Rochester, New York
 
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Empire State Games Legacy Fund Scholarship
 
In 2010 Buffalo, New York hosted the 31st Empire State Games, an Olympic style competition for the top amateur athletes in New York State.  After securing the event, the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission selected Ralph Galanti to create and chair the local committee that would be responsible for organizing the games.  After the games’ cancellation in 2009 due to fiscal instability, the Buffalo Local Organizing Committee, with assistance from Honorary Co-Chairmen Erie Community College President Jack Quinn and former University at Buffalo President Dr. John Simpson, forged an unprecedented partnership with First Niagara Financial Group and its CEO John Koelmel to ensure the success of the 2010 games.  After a significant financial contribution to the games’ state agency, First Niagara also used its resources to assist the Local Organizing Committee in its fundraising endeavors.  17 local companies contributed an unprecedented $600,000 to support the games in Buffalo.  The success of the Buffalo games generated excess revenue that has been reinvested into the community in the form of scholarships and grants for the purpose of further developing amateur sports in the Buffalo Niagara region.
 
The Legacy Fund awards two $2,500 scholarships annually to one male and one female who has participated in the Empire State Games and has demonstrated academic excellence and leadership in the community.
 
Requirements:
  • Candidates must be a resident of Erie or Niagara County
  • Candidates must have participated in the Empire State Games as an Athlete, Coach, or Volunteer
  • Candidates must be a full-time High School, College or Graduate Student
  • Candidates must maintain at least 2.0 GPA or C average
  • Scholarship is awarded upon completion of semester following award.
  • For more information and an application, CLICK HERE
 

Previous scholarship recipients:

2011: Rachel NeMoyer: Pole Vault: Orchard Park HS, Penn State University; University at Buffalo Medical School

2011: Zachary Thomas: Soccer: West Seneca West HS, Canisius College, SUNY Brockport: Accounting

2012: Justine Brennan: Tennis: Orchard Park HS, Cornell University: Industrial Labor Relations

2012: Ryan Bogdan: Track & Field: Canisius HS, Juniata College: Biochemistry