The Ritzzo Family Education Foundation will award its first scholarship in the spring of 2024 to a high school senior of Italian heritage from Norwalk High School.
The Foundation Board chose Norwalk High School for its first award for several reasons. This Foundation exists to honor Michelangelo Rizzo (aka Mike Ritzzo). He worked on constructing the Norwalk High School building (on East Avenue) under the WPA during the Depression of the 1930s. Though uneducated, through no fault of his own, Mike Ritzzo was a strong proponent of education. He and his oldest Daughter, Rosie, attended the building's dedication with pride. Also, several Ritzzo children attended and graduated from Norwalk High School.
In future years, the scholarship will expand to students attending other schools in Norwalk, and depending on the results of fundraising efforts, The Foundation may offer more than one scholarship in 2025. Also, the Foundation may provide a scholarship for a student in the Nassau County, Florida, school district.
Scholarship applications for the 2024 award are available at the Norwalk High School's Guidance office.
The 2024 scholarship presentation is set for May 23rd at the Norwalk High School Awards ceremony.
Application Process
SCHOLARSHIP RULES FOR QUALIFICATION
IMPORTANT:
Send your appropriate 1,000-word essay with a title, your complete name, and address at the top to Ritzzofef@gmail.com
You will receive an email confirming receipt. If you do not, please re-send your materials because they didn’t go through.
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Students must complete the online application.
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One or both applicants’ parents must be of Italian heritage. Special attention will be given to those with a demonstrated Calabrian heritage.
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The applicant for a scholarship grant must be eligible to graduate from an accredited high school no later than June 2024.
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Students must submit two letters of recommendation by no later than March 30, 2024. The letters of recommendation must be--one from your school; it may be from a principal, teacher, or guidance counselor, The second second letter may be a recommendation from either an employer, an out-of-school club leader, a sports team coach, or a community leader who has worked with you on the job, or on the field and can talk about how you accept direction, criticism and how you work with others.
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Applying
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If applying for an award to attend a vocational or to attend a two-year school, The applicant must write a 1,000 essay about how their Italian heritage helped fashion their work ethic.
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If applying for a four-year college or university award, the applicant must read the book Thank You for the Shoes and write a 1,000-word essay about how the book influenced or informed them about their heritage.
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The applicant must send a verification letter from the Registrar’s Office to certify enrollment to an accredited education of higher learning; this can be a ommunity (two- year) college or a university four-year degree program. The award for a one-year certification program or vocational school must show the receipt for paid tuition. If awarded, the grant will be a reimbursement.