The Borzell family has presented Wilkes University with a check for $10,000 and awarded an additional $11,217 in scholarships to seven Wyoming Area High School scholar athletes.
The gifts are proceeds from the 2021 John Anthony “Beno” Borzell Golf Tournament, an annual event raises money for scholarships and facilities that benefit students at Wilkes University and Wyoming Area High School. The event is held in memory of John Anthony “Beno” Borzell, who graduated in 2007 from Wyoming Area and in 2011 with a degree in environmental science from Wilkes.
The $10,000 contribution to Wilkes supports an endowed scholarship in John Anthony “Beno” Borzell’s memory. It will be presented to students studying earth and environmental science at the University. An environmental chemistry lab in the Cohen Science Center is named in memory of John Anthony “Beno” Borzell. In 2019, a classroom on the second floor of Stark Learning Center used by students from the College of Science and Engineering was also dedicated in Beno’s honor.
Additional scholarships of $1,700 each also were presented to seven Wyoming Area High School scholar athletes planning to pursue studies in the sciences. The scholarship amount – $1,700 – commemorates the number 17 worn by Beno as a football and baseball player. This year’s recipients are J.J. Hood (who received the John Anthony “Beno” Borzell “Heart” Award), Antonia Minichello, Matthew Pelleschi, Rocco Pizano, Ella Schultz, Blaise Sokach-Minnick and Makenzie Switzer.
Contributions to Wilkes since the tournament’s inception is more than $110,000. Fifty scholarships of $1,700 each – totaling $85,000 – have been presented to Wyoming Area High School scholar athletes since 2012.
The 10th annual John Anthony “Beno” Borzell Golf Tournament is scheduled for Sept. 10 at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Course. For details, please email borzellj1717@comcast.net.
