At graduation ceremonies held at eight different Catholic elementary schools in the East Bronx last weekend, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 3 in the Bronx awarded $2,000 in scholarship funds to young Irish Catholic men and women which will be used to reduce the cost of tuition at Catholic high schools.

For the second year in a row, these awards were presented to Catholic students selected by their schools based upon academic achievement and in keeping with the Hibernian motto of unity, brotherhood and Christian charity.

Division 3 president Robert F. Nolan said, “There is no better investment by our division than in Catholic students who will be the future leaders of tomorrow. Our division is committed to the Memorial Scholarship Program and will continue to provide partial scholarships to outstanding students of Irish descent.”

Funds for the program were raised at the second annual golf outing held in May at the Pelham-Split Rock Golf Course and coordinated by a team of Hibernians led by past president Dan Donovan in addition to the annual Hibernian dinner held last June, overseen by Nolan.

Slater O’Brien of Villa Maria Academy was awarded scholarship, as was Marissa Denner (St. Francis Xavier School); Alyssa Looney (Our Lady of the Assumption School); John Kilkenny (St. Theresa’s School); Ashley Kavanagh (St. Benedict’s School); Rachel Stemberga (St. Frances De Chantal School); Maureen Crowe (St. Clare of Assisi School); and Graham Herrera-Murphy (St. Mary Star of the Sea School)

Some of the high schools these students will attend include Regis, Fordham Prep and Preston.

Each student was presented a check for $250 and awarded a citation by the division.

In March of this year, John Kilkenny was awarded the annual Michael Warren Memorial Scholarship presented to the most valuable player in the St. Raymond’s Gaelic Football team. Michael Warren was a past president of the division. Thus the total amount of funds allocated to scholarships this year was $2,500.

Hibernians from Division 3 who attended the graduations and presented or assisted in the presentation of awards were Nolan, past presidents Jeremiah O’Connell and Dan Donovan and Brothers Sean McCarthy, chair of the Standing Committee, Roger Fahey and David Kilkenny.

For further information about the Ancient Order of Hibernians, contact Bob Nolan at nolanbxbp@hotmail.com.