Westwood Volunteer Fire Department Announces
2009 Community Service Scholarship Winners

The Westwood Volunteer Fire Department is pleased to announce that Westwood High School graduates Patricia Taylor, Ceili Brennan, and Jamie Viapiano have each been awarded the Department’s Community Service Scholarship for the college academic year beginning September 2009.  Each scholarship is paid to the student and is to be applied toward tuition, room and board, fees and books.  The scholarship award is based on scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, and community service and was presented by Department Chief Marc Fedorchak at Westwood’s June 23rd Mayor and Council meeting.

In addition to being named Student of the Month in October 2008, Patricia Taylor earned her Girl Scout Gold Award after planning a picnic which benefited Shelter our Sisters.  During High School, Tricia participated in Volleyball, Basketball, and Golf and served as Volleyball Captain for three seasons as well as being named MVP and All League Honorable mention this year.  She served as a class officer, member of the student council, and Peer Pals program volunteer.  Tricia even worked in an orthodontist’s office for several months.  She plans to attend Coastal Carolina University in the Fall.

Despite taking 5 AP and 6 honors courses, Ceili Brennan was able to obtain a GPA greater than 4.0.  She served as the National Honor Society Chapter Historian, is an Edward J. Bloustein Distiquished Scholar, and volunteered in WRHS’s Heroes and Cool Kids Program.  Ceili is a 10 season Varsity athlete who served as Captain during 6 seasons of Cross Country, Winter Track and Spring Track.  She was named to multiple All-league, All-County, and State Sectional Teams and volunteered as a coach for Westwood’s Recreation Track Team for the past three Spring seasons.  Ceili recently spent three weeks at sea conducting various studies with the Sea Education Association and will study science at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.  She looks forward to pursuing an advanced degree in Oceanography.

Jamie Viapiano is a 4-season Varsity Competition Cheering, 3-season Varsity Cheerleader and 2-season Varsity Softball player.  As a Freshman, Jamie was named to the BCSL American First Team All League Cheerleading Squad.  She has volunteered with Westwood’s Elks Lodge for several years and anticipates earning her Girl Scout Gold Award in the near future.  She also participated in Heroes and Cool Kids for 2 years and last year served as a Westwood Recreation softball umpire and cheer coach.  Jamie plans to attend Rowan College next year and plans a career as an athletic trainer.

Applicants interested in applying for the 2010 scholarship are encouraged to visit the Department website to download an Application Packet starting in December.  The deadline for submitting all information is February 15.  Applicants are encouraged to apply earlier in order to allow time to promptly complete any additional documentation that may be requested by the Scholarship Committee, as there will be no exceptions to the final deadline of February 15.