a commitment to and involvement in community volunteer service or community work experience. Applicants are evaluated on their character and level of dedication to the service of others. This year’s winners are: 

Olivia will be attending Georgetown University to pursue a course of study in history. Olivia had been an Odyssey of the Mind competitor since the 3rd grade. A Two Time World Champion, Two Time Silver Medalist at World Finals, Six Time World Finalist, and International Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award Winner. In 11th grade she volunteered to be the Head Coach of the Middle School team who succeeded as State Champions. She was the co-founder and president of the High School Positive Psychology Club that focused on the study of positive psychology/sociology and found ways to introduce it to the student population, leading 20+ members bi-weekly. She was the first female student sent from WVHS to represent the American Legion State Auxiliary at the State-wide Leadership Convention. As a Drama Club member since the 8th grade, she volunteered as Park Avenue Elementary’s Student Director and Choreographer. She was a member of the French Club, Chamber Orchestra, Meistersingers (secretary), Student Government, National Honor Society, the Model United Nations (VP), a Wildcat Ambassador, and tutored students in geometry, algebra, history, English and French. She co-organized a Ukraine UNISEF Fundraiser and a WWF Prevent Wildfires Fundraiser. In her essay she wrote “Success, as far as I am concerned, is finding the things that make you want to get up each and every morning, and implementing those things, regardless of how insignificant they may seem, to help better the world around you.” 

Anastasiya will be attending CUNY Hunter College to study biology on a pre-med track. Her background as a community volunteer includes math tutor, Junior Ambulance Corps, and as a dedicated Horse Groomer and Assistant for Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center. Anastasiya was a member of the National Honor Society, Varsity Swim Team, Chamber Orchestra and Mixed Chorus. She has worked as a Water Safety Instructor and Senior Lifeguard. Some of her awards include the Seal of Civics Readiness, The Army Athlete Award, RPI Medal, HOBY WLC Ambassador and the Tri-literacy Seal for English, Spanish, and Ukrainian. Anastasiya also enjoys horseback riding and dancing Traditional Ukrainian, Jazz, Ballroom, Ballet, and Lyrical. In her essay she wrote, “A person must also learn to be accepting of learning from others and accepting other viewpoints in order to grow in their knowledge. A successful person strives to be the best version of themselves as they can be, therefore, listening to other’s opinions and taking them in and gaining a new point of view will allow you to become more well-developed and thus successful in collaborating with others.” 

 Samantha will be attending SUNY Oswego where she will be studying Business. Like some of her fellow scholarship winners Samantha has volunteered over 100 hours of community service. With the WVHS Student Senate, she participated in food and clothing drives, and ran two cancer awareness basketball games last year. Frequently helping at blood drives, she ran the entire blood drive this fall and worked extra hard recruiting 60 students to donate blood. She was a Class of 2024 Officer, running fundraisers for prom and other class events. She was President of WVHS Homecoming Committee, helping to run all festivities including parade set up, float building, and setting up the pep rally. She has coached for the Warwick Youth Track club and helped at track meets and races. Samantha was the Mid Distance Captain of the Varsity Indoor Track and Field team when they won the Division Championship. She was a member of the group Fiddle Frenzy since the 5th grade, playing the violin with the group for community events as well as helping teach the younger children songs. As a member of the WVHS Symphony Orchestra she became first chair. And finally, she was a member and Vice-President of the WVHS Treble Choir. In her essay she wrote, “I would define a successful individual as someone who contributes positively to society, is open to learning, capable of adapting to change, works hard, and also maintains a healthy balance of work and family life. I try to keep these qualities in mind while thinking about my future and what I’d like it to look like. I try to stay as organized as possible and line up my priorities.” 

Lena will be attending Fordham University to study Political Science and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies on a pre-law track. Lena has recognized the importance of participating in our community and has served as a representative on New York State Senator James Skoufis’s Youth Advisory Council, as a WVHS representative on the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the Renovation of a Local Park with the Village of Warwick. She was secretary of the Warwick Valley High School’s Youth in Government Program, and event chair of the Young Democrats of Orange County. She was a Girl Scout with Troop #206 since kindergarten. She was vice-president of the WVHS Drama Club and helped with the WVMS Drama Club and assisted younger students with the Warwick Reformed Church Theater Company. She was a member of the WVHS Treble Choir and Meistersingers participating in local Holiday Caroling. She was active in the WVHS Magazine, The Survey and progressed from a staff writer, to managing editor, to editor-in-chief. And as Co-founder and leader of Free Peer Tutoring Organization, she organized and ran free-of-charge tutoring during COVID for K-8 students. In her essay Lena wrote that “I want to devote the rest of my life to helping people whose identities fall under a misrepresented minority. I saw just how unfair the world around me was, and how different individuals who do not fit the ‘standard’ are not provided the same opportunities as those who do. I saw just how disproportionate the justice system is for disabled women, and I want to change this. I want to become an attorney with a focus on disability and women’s rights. I never want people to feel as if they do not deserve the same adequate representation as those who identify within the majority, because they do. I want to be a positive force in other people’s lives.” 

 The Pine Island Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us as we celebrate our scholarship winners at the Annual Black Dirt Feast on Tuesday August 6, 2024 For more information about the event and to purchase Tickets please visit https://www.pineislandny.com/black-dirt-feast-tickets/  Since its founding in 1961, the mission of the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce has been to promote prosperity in the business community, support and enhance the uniqueness of the region, and to enrich the lives of all residents through community spirit and cooperation. 

 Photo credits: Sondra Hall