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Matthew Pergamo Named Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Recipient
The Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to name Matthew Pergamo as the recipient of the Philip Baumgarten Memorial Scholarship for 2008. A high school senior at Haldane Central School in Cold Spring, Pergamo showed outstanding achievements in both academics and community service and involvement.
Matthew Pergamo plans to pursue a medical degree for a career as a doctor, and in particular, as a surgeon. He recognizes the hard work and financial obligation necessary for such a career choice. To prepare himself for the field of medicine, Pergamo joined the Philipstown Ambulance Corps in 2006. He is now a certified First Responder. In addition to his volunteer work with the Ambulance Corps, he has been an alter server at Our Lady of Loretto Roman Catholic Church since the 3rd grade. As a "senior server", he helps to train the younger servers. He has volunteered at the Philipstown Blood Drives and at the Cold Spring by Candlelight Tours sponsored by PARC and the Chamber of Commerce for the past two years. He has been involved with the VFW and Ameican Legion's Voice of Democracy Scholarship program, a national audio essay competition and Pergamo has volunteered his time to play trumpet at the Memorial Day services. Academically, he is president of Haldane's National Honor Society with a 99.6 percent average and vice-president of the senior class. He is also captain of the gymnastics team and has participated in performances at the Philipstown Recreation Department. In addition, Pergamo works as a waiter at the Cold Spring Café and teaches trumpet to children.
Seven students applied for the scholarship that is awarded annually by the Chamber of Commerce in memory of former president, Philip Baumgarten. All of the students were greatly accomplished and showed the sense of community responsibility required for consideration. It is due to the fine qualities of all the candidates that Honorable Mentions certificates will be presented at the Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 20th to Matthew Calandrillo, Michelle Cotennec, Sara D'Emic, Rachel Flaherty, Alexandra Milner and Michael Thorpe.
The 2008 Scholarship Committee was led by Chamber Board member William C. Bujarski along with Board member Nat Pretice and Chamber member Jonathan Kruk.
For more information on the Philip Baumgarten Memorial Scholarship, the Annual Awards Dinner or if you are interested in becoming a chamber member, please contact Executive Director Maureen McGrath at 845-265-3040 or chamberdirector@gmail.com.
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