The Catskill Chronicle

Kiwanis Club of Woodridge officers and scholarship winners (l to r (front): Sue Kasofsky (President), Aileen Halchak (Scholarship Committee Chair), Elmer Serrano, Isabel Mijia, (rear) Irvin Lemus, Sorouk AboHussien, Charles Marsden.

WOODRIDGE, NY (June 22, 2012) – The Kiwanis Club of Woodridge held their Annual Scholarship Dinner last week at the Woodridge Family Restaurant. 

The award recipients were Shorouk AboHussien daughter of Tony and Mai AboHussien, Irvin Lemus son of Mauricio and Lillian Lemus, Charles Marsden son of Paul and Jill Marsden, Isabel Mijia daughter of Carlos and Virginia Mejia and Elmer Serrano son of Lidia Espinoza.

Aileen Halchak, Scholarship Committee Chairperson spoke about the program, telling the audience that, in 2000 the Club awarded two scholarships for $250.00 each. Since then, with the hard work of the members and the support of the community, the Club is now able to award five scholarships for $1000.00 each. 

Since 2000 they have awarded 62 scholarships, assisting students in the entire Fallsburg School District with their higher education. The awards are based on academics, need and service to the school and community. All recipients this year are seniors graduating from Fallsburg High School.  President Sue Kasofsky presented the awards.

Shorouk AboHussien will be attending NYU and majoring in Biology. She plans to be a pediatrician.  She has participated in sports, food drives and blood drives and tutoring.

Irvin Lemus will be attending Orange County Community College and will major in Liberal Arts. Irvin has participated in a church related Bible study class for children, toy drive wrapping Christmas presents and raised funds for Breast Cancer Awareness month with Interact.

Charles Marsden will attend SUNY Oswego and will major in Business Management. He has volunteered at the Halloween Haunted House at Jellystone Park, participated in the Youth Walk for the Homeless, was a gardening assistant with Woodridge Renaissance, raised money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Heart-a -Thon, and is the current Key Club President.

Isabel Mejia plans to attend Mercy College and major in Teaching. She has tutored Hispanic students learning English, helped the Home Economics teacher by translating kitchen safety to Hispanic students and participated in blood drives.

Elmer Serrano will attend Orange County Community College and major in Telecommunications.  Elmer is very active in his church teaching children community service and is a musician.

The group received a surprise when Kiwanian Lt. Governor Sue Sheehan, who was also in attendance, presented Charles Marsden with the New York District Kiwanis Scholarship, a very special honor.  Charles’ grandfather, Warren Marsden was a member of the Owego Kiwanis Club in the Susquehanna Division, and was also a Lt. Governor in 1975.