Elite Soccer awards 2015 college scholarships
Congratulations to Kayne Stanley and Zachary Masciopinto, the 2015 winners of The Elite Soccer Community Organization's college scholarships. Both will receive a $500 college scholarship to go toward tuition at Purdue University for Stanley and Carnegie Mellon University for Masciopinto, where they will attend this fall.
Stanley just graduated from St. Viator High School and was four-year varsity soccer player. She was captain on both the soccer and basketball teams. She was named St. Viator Female Athlete of the Year this year. During her tenure at St. Viator, Stanley took numerous AP classes, and was part of the National Honor Society.
Outside of sports, Stanley also was a leader and counselor for religious retreats, part of Students Against Intoxicated Motorists Club, a volunteer for Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, and part of LINK Crew. She also won the Vicariate 1 Award her Junior Year.
Masciopinto graduated from Buffalo Grove High School, and in addition to soccer, also played varsity volleyball, wrestling, and basketball in high school. Like Stanley, Masciopinto took numerous AP courses and was also part of the National Honor Society.
Masciopinto is a member of a youth group that does community service and volunteers at a special needs camp in Colorado, serving as the vice president of that group last year. He also was captain for his volleyball, soccer and basketball teams.
The ESCO Scholarship Fund was established to support students who have participated in programs affiliated with Elite Soccer in their academic endeavors in postsecondary education.
The ESCO scholarship committee consisted of several ESCO board of directors. The ESCO executive director, as the administrator of the program, received the applications, logged them in for tracking purposes and removed any identification on the application to make the candidate anonymous to the committee.
Winners were chosen primarily based upon the candidates possessing the following criteria: Citizenship, leadership, good sportsmanship and have participated activities that demonstrate a true role model in the community; and a demonstrated love and passion for the game of soccer throughout the candidate's participation career. Also included in the criteria was an individual's academic/scholastic and associated honors as well as any outside (nonschool related) honors.
In her essay, Stanley wrote, "Elite has taught me what it takes to be a good leader …. you don't have to be the loudest, or the ones in front, leadership can be displayed by actions as well. By working hard and being committed, you are setting a good example for others to follow."
Masciopinto credits the success of his Elite soccer team for teaching him valuable life lessons. "I learned that hard work, passion for the game, and discipline in executing a game plan is what is necessary to achieve an exceptional goal."
Both winners will be honored during the dinner program at ESCO's fourth annual golf outing on Friday, July 17, at Old Orchard Country Club.
Formed in 2010, ESCO is the nonprofit arm of Elite Soccer. Its mission is to build community by developing youth through soccer in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. For information about ESCO, visit www.elitesoccercommunity.org.
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