Scholarships

Due to the extraordinary medical care Michael received, his family wishes to award scholarships to Cliffside Park High School and surrounding area students entering the field of medicine.

2021 Cliffside Park High School

Zunairah Rizwan and Jonathan Rodriguez

Two scholarships were awarded at the Cliffside Park High School Awards ceremony which took place on the High School field in May 2021.

Both were for $1,500. We wish both much success in their future.

2021 Academy of Our Lady of Grace

Sofia Trujillo

Due to the overwhelming support we received in our initial fundraiser we were able to sponsor a scholarship to a student from The Academy of Our Lady of Grace. We want to thank Father Peter and Mrs. D’Amico for welcoming us back to AOLG. The school and the parish were very special to Michael.

It was in this school and church where Michael learned compassion, kindness, and a strong faith in God. We were honored to be a part of this awards night. Mrs. D’Amico informed us that The recipient of our scholarship possess the same traits and personality as Michael. She excelled in AOLG and is going to attend Holy Angels. .

Foundation awarded 3 Scholarships to 3

Andres Gomez, Livia Liso, and Jasmine Zamora

Foundation awarded 3 Scholarships to 3

Cliffside Park High School Students who will be furthering their education in the medical field. The selection process was a very difficult task with so many outstanding students applying.

The ones that we selected are, Andres Gomez, Livia Liso, and Jasmine Zamora. We want to congratulate all three for being our recipients. We also want to congratulate all the other seniors who were selected by other foundations.

Great Job by all the students and we wish you all the best in your future.

Fund presented a scholarship award to an Academy of Our Lady Of Grace Student.

Alejandro Esquivel

The award was presented to Alejandro Esquivel, who we were told by Ms. D'Amico has the same traits and personality as Michael had.

We really are honored to be able to help an AOLG student Michael attended Our Lady of Grace from Kindergarten to eighth grade, before it became the Academy of OLG.

It was in this school where Michael developed his strong faith in God, his compassion for others and his willingness to help others.

We would like to congratulate the AOLG class of 2023 and wish them all the best in their high school years.

Foundation awarded a Scholarships to Fort Lee High School student

Grace Siri

On Tuesdsay night, The Michael A. Russo Memorial Scholarship Foundation awarded our first scholarship to a Fort Lee student. We were very happy toaward a scholarship to Grace Siri, who will be furthering her education in the medical field. Congratulations to Grace and we wish her all the best and much success in her future.

Michael made many friends with his outgoing personality and bright light, and that included Fort Lee Mayor Sokolich, along with other Fort Lee business leaders, and law firms who contributed to our cause with their support and monetary donations. Because of their generosity along with the foundation's mission of keeping Michael's bright light alive we will continue to contribute to Fort Lee High School Senior's Awards Night in the future. Congratulations to all the Fort Lee High School Seniors who were awarded scholarships.

Award presented to an Academy of Our Lady Of Grace Student.

Leah Perez

It was a great disappointment to us that we could not attend the Awards Ceremony at the Academy of Our Lady of Grace. This is surely one of our favorite ceremonies to attend being this is the school that Michael attended from Kindergarten to 8th grade.

It's where Michael developed his strong faith in God and helped make him the caring, compassionate, and helpful person he was. It's always special to us to be a part of this night at the AOLG. We want to think Principal Filomena Ranaudo D'Amico for presenting the award to Leah Perez for us. Congratulations to Leah and we wish her all the best in her High School years.

Foundation awards student from Fairview's Lincoln School

Aron Estrada Lopez

In the memory of Michael's great uncle Stephen, J. Russo, the Michael A. Russo Memorial Scholarship Foundation INC presented a scholarship award to Aron Estrada Lopez. Aron graduated 8th grade from Fairview's Lincoln School, and Stephen Russo Jr. presented him with this award. This is in recognition of our uncle's 41 years of dedication to the children of Fairview! Congratulations Aron!

Award presented to an Ridgefield Memorial High School Student.

Leah Perez

The Michael A. Russo Memorial Scholarship Foundation INC. presented a scholarship to Ridgefield Memorial High School Senior, Jasmine Abreau. It was presented to her by our committee member and Ridgefield Councilman Gino Ramundo. We would like to wish Jasmine all the best in the next chapter of her educational pursuits into medicine.

Foundation awards students from Cliffside Park High School

Ava Bistacco, Reyna Sutujduarte

We were honored to present two Michael A. Russo Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc. scholarships to a Cliffside Park High School Seniors, Ava Bistacco and Reyna Sutujduarte. Jonathan Schmitt presented both scholarship to two excellent students who are furthering their studies in medicine.

We had a difficult time choosing two students out of all the outstanding applicants. We want to wish Ava and Reyna as well as all the other students the best of luck in the next chapter of their lives. Congratulations to all recipients!

Award presented to Fort Lee High School Student

Alexandra Gorlov

The Michael A. Russo Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc. presented Fort Lee High School student Alexandra Gorlov with a scholarship to help her further her studies in medicine.

We were honored to have Fort Lee Mayor Sokolich, who is also a committee member for our foundation and who Michael was friends with, looked up to and respected, present the award. Thank you Mayor Mark and congratulations to all of the Fort Lee High School recipients. We wish you all the best in the next chapters of your lives. Congratulations to all!