Rotary Fetes 2 Remarkable Young People

Staten Island Advance - Friday, June 06, 2008

Kudos to Jory Guttsman, a senior at Michael J. Petrides High School, and the recipient of the annual Dr. Norbert H. Leeseberg Service Above Self Scholarship from the Rotary Club of Staten Island. The award is a $2,000 one-time scholarship in the name of Dr. Leeseberg, the president of the club in 1982.

His work was in the field of education, and Dr. Leeseberg had a 27-year association with Wagner College, from which he earned his master's degree in education. He also was a strong supporter of myriad health organizations and his will to assist others lives up to the Rotary motto: "Service above self."

The Dr. Leeseberg Service Above Self Scholarship was chaired by Rotary member Dina Rosenthal, director of the Staten Island Children's Museum, and committee members who include: Samir Farag of Worldwide Electronics, Rosemarie Scampas of Inform Business Solutions, professional engineer Jack Vokral, DJ Joe (Nose) Salemmo and Josh Caplan of Time Warner Cable.

Worthy of mention is that Jory is in advanced placement classes at Petrides, has had perfect attendance and has been on the honor roll for all four years of high school.

Also involved in various activities, such as the Student Consultative Council and the varsity wrestling and tennis teams, Jory is currently undefeated in his wrestling season and is co-captain of his tennis team. He is a member of B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, vice president of membership of B'nai B'rith's Chapter Moreh and vice president of Programs/Chapter of B'nai B'rith's Chapter S'gan. He is executive secretary of the JCC youth board and involved in Project Jacob, a JCC youth group.

Jory tutors students in Spanish, mathematics and language arts at Petrides, works as an educator at the Staten Island Children's Museum and as a counselor at the JCC Summer Day Camp.

He has been accepted into Muhlenberg College, Brandeis University and the Scholars Program at Binghamton University.

The annual Albert V. Maniscalco Scholarship was presented to Casandra Kelting, a College of Staten Island senior who resides in St. George. The award is a $2,500 one-time scholarship in the name of Staten Island's ninth borough president, who also was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.

When Casandra's not hitting the books, she has interned at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the office of state Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson and the United Nations Burma Affairs Office.

A political science major at CSI, she plans to apply for the National Urban Fellows program, a master's program specializing in social justice and equity issues within society.

Applicants for the Albert V. Maniscalco Scholarship must be Staten Island residents, currently attending a Staten Island college, majoring in either government or political science and have a cumulative grade point average equivalent to a B. Recommended but not required is volunteer work, an extracurricular activity or part-time employment. 

Reprinted here with permission from the