The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), has the largest scholarship program in Eastern New York. The league distributed 29 scholarships at the LIJSL Scholarship Breakfast on Sunday, July 21 at the Huntington Hilton. These well-rounded teenagers, selected based on academic and athletic excellence plus community service, exemplify the mission of the league and its idealistic slogan of “Building Character Through Soccer.”
The LIJSL Scholarship Program began in 1981 when one boy and one girl each received a scholarship and it has grown exponentially over the past 43 years just as soccer has grown in the United States. Many of the scholarships are named after longtime league volunteers. The program is now under the direction of Matt McElwee.
Congratulations to all the LIJSL Scholarship recipients:
- Michael Washington attending the University of Miami, Bill Peet Memorial Scholarship
- Jaden Waldinger attending The Ohio State University, Marc Stein Memorial Scholarship
- Emily Cavanaugh attending the University of New Haven, Jerry and Sally Marinan Memorial Scholarship
- Alyssa Deutsch attending SUNY New Paltz, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship
- Lucia Palumbo attending John Jay College, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship
- Cole Bricker attending Washington University in St. Louis, Sean Urda Memorial Scholarship
- Ryan Arlotta attending the University of Pittsburgh, Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award Scholarship
- Michael Iemma attending Methodist University, Peter C. Collins Presidential Scholarship
- Kailey Dunne attending Loyola University of Baltimore, Addie Mattei-Iaia Presidential Scholarship
- Paige Sheiffele attending the US Naval Academy, Pat Grecco Scholarship
- Lewis Gibbons attending Colgate University, Frank and Michael Vertullo Foundation Scholarship
- Henry Garger attending LIU Post, Frank and Michael Vertullo Foundation Scholarship
- Natalia Alvarez attending Suffolk Community College, Tania Bonilla Memorial Scholarship
- Jessica Banta attending Marywood University, LIJSL Merit Scholarship
- Sebastian Ko attending the University of Georgia, LIJSL Merit Scholarship
- Jared Bernardo attending the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Joseph Lombardo Memorial Scholarship
- Dylan Chee attending the University of Michigan, Matthew Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
- Nicholas Breglio attending Boston College, Michael Scarpati Memorial Goalkeeper Scholarship
- Abbey Py attending St. John’s University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship
- Derek Ramos attending Francis Marion University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship
- Noah Waldman attending Northwestern University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship
- Mikayla D'Ambrosio attending Farmingdale State University, Carolyn Page Memorial Scholarship
- Brooke Cheskes attending the University of Delaware, Sandra Atlas Bass Scholarship
- Soham Mukherjee attending the University of Wisconsin, Frank Gorman Memorial Scholarship
- Connor Barath attending Georgia Tech, John Pinezich Memorial Scholarship
- Brandon Witz attending the University of Texas, Michael Secko Memorial Scholarship
- Lindsay Altman attending The Ohio State University, LIJSL TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship
- Jasmine Ostroff attending Northeastern University, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship
- Joseph Zweban attending Caldwell University, LIJSL and George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/.