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One Year Later

Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Site

September 25, 1941-February 9, 2003

Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Scholarship

Background on scholarship
How to make a donation to scholarship fund
Contributors to Scholarship Fund
Highlights of scholarship winners

Background on scholarship

The family of Paulette Messina Scafetta have established a memorial scholarship through the Hamburg NY School District Foundation in honor of Paulette. It is the goal of this memorial fund to award a $500 scholarship annually to a worthy graduating senior from the Hamburg School District who is entering a technical or business field. The hope is to encourage in these students the "self-less giving and supportive service to others" which endeared Paulette to so many during her lifetime.

The first scholarship will be awarded the night of June 10, 2003 at the School District's Annual Awards Ceremony. Paulette's daughters and husband will be awarding the first recipient this scholarship. It is our goal to annually post information on each scholarship winner so that Paulette's legacy will be honored and encouraged through the lives of these young scholars.

How to make a donation to scholarship fund

To make a donation to the Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Scholarship Fund, send your check made out to: The Hamburg School Foundation with notation that the donation is for the Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Scholarship Fund and remember all donations to this fund are tax deductible.

Send the check to:

The Hamburg School Foundation

5305 Abbott Road

Hamburg, New York 14075-1699

ATTN: Mr. Edwin Osborne, Executive Director of Foundation

Memo on Check: Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Scholarship

Links to Hamburg Central School District:

Highlights of scholarship winners

First Recipient - Jaime Miranda

On June 10, 2003, Jaime Miranda a Senior at Hamburg High School, received the first annual Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Scholarship. In the picture at left, Jaime is sitting in front of Richard Scafetta, Mary Kate Scafetta, Lucille DiSanto, and Sarah Far. Click on picture to enlarge, then click on BACK on your browser to return to this page.

Paulette's sister Lucille DiSanto awarded Jaime her scholarship with these words:

The Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Scholarship is an award for self-less giving and supportive services towards others, which endeared Paulette to so many during her lifetime. This award is given to a student entering a technical or business field. Paulette Messina Scafetta was a woman dedicated to education and all of the students in Hamburg Central School District. Her dedication and compassion toward her career helped many students to achieve higher standards and to believe in themselves. She would be so proud to know that her legacy will continue through her scholarship fund. She would be so pleased to know that someone as special as Jamie MIranda will continue on in higher education to become the best that she can become and to serve others.

Jamie is a senior, who will be going to SUNY-Geneseo in fall 2003. She will major in Biology. Jamie is a member of the school's Drama Club, DECA, Varsity Track, National Honor Society, Hunger Action Group and School Chorus. In her application for this scholarship, Jaime wrote about herself saying:

I strive to be the best I can and to follow my dreams. I would like to make a difference in the world of science; possible contribute a cure to a presently incurable disease, or make a significant discovery that will enhance the lives of others. I have done community work and participated in service events since I was a freshman. Through church, DECA, Hunger Action, and the National Honor Society, I have helped to feed the hungry, raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, kept families in the poorer sections of Buffalo warm in the winter (I winterized homes in Buffalo with my church), cleaned up the Hamburg Beach, and kept company with senior citizens at several nursing homes.

Paulette's family is so excited for Jaime and wish her all the best in her academic, career, and personal life endeavors.

The following is a beautify thank you letter to Paulette's family, from Jamie Miranda dated June 22, 2003.

Thank you so much for presenting me with the Paulette Messina Scafetta Memorial Scholarship. I am truly honored to be the recipient of a contribution awarded for "self-less giving and supportive service to other." I am proud of the work I have done; yet I've only scratched the surface of what I hope to accomplish in life. I'm glad your family is familiar with Geneseo, and I hope you can identify with my excitement of going off to an academically well-known quaint college where I will encounter the friends, career, and memories that will be cherished throughout my life.

Now I will take some time to tell you about myself. I am part of a loving family of four. (Plus my doggie, Buster!) I have a brother, Jeremy, who just a year younger than me. We are friends and I enjoy spending time with him. I love art: in the summer, one of my pastimes is finding a cool, comfortable spot and sketching the world around me. I also paint when I get the urge; I need to have a flash of inspiration or creativity in order to sit down and paint for a few hours. When I get bored, I head off to the library to take an appealing book out. (Some books on "to read" list include The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan and the new Harry Potter novel.) I like to spend time with my treasured friends; we hang out at coffee shops, eat dinner together, or catch a movie. Here's an interesting tidbit of information: I like frogs and collect little figurines. My dresser is decorated in stuffed frog toys, candleholders (and candles), and key chains. I have frog socks and tee shirts. I also consider myself to be musical. I've sung in a school choir ever since fourth grade, and this year I had the privilege of singing at the renowned Carnegie Hall with my school's Concert Chorale. I also have sung in my church choir, the Voices of Hope, since eighth grade.

As for my future goals, I'd like to successfully complete college with an overall 3.4 grade point average. I may go on to further my education if I decide to delve in pharmacology or some type of medical field. I hope to get a job in some type of research field or in a lab, where I can fully take advantage of all of the scientific ideas I will learn in my future schooling.

I am only sorry that I did not have the pleasure of befriending Paulette, as she seems to have possessed the power to charm anyone whom she came across. I feel as if I've known her vicariously through your beautiful website and stories that I've heard from a neighbor who was acquainted with Paulette. A smile kept finding its way onto my face as I read about the many instances she scared people (even Dr. Roswell!) with her prosthetic leg. I never ceased to be amazed by stories of her tremendous attitude and good humor. I know Paulette was loved by many. She is always in my prayers.

I hope through this letter, you have come to know me better. Than you again for your overwhelming generosity. It is certainly appreciated.

God Bless, Jamie Miranda

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