18 Students Share $90,000 in College Scholarships From CIC’s Louis G. Nappi Management-Labor Fund
By GEORGE DRAPEAU III – August 22, 2023
TARRYTOWN, NY—Eighteen college and graduate students will begin the fall semester each with a $5,000 grant from the Louis G. Nappi Construction Labor-Management Scholarship Fund for studies in Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Applied Sciences for the 2023-2024 academic year. The announcement of the $90,000 in scholarships awards was made by John Cooney, Jr., executive director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc.
As a major construction industry financial-aid program, the Louis G. Nappi Fund was established in 2009 by Mr. Nappi (1920-2014), a former CIC Chairman (now Emeritus). It was Mr. Nappi’s vision that the hard sciences of Mathematics and Engineering were essential pathways for the U.S. to re-establish American companies as world leaders in transportation and infrastructure construction.
The scholarship fund is a living testimony to Mr. Nappi who served as CIC Chairman from 1986 to 1991, Mr. Cooney explained. “Lou’s commitment to Engineering and Science lives on today in these scholarships and through these students as many of them have graduated and have entered the workplace. Lou believed that giving students the financial means to pursue higher education and advanced degrees would help our nation’s construction and building industries regain global competitiveness and preeminence.”
Scholarship Committee Chairman William Mascetta, president of Transit Construction Corp. of Yonkers, congratulated the winners and their parents at the July awards luncheon, adding, “This year was of particular importance as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Nappi Scholarship Program. He thanked the entire Scholarship Committee members from Organized Labor and the contracting community, including the CIC staff for their efforts to create, organize and publicize the scholarship opportunities. “I also thank the students and parents over the years for their dedication and efforts in reaching this successful milestone that epitomizes the goal of our founder, Louis G. Nappi, for our entire industry.” He also acknowledged a member of the Nappi family present, Dean DiNatale, who is the grandson of Mr. Nappi and a member of the scholarship committee.
Mr. Mascetta stressed the importance to this year’s scholarship recipients to engage and take ownership of your role and responsibility. “The importance of taking on challenges and related risk will yield the rewards of experience and opportunities to learn and successfully grow in the industry,” he said.
Marking its 15th anniversary, the Louis G. Nappi Scholarship Fund has now awarded more than $940,000 in the form of 221 grants to some 101 students attending more than 75 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Scholarship recipients reside mainly in the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley and are related to employees of CIC-member companies or affiliated unions. The participating labor unions are Laborers International Union of N.A. Local 60, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 456.
For information on the program and application, visit the association’s website, www.cicnys.org.
Scholarship Winners
Julia Maria Apostolou, 21, of Yorktown Heights, NY, is a senior studying Civil Engineering at the University of Delaware. She is the daughter of James Apostolou who is a member of Teamsters L.U. 456. Julia Maria also received a Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grant in 2020.
Lindsay Benza, 18, of Mount Kisco, NY, is a freshman studying Science of Nursing at Villanova in Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of an executive with the Arben Group, a CIC-member company.
Taylor Bruck, 21, of New Paltz, NY, is a senior studying Computer Science and Mathematical Science at SUNY Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY. She is the daughter of Thomas Bruck, a member of Operating Engineers L.U. 137. Taylor also received Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grants in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Kyle Burdick, 21, of Patterson, NY, is a junior studying Computer Engineering at Manhattan College in the Bronx. He is the son of a member of Operating Engineers L.U. 137.
Robert Caulfield, 21, of Blauvelt, NY, is a senior studying Civil Engineering at Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY. He is the son of Timothy Caulfield of Yonkers Contracting Co., Inc., a CIC-member company. Robert also received a Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grant in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Justin Ely, 19, of Chester, NY, is a sophomore studying Civil Engineering at Union College in Schenectady, NY. He is the son of Jordan Ely of Argenio Bros., a CIC-member company. Ely also received a Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grant in 2022.
Massimo Fante, 21, of Sleepy Hollow, NY, is a senior studying Biological Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. He is the son of Mark Fante of Darante Construction Ltd., a BCA- and CIC-member company. Massimo also won Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grants in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Andrew Fortunato, 19, of Fairfield, CT, is a sophomore studying Economics and Mathematics at Bates College in Lewiston, ME. He is the grandson of a member of Operating Engineers L.U. 137.
Mark Griffin, 21, of Yonkers, NY, is a senior majoring in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Buffalo. He is the son of Lisa Griffin and nephew of Vincent Romagnoli of Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc., a CIC-member company. Mark also won a Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grant in 2021 and 2022.
William Jacobs, 18, of Blauvelt, NY, is a sophomore studying Civil Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. He is the son of an employee of Frontier Kemper, a CIC-member company.
Rene Lopez, 17, of New Rochelle, NY, is a freshman studying Exercise Science at CUNY Lehman in the Bronx. She is the daughter of a member of Laborers L.U. 60.
Max Messina, 18, of Purdys, NY, is a sophomore studying Integrated Business and Engineering at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. He is the son of an employee of Ben Ciccone, Inc., a CIC-member company.
Nicholas Mulvey, 20, of Valhalla, NY, is a junior studying Civil Engineering at Bucknell University. He is the son of Dennis Mulvey, an employee of Stratis Contracting Corp., a CIC-member company.
Emilia Perri, 18, of Lynbrook, NY, is a freshman studying Biology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. She is the granddaughter of a member of Laborers L.U. 60 of Hawthorne, NY.
Robert Stepien, 21, of Wayne, NJ, is a senior studying Civil Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. He is the son of Robert Stepien, Sr., an employee of Halmar International, a CIC-member company. Robert also received a Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grant in 2022.
Kirsten Stepien, 19, of Wayne, NJ, is a junior studying Engineering Management at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. She is the daughter of Robert Stepien, Sr., an employee of Halmar International, a CIC-member company. Kirsten also won a Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grant in 2022.
Hailey Weber, 18, of Southbury, CT, is a freshman pursuing a STEM curriculum at the University of Connecticut. She is the daughter of James Weber, a member of Operating Engineers L.U. 137 of Briarcliff, NY.
Jenna Weber, 21, of Southbury, CT, is a senior pursuing Biology at Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA. She is the daughter of James Weber, a member of Operating Engineers L.U. 137 of Briarcliff, NY. Jenna also won a Louis G. Nappi Scholarship grant in 2022.
