Evelyn Hernandez-Veliz and Edgar Rivas Lizama have garnered two of the most prized awards any Huntington High School senior can receive.
The two Class of 2019 members are this year’s recipients of the John Bosco Memorial Scholarship, which honors a member of the Class of 2012 who was struck and killed by a car in January 2015 while crossing the street during a family vacation in Florida.
Huntington High School Class of 2012 member John Bosco.
The devastating tragedy shattered the hearts of Mr. Bosco’s family, friends and former teachers and coaches. The Blue Devil lacrosse alum was studying at SUNY College of Oneonta at the time of his passing.
In the weeks and months that followed, Mr. Bosco’s family and friends joined together to create a scholarship in his honor. The award carries a $500 stipend.
“I know I speak on behalf of my family when I say we are so grateful for all the love and support we have received and continue to receive from the Huntington community,” said Michelle Sangiovanni, who was Mr. Bosco’s cousin.
The criteria for the John Bosco Memorial Scholarship includes:
- It is open to Huntington High School seniors.
- Applicants should have an interest in the study of chemistry.
- Applicants should demonstrate a caring spirit, creativity, helpfulness, leadership, integrity and reliability.
- Applicants should explain in an essay not only their interest in chemistry, but how their experiences have benefitted the Huntington community.
- Two letters of recommendation, including one from a Huntington High School teacher and another from a mentor outside of school are required.
Ms. Hernandez-Veliz is studying biology at Hofstra University on a pre-med track. She was on the Blue Devil soccer, swimming and track and field teams and she also participated in the science research program, Grandfriends club and the A World of Difference club. A scholar-mentor, she vied in the Biology Olympiad and Science Olympiad. The teenager performed in the high school orchestra. A member of the Spanish Honor Society, the senior volunteered as a children’s tutor at the Family Service League. Hofstra awarded her a scholarship.
Mr. Lizama is studying liberal arts at Suffolk Community College. The teenager was vice president of the Spanish Honor Society as a junior and co-president as a senior. He wrote articles for The Dispatch, the high school’s student newspaper. He won a Bronze Award in the National Spanish Exam competition. He was chosen to participate in the Angelo del Toro Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute in Albany. A very hardworking young man, he holds down a job at Huntington Hospital. He came to Huntington from El Salvador as a freshman.
Mr. Bosco was active with Young Leaders, a local youth development organization. He interned at Town Hall with Councilwoman Susan Berland. The teenager had an easygoing presence around the high school, where he enjoyed many close friendships.
“John was one of a kind,” Ms. Sangiovanni said. “He was full of life, outgoing and no matter what, John always put others before himself. For the 20 short years John was here, he touched more lives and accomplished more goals than most people would in a lifetime. He was the definition of a person who lived life to the fullest. He was everything to his sisters and an incredible son to his parents. He was truly the rock of his family and when times were hard, he was the bright light in the room.”
The loss of Mr. Bosco has left a gaping hole in the lives of many. But, the scholarship created in his honor has helped keep his indomitable spirit and memory alive at his alma mater.
“John always had the drive to help others and had the desire to change not only his own life, but others as well,” Ms. Sangiovanni said. “He was constantly putting others before himself and doing simple acts of kindness. Whether that was talking to people even though he didn’t know them, but just wanted to make sure they were having a good day or going out of his way to say hello to someone that crossed paths with him. It’s those small acts of kindness that a majority of use forget to do or just don’t because we don’t think it really matters. But because of John doing those small gestures, he has left a legacy in this community.”
