Elite Soccer Community Organization Announces 2017 College Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to Danielle Allaire and Sean Lonigro, the 2017 winners of The Elite Soccer Community Organization's (ESCO) College Scholarships! Both winners will each receive a $1,000 college scholarship to go towards college tuition at Miami University (Danielle) and Creighton University (Sean) for the upcoming school year.

Danielle Allaire graduated with highest honors from Buffalo Grove High school where she was President of the Blue Crew, DECA, and was a peer tutor and mentor. She also was one of the founders of Elevate, a healthy lifestyle group. Danielle was a captain for her High School soccer and tennis teams, as well as for her Elite S.C. soccer team, and served as President of ESCO's Youth Leader Advisory Council. She graduated with a 5.57/5.0 GPA and was an Illinois State Scholar, National Merit Commended Scholar, National Honor Society member, Seven Semester Honor Roll recipient, Female Principal Award Winner, and Senior Biology Department Award Winner, to name a few. "Soccer, and specifically the community service aspect of ESCO, is one of the things I am most passionate about and attribute a lot of who I am today to the coaches and local adults that keep it up and running."

Sean Lonigro graduated from St. Viator High School where he was an active member of the soccer and basketball teams, Pep Band, Campus Ministry, and Service and Song Committee member. He was a Captain and MVP for his soccer team his Senior year. Sean volunteered as a Junior Coach at the ALITHSA Soccer Camp, and at his local parish helping with religious education and other activities. Sean was also an active member of ESCO's Youth Leadership Program, serving on its Youth Advisory Council. "ESCO has given me an amazing opportunity to be part of this soccer community, pay forward my time and talent, and help build relationships through the great game of soccer." Sean was an Honor Roll recipient all four years of High School, and received the Lions Spirit Award for basketball his Freshman year. This multi-talented young man also participated in the school musical this year.

The ESCO Scholarship Fund was established to support students who have participated in programs affiliated with Elite Soccer in their academic endeavors in post-secondary 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: (1) citizenship, leadership, good sportsmanship and have participated activities that demonstrate a true role model in the community, (2) 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 (non-school related) honors.

Both winners will be honored at ESCO's 6th Annual Golf Outing dinner program on July 13th at Old Orchard Country Club.

For more information about ESCO, visit www.elitesoccercommunity.org.