Six college-bound teens from the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area are being acknowledged for their academic excellence and community involvement. The Steamfitters Industry Scholarship Program is awarding $36,000 this year to the high school seniors. 

The scholarship winners include Farmingdale, N.Y. resident Hannah Brunning of Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills, of the Towns of Huntington and Babylon; East Atlantic Beach, N.Y. resident Jamison Murray of Chaminade High School in Mineola; Glendale, N.Y. resident Alex Jovanovski of the Academy of Finance and Enterprise in Long Island City; Kings Park, N.Y. resident Christopher Mayer of Kings Park High School; Upper Saddle River, N.J. resident Milena Bozovic of Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township; and Effort, Penn. resident Christopher Kaye of Pleasant Valley High School in Brodheadsville. This fall they plan to attend LIU Post, George Washington University, Adelphi University, Stony Brook University, American University, and Temple University, respectively.

The Scholarship Program is made possible through the joint efforts of The Mechanical Contractors Association of New York and Steamfitters Local 638.  Since the program began in 1967, more than $1.5 million in scholarships has been awarded to over 285 students.

“These young scholars already have impressive accomplishments and we are proud to invest in their futures so that they can continue making a positive difference,” said Anthony Saporito, Executive Vice President of Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, Inc. “We believe one of the best ways to give back to the hardworking families of the Mechanical Contractors Association and Steamfitters Local 638 is by supporting their children’s education.”

“We congratulate this year’s scholarship winners who come from union families that understand the value of hard work, dedication, education and investing in the future,” said Patrick Dolan, Steamfitters Local 638 President. “College students should have the financial security to focus on their education, which is what makes our industry scholarship program so important to us.”

Scholarship Winners

• Half Hollow Hills High School East senior Hannah Brunning will attend LIU Post this fall to study health sciences, with plans to become a physician’s assistant, and she will be in the Honors College. She is an inductee of the National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society with Advanced Placement (AP) and honors college courses. An active member in her community, Hannah has volunteered with the Half Hollow Hills Community Library and Lend-A-Hand to assemble prosthetic hands for children using 3D printed parts.

• Chaminade High School senior Jamison Murray plans to attend George Washington University in Washington, D.C. to study biomedical engineering and advance research for prosthetic technologies. He will complete his high school’s college preparatory curriculum in the top 6% of his class. Jamison was an active member of the National Honor Society, Culinary Club, Economics and Social Studies Club, and captain of his intramural soccer team. He works at two Long Island restaurants and has interned under Hon. Richard Berman, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

• Alex Jovanovski is a senior at the Academy of Finance and Enterprise in Long Island City who will attend Adelphi University to study biology, with plans to become a doctor. He has already begun accruing college credit with four AP classes. A Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver award winner, Alex is treasurer of his school’s Student Government Association and plays on its Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) soccer team. He has interned both at Baruch College, studying genetics in fruit flies and also in local politics for New York City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley’s 2014 campaign.

• Kings Park High School senior Christopher Mayer will attend Stony Brook University to study biology and eventually pursue a Master’s degree in Neuroscience to advance research in neurological disorders. Ranked in the top 5% of his class, Christopher has received high scores in numerous AP courses and was recently awarded an AP Honors with Distinction Award. A member of the National, Thespian, Tri-M Music and Italian Honors Societies, he holds leadership positions at his school’s stage crew, environmental club, trivia team and peer support, and plays bass clarinet in the King Park High School Marching Band. 

• Immaculate Heart Academy senior Milena Bozovic will attend American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C. to major in international studies, and is considering pursuing a law degree. A National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society member, Milena has taken honors and AP classes throughout high school. She is President of her school’s Model UN Club and Social Justice Coordinator of the Christian Service Board, and holds leadership positions in the academic integrity, debate, Latin and book clubs. She volunteers with New Jersey Courts’ Juvenile Conference Committees to help rehabilitate juvenile delinquents, and at Valley Hospital and local nursing homes where she plays piano, an instrument she has practiced since age five.

• Pleasant Valley High School senior Christopher Kaye will graduate in the top 8% of his class with a cumulative 97.1 GPA and attend Temple University to study entrepreneurship. A National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics honors society) and Future Business Leaders of America member, Christopher has taken honors and AP classes throughout high school. His school recently presented him with a Video Production Award for an autobiographical film he wrote and directed that won third place in a state competition and will compete in a national competition in California this summer. Christopher has played lacrosse for 7 years, currently as attack for Pleasant Valley Bears Lacrosse, and previously played golf, tennis and cross-country at his school. He is a Boy Scout in Troop 98.

The annual scholarship program is open to high school seniors with a parent who is a member in good standing of Steamfitters Local 638. Six merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic standing, with considerations given to extracurricular activities and volunteer work. The Steamfitters Industry Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Steamfitting Industry Promotion Fund of New York and Long Island.