Mohamed Farghaly
The Maspeth Kiwanis Club hosted its annual scholarship event at Maspeth Town Hall, awarding $2,000 each to fifteen local students to support their educational goals.
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
The Maspeth Kiwanis Club, a pillar of community service since its founding in 1947, hosted their annual scholarship event at Maspeth Town Hall on June 27. The occasion celebrated the achievements of fifteen outstanding local students, each receiving $2,000 to further their educational pursuits.
Fifteen recent high school graduates who reside in Maspeth, but attend schools throughout Queens, received financial support checks to assist with their educational expenses before embarking on college in the fall.
For over 75 years, the Maspeth Kiwanis Club has been dedicated to enhancing community life through various local, national, and international programs. The cornerstone of their local efforts is the Maspeth Kiwanis Club Scholarship, established in 1954 with a mission to support the educational aspirations of young people in the area. Since its inception, the scholarship program has distributed over $500,000 in financial assistance to deserving students.
“At that time the members wanted to provide a fund available to local youth to assist them in their educational goals,” the Kiwanis Club said in a statement. “Since its inception we have given away over $500,000. In 2024, a total of $30,000 will be awarded to fifteen students.”
In addition to the scholarship program, the Maspeth Kiwanis Club actively supports several community initiatives and youth programs. These include the K-Kids program at PS 229, Kiwanis Builders Clubs at IS 73 and IS 5, and a Key Club at Maspeth High School. The club also sponsors events like “Law Day” at IS 73 and sends local children to Kamp Kiwanis summer camp.
The event highlighted not only academic excellence but also the spirit of philanthropy and community service fostered by the Maspeth Kiwanis Club.
“Each of you have not only demonstrated excellence in your studies but also hard work, determination, passion and a profound dedication to your community,” James Regan, Maspeth Kiwanis President said. “It is with great pride that we recognize your accomplishments.”
Throughout the years, the Maspeth Kiwanis Club has extended its impact beyond the local community, contributing to global causes such as the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center and Project Eliminate, a joint initiative with UNICEF to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus worldwide.
Mohamed Farghaly
Established in 1954, the club’s scholarship program has disbursed over $500,000 to date, underscoring its longstanding commitment to community and educational enrichment.
The scholarship event also paid tribute to the late Susan Schott, a beloved teacher whose passion for education resonated deeply within the Maspeth community. Her memory lives on through the ongoing success of the scholarship program, which has been sustained by generous contributions and unwavering support from club members and community partners.
Verena Faheem, a recent graduate and Valedictorian of Maspeth High School, expressed gratitude for a scholarship that will support her pursuit of a medical career. Faheem, who has been accepted into a joint degree program with Adelphi University and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, emphasized the financial relief the scholarship provides as she prepares for the rigors of medical school.
“The scholarship means a lot to me because it reflects my dedication to service,” Faheem explained. “Being accepted into this program allows me to financially prepare for medical school, which is significantly more expensive than like anything else.”
Faheem’s aspirations extend beyond academic success; she sees medicine as a pathway to making a meaningful impact.
Mohamed Farghaly
Among the recipients, Verena Faheem, heading to Adelphi University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, emphasized the scholarship’s crucial role in preparing for medical school.
“This means I can widen my service, because obviously being a doctor just means, like, helping everyone out, and like being able to save people’s lives,” Faheem said. “I just really hope to expand my service.”
During her time at Maspeth High School, Faheem was actively involved in extracurricular activities, including serving as president of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and secretary of Model United Nations. She held leadership roles in National Honor Society and National Math Honor Society and dedicated her summers to veterinary clinical work and volunteering.
Her commitment to service also took her abroad, where she volunteered in Kenya to assist the impoverished. Additionally, Faheem participated in a mentorship program at Weill Cornell Medical School.
Faheem plans to allocate the scholarship funds primarily towards her medical education expenses. She will begin her academic journey with a major in biology at Adelphi University before continuing on to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine as part of the joint-degree program.
Alexander Sepe, a recent graduate of Regis High School, shared his thoughts on receiving a scholarship that acknowledges his commitment to community and academic excellence. Sepe, a lifelong resident of Maspeth, expressed gratitude for the recognition of his hard work both in school and within his local community.
“This scholarship means a lot to me; it’s a sense of community,” Sepe explained. “Being a resident all my life, just shows all the hard work I’ve put into my community, both in school and at home. And it just really means a lot to be awarded this.”
As he prepares for the financial demands of attending the College of the Holy Cross, where he plans to pursue a pre-law track, Sepe intends to allocate the scholarship towards covering essential college costs.
“Holy Cross is going to cost quite a bit, so I hope to use the scholarship to knockoff some of the book costs,” Sepe said. “It’s really, like helpful in the long run.”
During his time at Regis High School, Sepe demonstrated leadership as Captain of the Varsity basketball team and as a retreat leader for the school’s campus ministry. He actively engaged in community service, including coaching basketball and participating in an immersion trip to West Virginia focused on environmental issues.
Sepe emphasized his academic preparedness from rigorous honors courses, including Chinese, Calculus AB, and Financial Accounting, which he plans to leverage in pursuing studies in Finance and Global Economics.
“I plan to receive my bachelor’s from the College of the Holy Cross with a prelaw track, then attend law school to receive my law degree,” Sepis said.
As the event concluded, the Maspeth Kiwanis Club expressed gratitude for the opportunity to empower young minds and pledged to continue their commitment to fostering future leaders through education and service.
For more information about the Maspeth Kiwanis Club and their community initiatives, visit their website at www.maspethkiwanis.org.
