Winners of the Albert Neal Scholarship Service Awards stand with councilwoman Dorothy Gooseby, coordinator of the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry Darcel Whitten-Wilamowski, and scholarship fund chairperson Dorothy Neal at the St. Agnes Cathedral parish center May 4. TLIC photo/Mary Gorry
Rockville Centre — Seven students who have placed an emphasis on service and the importance of a Catholic education in their lives received the Albert Neal Sr. Scholarship Service Award for their efforts at an event sponsored by the diocesan Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry at St. Agnes Cathedral parish center here May 4.
More than 50 students applied for the scholarship this year, noted Darcel Whitten-Wilamowski, diocesan coordinator for the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry. Albert Neal, for whom the scholarship is named, was a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne, where he was an active volunteer in such organizations as Scouting, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry advisory council, as well as the Our Lady of Lourdes School PTA. Always interested in the education of African-American youth, his favorite saying to family and friends was, “You can’t get anywhere without an education.” The Albert Neal scholarship was established after his death in 2001 for African-American students entering a Catholic high school. Applicants must complete a 100-word essay stating why a Catholic education is important to them, have a B average or better in school, as well as be involved in service to their school, parish, or community.
Four winners were selected this year to each receive $1,000 toward their Catholic high school tuition in the fall: Sabrina Bernadel, a student at Sacred Heart School in North Merrick who will be attending Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale; Jessica Exantus, a student at St. Patrick’s School in Smithtown who will be entering St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington; Olivia Cahill, a student at the Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood, who will continue her studies there in the fall; and Claude Jules, a student at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Uniondale who will be entering Kellenberg.
Last year’s winners — Michael Edwards, who attends St. Anthony’s; Brianne Hudson, who attends Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead; and Nathaniel Augustin, a student at St. Dominic’s High School in Oyster Bay — were also presented with plaques at the event.
“What a joy this is for us to be able to have you here and help support you to continue your education,” Whitten-Wilamowski told all the recipients.
Sabrina noted that she “was very excited and proud and just thankful” when she learned she had received one of this year’s scholarships.
She is looking forward to continuing her education at a Catholic high school, she explained, because “in this day, not so many people seem into their faith, but as a Christian, I feel it’s important. It’s been a big part of our family life so I want to keep it up.”
Claude noted that as a chorus member at St. Martin de Porres, “we give food to the less fortunate, we sing and spend time with the elderly. It just makes you feel good inside when you help people.”
“My Catholic education is vital because it affords me a strong foundation in my religion as well as the opportunity to practice my religion with my school community,” said Olivia. “Both my religion and my education have taught me how valuable service is.”
Olivia, who volunteers with handicapped children and as an altar server in her parish, noted, “I like to give back to the community, because I’m so blessed in my own life.”
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