Joanne Coccia Lodge #2553

The Joanne Coccia Lodge #2553 initiated three new members at our July 24th meeting, Patricia Hicks, Linda E. Wooten and Raul Morales.

At this meeting, Foundation Scholarship Chairman Emanuel Finazzo announced the names of recipients of the 2022 scholarships.

The Joanne Coccia Lodge Foundation is proud to announce the 2022 scholarship awards. Our Lodge is issuing two high school and five continuation scholarships of $2,000 each to deserving students.

The Veta M. Finazzo Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Leyla Strong. Leyla, a graduate of Jay M. Robinson High School in Concord, North Carolina with a 4.2 grade point average, will attend Guilford University in North Carolina and plans to be an athletic trainer. Her major is in exercise and sports science with a minor in Spanish. Leyla is interested in playing soccer on the university team and to be involved with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. She also wants to be involved with Reaching Out for Animal Rights (ROAR) school board. Leyla is the great granddaughter of Lois Mitchel, a lodge member.

The John Cola Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Ethan Walden. Ethan graduated from Arrowhead Christian in Redlands. He will be attending Cal Baptist University with studies in Computer Science. He was highly recommended by two of his teachers who said he was a brilliant student. Ethan has been involved with many nonprofits: Ronald McDonald House, Red Shoe Project and Helping Hands. He will continue with these organizations while in college. Ethan’s parents are Brian and Gina Walden, Grandfather Frank Foglio, family members of our lodge, relatives are Connie and David Ryan, Anna Chase, great aunt Yolanda Sarracino, cousins James and Janet Sarracino, and Leah and Kevin Flaherty. They are proud this memorial scholarship is awarded to a family member.

The following are awarded continuation scholarships to the schools they are presently attending:
Bailey Hopkins. Recently a sophomore, studying Communications Science and Disorders Speech Language Pathology at Northern Arizona State. Lodge member, grandmother Tricia Hicks is her sponsor.

Athena Thomas Doring. Studying Kinesiology/ Occupational Therapy at Biola University is in her last year of school. Athena aspires to work as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist. She is the friend of Anthony and Marie Finazzo, charter lodge members.

Devin Walden. Devin, one of our recipients in 2020, is attending Cal Baptist University studying business and music. Devin is a junior lodge member.

Jessica Ragsac. Jessica received a scholarship last year. She is attending University of San Diego studying biology and premed. She is our lodge queen and a junior member. Her parents are Susie and Andre Ragsac along with grandmother Lois Mitchel, lodge members.

Gianna Rotellini. Gianna was granted a scholarship in 2020. She attends Orange Coast College studying astronomy. She is a junior member and the granddaughter of Joanne Sclafani and the niece of Anthony and Rosemarie Sclafani, all lodge members.

Haley Garcia, will be receiving her scholarship from last year. She attended Riverside City College and didn’t use it. She chose to defer it to this year as she attends Cal State San Bernardino. Niece of Joanne Sclafani and Anthony and Rosemarie Sclafani.

We have one outstanding scholarship for Santiago Romagnoli, who has not applied for it as of June 1, 2022.
All checks will be made out in August and given to each student so that they can apply it to their accounts. All checks are made out to the school of their choice with their student IDs, so they will receive the proper credit.