Lynbrook’s Sons of Italy awards scholarship

The lodge’s president, John Quinn, left, and First Vice President Gerardo Filippone, right, congratulated student Justin Boniello on being presented with his merit scholarship.

Courtesy Sons of Italy

Scholarship winner Justin Boniello, right, was congratulated by his family after the ceremony. His mother, Michelle, is at left, his father, Claude, next to Justin, and his little brother, Joseph.

Mary Malloy/Herald

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The Order Sons of Italy in America’s Per Sempre Lodge 2344 in Lynbrook presented their choice for this year’s winner of the lodge’s annual merit college scholarship award at their June monthly meeting held on June 30.

The winner of the merit scholarship award was Justin Boniello, 17, a graduate of Holy Cross High School in Flushing, Queens. Justin lives in Bayside, and will be attending Hofstra University as a communications major in the fall. He would like to become a sports announcer.

“Receiving this scholarship from the Sons of Italy Per Sempre Lodge will certainly help me to achieve an excellent college education,” said Justin. “I will never forget this, and I can’t thank the Sons of Italy enough for awarding me for my hard work and dedication.”

The Order Sons of Italy in America’s Per Sempre Lodge has been giving out scholarships to its members for 40 years for family members. The application has to be submitted to the lodge by a students family member. They look at academic scores and also see if the student is involved in extra school activities, and if do they volunteer outside the school. The school has to submit the student’s transcript with any supporting letters. The student also must write an essay on what it means to them to be Italian or from Italian decent.

At the meeting, Justin spoke in Italian and then in English. He thanked his family and the lodge.

This scholarship that Justin received was in addition to the scholarship that the lodge gives to a Lynbrook graduating senior that excels in the Italian language.