On Wednesday, May 26, 2010, the Kiwanis Club of Astoria/L.I.C. held its annual Scholarship Awards dinner at Ponticello Ristorante. Chairman of this event was, Paul A. Vallone, of Vallone & Vallone along with his co-chair and President, Linda Perno of Lincole Lithograph, and committee members: Rose Anne Alafogiannis Alafogiannis Plumbing, Arthur Gualtieri, M.D., and, Michael Serao, J.P. Morgan Chase.

We gave out eight awards (four academic and four art awards) the top prize was the “Tom Alafogiannis” academic award, and it went to Fausto Payno of L.I.C.H.S., there was a tie for second and that went to Stacey Ladusch of St. John’s Prep and Stephanie Aguirre of William Cullen Bryant H.S., third academic prize went to Jiali Li of New Comers High School. Our top first place art award went to Jaekyung Kim of L.I.C.H.S., second place winner was Jeffrey Bermudez of St. John’s Prep. the third place winner was the recipient of the “Melina Manolas Family Graphics Art Award” given to, Jian Min Zhuo of New Comers High School, and fourth place winner of art was, Melissa Tellez of William Cullen Bryant H.S.

We wish to thank all of our most generous sponsors for underwriting this event: American Eye Care, Astoria Federal Savings Bank, Donna Furey, Esq., Farenga & Sons Funeral Home, Lincole Lithograph, Mount Sinai Hospital Queens, and Vallone & Vallone. Along with our Scholarship donors; Alafogiannis Family, Melina Manolas Family, Mohave Restaurant and Former Speaker of the New York City Council, Peter F. Vallone, Sr. Also attending our event was our “2010 Community Service Recognition Award” recipient, Felix DeVito of DeVito Bros. Enterprises. Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. also dropped by to congratulate all of our scholarship recipients, along with a representative from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s office Edward Babor, and Teddy Kasapis representing Senator George Onorato along with representation from Assemblyman Michael Gianaris office. Again, we wish all of our students the best in their future endeavors.