Greater New York Floor Coverers doles out annual scholarships

June 8/15, 2015; Volume 30/Number 1

By Jenna Lippin

New York—Supporters and honorees of The Greater New York Floor Coverers Industry Promotional Fund scholarship program held its annual awards luncheon here June 4 at the iconic Water Club. David Meberg, president of commercial flooring contractor Consolidated Carpet as well as this group, served as master of ceremonies.

This year’s four winning high school students—two recipients of the Francis J.P. McHale Scholarship and two honored with the Greater

New York Floor Coverers Association Scholarship—join more than 75 award winners who have been bestowed the honor over the last 30 years. Scholarships are awarded to children of members of Local 2287 and contributing contractors.

“We are happy that this scholarship award can help make both [the parents’ and students’] road easier,” Meberg said. “We know [the honorees will] make us all proud.”

The winners of the 2015 Francis J.P. McHale Scholarship are Luke Formisano, who will attend Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, N.Y, in the fall; and Joel Rodriguez, who plans to attend Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y.

Formisano thanked his father and grandfather for joining the union, to which he received an enthusiastic applause. “Without them I wouldn’t have gotten this award.”

Rodriguez gave special thanks to his parents. “Without them I wouldn’t be here. The way they pushed me to work hard—I wouldn’t be able to accept this award without them.”

The Greater New York Floor Coverers Association Scholarship was awarded to Gianna Florentino, future student at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y., and Diago Quinn, Jr., who will attend Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J., in the fall.

“I would like to thank The Greater New York Floor Covering Association for making my journey through college and my journey to success a little bit easier,” said Florentino, who graduated early from Kings Park High School in Kings Park, N.Y.

Quinn made gave special thanks to both the group and his mother for her encouragement. “I want to thank everyone who made [this award] possible … with you giving me this award and me earning this award, it’s kind of a humbling experience. This is all for [my mom]. I want to thank her.”

All of the students honored with scholarships exemplify outstanding achievements academically, and through community and extracurricular activities.

The group also recognizes a co-honoree each year at the luncheon. The 2015 recipient is Richard Ziskin, Esq., who is an attorney for the trade association. Meberg noted that Ziskin is “a real asset to our association and a great advocate for all of us.”