The Niagara Falls Education Foundation is honoring three alumni of the Niagara Falls School district and awarding scholarship grants to six seniors in the district, Friday, May 11, at their annual dinner award event at Antonio’s Banquet Center on Niagara Falls Boulevard.
Board president Vincent “Jimmy” Cancemi
announced the foundation will present their
Distinguished Alumni Award to Rose (Mento)
Brown, a 1940 Niagara Falls High graduate;
Anthony Quaranto Sr., a1947 Trott Vocational graduate; and Christopher Stoianoff, a 1992 LaSalle
High graduate.
After graduating from SUNY Brockport, Mrs.
Brown’s notable 27-year teaching career began in
1944 at the 17th Street School kindergarten. She
also taught at 79th Street School and 39th Street
School, while raising a family of seven children
who all graduated from the Niagara Falls School
District.
Jill Spira, executive director of the Education
Foundation, told the Reporter that Mrs. Brown has
maintained contact with many of her old students,
and more than a few said they vividly remember the
kindly and inspiring teacher who had such a positive influence in their lives.
Mr. Cancemi noted that “a lot of her old students, when they heard about the award, bought
tickets and plan on attending.”
Mrs. Brown is married to Harold Brown,
founder of Brown & Co., CPAs. She has 15 grand-children and one great-grandchild.
Mr. Quaranto is perhaps best known for a combined 25 years as a Niagara County legislator and
Niagara Falls councilman, as well as for his skill as
a bowler, including a perfect 300 game. He took up
bowling at age 15, and in fact met his wife,
Myrabelle, in a bowling alley. They have four children and four grandchildren. Mr. Quaranto retired
from the Carborundum Company after 30 years.
Among his volunteer activities are the Niagara Falls
Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary, Meals on
Wheels, the United Way, and the Whirlpool Park
Little League, where he has volunteered for more
than 40 years. He has been involved in the Niagara
Falls Men’s Bowling Association Board since 1963.
He leads the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame.
Mr. Stoianoff will receive the foundation’s first
Emerging Leader Alumni Award.
Like many young people, he moved away from
Niagara Falls after graduating college. But unlike others, he returned to take an active role in civic life here.
He taught computer classes at Stella Niagara, then
launched the popular StenzTV.com, focusing on happenings in Niagara Falls, as well as NiagaraHub
(www.niagarahub.com), an online Niagara news
source, and Iwitnessniagara.org, a local history blog.
In January 2011, Mr. Stoianoff was appointed
city historian by Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster.
He is president of the Friends of Local History,
neighborhood coordinator of the Downtown
Niagara Falls Business Association, and board
member of the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation
Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
In addition to honoring alumni, the foundation will present six students scholarship grants ranging from $1,000 to $1,500.
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These are:
Michaela Badolato, who maintained a 96 GPA,
and is a member of the National Honor Society.
While working throughout high school and volunteering with Equistar and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital,
she played softball, basketball and volleyball. She
plans to study chemistry at Niagara University.
Henry T. Beaman Jr., is an honor
student with perfect attendance in
middle school. He was on the
wrestling team, serving as captain,
while maintaining a 93 GPA. A
Valedictory Honors Graduate, he
participated in the Leadership for the
Youth of Niagara County program.
Henry plans to study biochemistry at
Ithaca College.
Alexander Carruthers, while
achieving a GPA of 93, volunteered
at the senior center, his parish, and
the Nicaragua Mission. He has had a
perfect attendance record since 2008.
He achieved the Gloria Carey
Excellence in Reading Award, and
was named to the Gaskill Prep
School Wall of Fame. Alexander
plans to attend Niagara University
for economics and pre-law.
Lauren Evans achieved a 98 average while being a member of the
swimming and diving team, serving
as captain, and was named New York
State Qualifier in 2008 and Niagara
Gazette Swimmer of the Year. A
member of the National Honor
Society, Lauren volunteered with
Heart and Soul Soup Kitchen and
local mayoral campaigns. She plans
to attend Canisius College to study
biochemistry.
Kelsi Leo, a member of the
National Honor Society, achieved a
94 average, led the softball and tennis teams as captain, served as president of the Wolverine Club, was
awarded PAL Female Athlete of the
Year, and was named to the first team
All NFL and All Area in Softball.
Kelsi plans to attend SUNY College
at Buffalo to major in adolescent
math education.
Anmol Bambrah, with a 97 average, is being awarded the Phyllis E.
Jahn Scholarship for volunteer
involvement and academic achievement. She was a volunteer at Niagara
Falls Memorial Medical Center, the
Police Youth Academy, and the War of
1812 historical project, and organized
a 9/11 10th anniversary tribute.
Anmol participated in the Leadership
for the Youth of Niagara County program (LYNC), and was honored by
the National Federation for Just
Communities Youth Award and
Niagara County’s Do the Right Thing.
She was accepted into SUNY at
Buffalo’s Honors College Class of
2016.
She plans to major in chemistry.
The public is encouraged to
attend the dinner, which functions
also in part as a fundraising event for
next year’s scholarship grants.
“Your support shows a commitment to encouraging youth in the
community and is an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbors who are
interested in making Niagara Falls a
place where gifted youth are encouraged to excel in school, in their
careers and in life,” said Mr. Cancemi.
Reservations are $50 per person, $25 for students. Contact the foundation’s Executive Director Jill Spira at 341-6247, or e-mail niagarafallseducation@gmail.com.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | May 1 2012 |