Miles of Hope Announces 2024 Scholarships

For Immediate Release

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation today announced Scholarship awards to nineteen Hudson Valley students.

“This is one of the most rewarding things we do,” explained Executive Director, Pari Forood.

“Each year, a committee made up of members of our Board, former and current teachers, and the two co-founders of the foundation get together to review applications and read heartwarming essays from students whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer.”

The Miles of Hope mission is to fund support services, education and outreach for people affected by breast cancer within the nine counties of the Hudson Valley. In 2024, the foundation received 50 applications from six counties – nineteen students were awarded between $1250 and $5000 for their college/university expenses.

“This year, we gave away $45,000 to students whose lives have been affected by breast cancer,” explained Co-Founder and Scholarship Committee Chairman, Cathy Varunok.

“We work with Guidance Counselors in 24 school districts to make sure that any student whose life has been affected by breast cancer has the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. The process is relatively easy. Students submit their grades, class rank, and volunteer activities as they relate to breast cancer and an essay telling us how breast cancer has impacted their lives,” Ms. Forood said.

“The committee is made up of breast cancer survivors and people who have also been affected by the disease. The entire process takes a few months from receipt of the applications online, to assessing them. It is one of our most important programs along with helping people in treatment with their bills and finances. All Miles of Hope programs can be found here: https://milesofhope.org/

The scholarship recipients are listed below with their current educational institution and county of residence.

Schuyler Birrittella – Poughkeepsie High School - Betty Howard Scholarship - Dutchess
Ayden Brown – FDR High School – Miles of Hope Scholarship - Dutchess
Clifford Bush – Rondout High School - Miles of Hope Scholarship - Ulster
Giuliana Calderon – John Jay High School - Miles of Hope Scholarship - Dutchess
Eileen Connolly – Our Lady of Lourdes - Miles of Hope Scholarship - Dutchess
Gabriella DeGuzman – Our Lady of Lourdes - Dana Effron Scholarship - Dutchess
Kaitlyn Eisentraut – Middletown High School - Miles of Hope Scholarship - Orange
Emma Gatta – Arlington High School - Miles of Hope Scholarship - Dutchess
Meghan Hammond – Millbrook High School - Paulette Pettorossi Scholarship - Dutchess
Madison Kaminski – Roy C. Ketcham - Lynne and Bob Kopac Scholarship - Dutchess
Liam Maroney – Red Hook High School - Betty Benecke Scholarship - Dutchess
Jahnvi Mundra – Arlington High School – Miles of Hope Scholarship - Dutchess
Megan Palestro – Arlington High School - Michael Benecke Scholarship - Dutchess
Merilyn Rinaldi – Beacon High School - Paulette Pettorossi Scholarship - Dutchess
Jordyn Strati – New Milford High School – Miles of Hope Scholarship – resident of Dutchess
Audrey Trick – John Jay High School – Adele Bayer Scholarship - Dutchess
Maelia Vasquez – Poughkeepsie High School - Michael Effron Scholarship - Dutchess
Jaiden Wilson – Horace Mann High School - Adele Bayer Scholarship - Westchester
Landon Zehr - Highland High School - Miles of Hope Scholarship - Ulster