LT. JIM PAGANO FOUNDATION AWARDS $6,000 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO FOUR SENIORS GRADUATING FROM CRANSTON HIGH SCHOOLS

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation awarded $6,000 in college scholarships to four graduating seniors from Cranston West and Cranston East.  The scholarship awards are based on academic merit, behavior, attendance, and overall achievement while in school, taking into consideration extracurricular activities and community service.

“The selection criteria were based on the values of commitment and achievement in school and in life as values leading to good character. My son, Jimmy, strongly encouraged these values with his own two children, and it is those values the Foundation hopes to promote in students this year and hopefully years to come”, stated Rose Pagano, Jim’s mother and VP of the Foundation. 

CHSW conducted a Virtual Honors Awards Ceremony this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  In the recording, Assistant Principal, Kaitlin Hitchings, presented the scholarships to Alexa Lombardi and Jessica Sullivan.  Alexa will be attending Boston College in the Fall and Jessica will be attending Providence College.  At CHSE the awards were granted to Tessa Bellotti who will be attending Rhode Island College and Nadya Lehnert who has yet to decide which college she will be attending.

Lisa Pagano said, “As a proud graduate of CHSW class of ’82, Jim would be beaming with pride that we are able to assist seniors in furthering their dreams.  And while his life was cut short in 2008, he always emphasized academic achievement, sports participation, community involvement and kindness to all while he was alive. It is the purpose of the Foundation and these scholarships to honor Jim’s legacy, propel those values important to him among our community youth, and promote courage, confidence and good moral character in life’s pursuits.”

Foundation Mission:  By making charitable grants to individuals, groups and/or organizations that improve the quality of life for our children, we hope to foster character-building and a strong foundation for our future heroes and leaders.