UNICO honors Brian Piccolo Award nominees

Five Sussex County high school athletes were recognized Nov. 15 for their dedication and courage not only on the playing field but also in the community. The third annual Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony was held at the Glade Club House in Rehoboth Beach.

James Albertella, a Cape lacrosse player; Erin Coverdale, a Cape hockey player; Adam Izzo, an Indian River soccer, swimming and tennis athlete; Zachary Varrato, a Sussex Tech swimming and track and field athlete; and Kira Vitella, a Cape volleyball player, were the nominees representing their respective high schools as senior athletes of Italian-American heritage.

Zachary Varrato was chosen from this group of very qualified candidates as the recipient of the $1,000 scholarship, announced at the award ceremony attended by UNICO members, family and friends.

This national award is given annually by UNICO chapters across the United States.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Ann Walko, UNICO national president 2015-16. Walko is a national and international speaker, a member of the Civil Air Patrol of the U.S. Air Force and a professor of education on the graduate and undergraduate level at Kean University in Union, N.J.

In addition to many gifts, each nominee received an application for the 2016 UNICO Foundation scholarships, valued at $6,000. Four such scholarships are awarded each year along with many others on the graduate and undergraduate levels, totaling about $80,000.

These students were also given information and general advice for application to colleges and universities by Lisa Terranova, academic and career services counselor at Delaware Technical Community College.

For more information about UNICO and its programs, go to unico.org or call 302-226-0620.