3 high school grads awarded Caruso scholarships

Posted 8/16/16

Three Warwick high school graduates were awarded $1,000 each in ceremonies Thursday evening at Warwick Sewer Authority offices. This is the 13th year the scholarships have been awarded under a program initiated by the late John A. Caruso, a longtime

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3 high school grads awarded Caruso scholarships

Posted

Three Warwick high school graduates were awarded $1,000 each in ceremonies Thursday evening at Warwick Sewer Authority offices. This is the 13th year the scholarships have been awarded under a program initiated by the late John A. Caruso, a longtime chairman of the WSA board, and named in his honor.

This year’s recipients are Hannah Ambrosia from Pilgrim and Paige Carmichael and Stephanie Sandin from Toll Gate. Carmichael and Sandin ranked third and twelfth in their class at Toll Gate and are both headed to the University of Rhode Island to study engineering. Ambrosia will be attending Rhode Island College and majoring in environmental studies.  

Recipients are chosen each year based on certain criteria, including grades, letters of recommendation, participation in extracurricular/community activities and financial need.

 “I’m very pleased to join the WSA staff and board to award scholarships to these three very exceptional and very deserving Warwick public school students,” Mayor Scott Avedisian said.

Funds are administered through the WSA’s Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP), which was established in the early 1980s as required by the federal government. In an effort to protect the sewer collection system, treatment facility, Pawtuxet River and Narragansett Bay, the IPP ensures that wastewater discharge permits are in place for all Warwick-based industrial and commercial facilities that discharge wastewater into the system. Facilities that violate conditions contained within their permit are subject to fines of up to $25,000 per day per violation.

Most permit infractions are inconsequential, sporadic, non-compliant events constituting minor penalties ($50-$100).  These minor infractions, however, escalate when a facility is identified as a repeat violator.  Each year, the IPP reserves a portion of the collected fine money for the scholarship program, with annual grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. A panel comprised of WSA staff and board members reviews the applications and determines which applicant will be the recipient from each of the three high schools.

According to federal program guidelines, the IPP must have a community outreach and education component, said WSA Executive Director Janine Burke-Wells. “This scholarship program is one very worthwhile part of those efforts because it helps us to educate future scientists and engineers, maybe even a few future wastewater operators.”

“From its inception to the present day, the John A. Caruso Scholarship Award program has distributed a total of $45,000 among 26 of our most exceptional, and very grateful, high school graduates,” said BettyAnne Rossi, IPP coordinator. “In these tough financial times the scholarship money is such a blessing to these students. I’m so grateful that we can take a ‘negative-fine’ and turn it into ‘positive-scholarship.’”

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  • richardcorrente

    Dear Hannah, Paige, and Stephanie,

    Sincerest congratulations! You worked your hearts out to get there and the scholarships prove it.

    You have to agree that your teachers played a large part in your success. They are presently working without the security of a contract. Please join me and a growing number of concerned citizens/parents/taxpayers, and call the members of the School Committee (SC) who are unwilling to sit and negotiate with the teachers. The teachers are willing and the SC isn't. In the court of public opinion, the SC is wrong; dead wrong! I believe that the more of us that point that out to them the faster we can force their hand. The teachers need and DESERVE a contract. August 31st is around the corner. The buildings can't possibly be ready. The teachers contract could! (or at least the first step could). That would be a major accomplishment to offset the probable delay in construction.

    Again Hannah, Paige and Stephanie, congratulations! You are an inspiration for us all.

    Respectfully,

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Wednesday, August 17, 2016 Report this