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The Civic Scene: Queens graduates win awards, scholarships

By Bob Harris

Now is the time when graduating high school seniors find out about scholarships and awards, and those of Thomas A. Edison Vocational Technical High School, about 300 students, have reached a total of $1.9 million in four-year college scholarships.

The graduates were accepted to CUNY and SUNY schools as well as private city, state and national colleges and universities. Scholarships came from many of the schools, as well as from civic associations, families honoring a deceased member, philanthropic groups, and private individuals. Some students receive a U.S. Savings bond or a check for a few dollars to pay for books.

Some of the larger scholarships received by the Edison grads are $12,000 from the University of Hartford; a $5,800 City Council Scholarship from Hunter College; $68,000 from Stony Brook University; $85,OOO from St. John's University; $20,000 from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy; several $5,000 City Council scholarships from Queens College; $16,000 from the New York Institute of Technology; $38,OOO from Pace University; a $36,760 Hilltop Scholarship from Howard University; a $4O,000 Principal's Scholarship from Polytechnic University; $38,OOO from Marymount College; $44,200 from DeVry Institute of Technology; $12,000 from Daniel Webster College; $4O,000 from St. Peter's College; $8O,OOO from LIU-Southampton College; $26,OOO from Gannon University; $6,OOO from Queensborough Community College; $54,000 from North Carolina A&T; $24,O00 from Ford Motor Company, and $18,000 from Briarcliff College.

Edison H.S., like other large Queens high schools, has so many graduates receiving so many certificates, plaques, trophies, and medals that they have a Senior Class Awards Assembly prior to the regular graduation.

The awards brochure consists of seven pages of accomplishments by the students. There were Leadership Awards given by the Council of Supervisors and Administrators, the High School Principals Association, the United Federation of Teachers, the City Council plus various awards named after former faculty members. There were awards for accomplishments in computer engineering, mathematics, English language arts, commercial arts, graphic communications, social studies, mock trial participation, excellence in Cisco internetworking, excellence in medical-pharmaceutical, and the Principal's Award for Academic Excellence.

There were also awards for the Most Improved Student, Excellence in Spanish, from the University of the State of New York Merit Scholarships, Senior Council Awards, U.S. Navy, Music Achievement Award, PTA Awards, EAB-NY 1 Scholar Athlete Award, from the Governor's Committee on Scholastic Achievement, Bausch &; Lomb Science Award, U.S. Army Reserve Scholar/Athlete, Masonic Lodge Scholarship, Triple “C” Award from the state Attorney General and the Kensho Sempi Award for Demonstrating the Highest Level of Commitment, Attitude and Skill in Martial Arts.

There were still other awards, and some graduates even received several awards. Many graduates did not receive any awards but did meet the requirements for graduation from the their high school.

Good News of the Week

Hundreds of fine young men and women are receiving hundreds of awards in each of our Queens high schools as they graduate with the support of their teachers, supervisors, parents and friends.

Bad News of the Week

There is not enough media coverage of the accomplishments of our high school students.