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Assistant Managing Editor EAST LONGMEADOW East Longmeadow High School graduate Donna Haskell was recently recognized as the first recipient of the Willie J. Ferrero Scholarship. The honor was bestowed upon Haskell on Aug. 15, the last performance of the East Longmeadow Rotary Concert Series. The organization, of which Ferrero had been a member, presented the teen with a $1,000 scholarship she plans to use toward her education at Western New England College, when she starts this fall. On hand to participate in the ceremony were Ferrero's wife, Peggy, his son John, his daughter Susan Fiore and his niece, Edith. "We're very proud," Susan said about the scholarship that was created in her father's honor. "He was very giving, very unselfish." Ferrero was responsible for founding the concert series that has become a notable part of summertime in East Longmeadow. Every Wednesday for approximately five weeks, locals flock to the high school's athletic field to enjoy music by various bands. Concert Series Committee Chair Susan Grimaldi said he created the series because he wanted to be able to have good healthy, wholesome entertainment. "That was his passion. He said we have a [family-oriented] community and there should be some kind of family-oriented entertainment with family-friendly prices," Grimaldi said. "Willie was a very strong, spirited, community-minded man. When he saw something, if he believed in it, he had a passion to see it all the way through no matter what it took." Ferrero had his hand in several areas in town at one time participating in the East Longmeadow Recreation Association, leading East Longmeadow Boy Scout Troop 272, contributing to the East Longmeadow Jaycees, the Miss East Longmeadow Pageant, the Fourth of July Parade and more. It was similar qualities that the Club members saw in Haskell that Grimaldi said made her so deserving of the award. Haskell has been involved in numerous activities including school associations such as Key Club, the National Honor Society, Concert Band and the Spartan Swim Team, to community-minded events like walks for Diabetes and Rays of Hope. She was also one of 18 seniors who spent their school vacation earlier this year, surprising their Band Director J.P. Kiernan with a makeover of the band room. She said to be the first recipient of this award "is an honor." "I've heard so much about Mr. Ferrero and it is great to be the first to receive this in his name," Haskell said. | ||||||
