The Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation awarded scholarships to local high school and adult students during the foundation’s 35th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27.
Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President Sarah Crowe welcomed guests, spoke about the award winners’ accomplishments and presented certificates to students. Board of Trustees member Laura Mikus helped hand out the certificates to students.
The awards ceremony and dinner took place at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in Herkimer. During the event, Board of Trustees members and school officials were recognized, and thanks were given to the Herkimer BOCES Culinary and Hospitality program for preparing and serving the dinner and to event sponsors Day Automation by Stark Tech, King + King Architects and M&T Bank.
The goal of the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation is to expand access to higher education for students in the region who are in career and technical education fields. Since 1991, the foundation has provided 394 scholarships totaling $233,500.
The foundation’s largest fundraiser each year is the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Golf Tournament, which takes place this year on Monday, Aug. 10, at the Cedar Lake Golf Club.
For information on registering for the 2026 golf tournament or making a donation, send an email to kmills@herkimer-boces.org or call 315-867-2044.
College Awards
The College Awards winners receive $1,000 scholarships for their first year of college and then earn additional funding for their second year if certain criteria are met.
The scholarships are open to students who are majoring in vocational education in their high schools or at Herkimer BOCES and plan to go to college the next school year.
The following students won the foundation’s General Scholarship Awards:
- Havonna White, from Herkimer Central School District
- Nalla Luczynski-Perch, from Little Falls City School District
- Rocco Santomassino, from Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District
- Katherine Velazquez, from Little Falls City School District
- Carlee Nichols, from Dolgeville Central School District
- Isabelle Beacraft, from Little Falls City School District
- Molly Rauch, from Dolgeville Central School District
- Conner Herringshaw, from Central Valley Central School District
Career Awards
The Scholarship Foundation presented the Career Award for students who gain employment in a Career and Technical Education field prior to or soon after graduation and incur expenses as a result of that employment. This award allows the reimbursement of up to $1,000 for trade-specific expenses such as employment clothing, personal protective equipment, tools, supplies, certifications, credentials and/or licenses.
The following students won the Career Award:
- Anna Mead, an adult student and Ilion resident
- Molly Vickers, from Dolgeville Central School District
Alternate Scholarship Recipients
The following students were selected as alternates for scholarship awards:
- Nyssa Lopez, from West Canada Valley Central School District
- Kaden Kleist, from Dolgeville Central School District
- Sierra Atwater, from Poland Central School District
- Cody Cool, from West Canada Valley Central School District
