By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 20, 2024-The Long Island Soccer Referee Association (LISRA) started its College Scholarship Program in 1981, exactly a decade after LISRA’s founding.
Under the guidance of Scholarship Chairperson Jean-Marie Maio, the 2023 Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Administrator of the Year, the program is open to high school seniors who are either LISRA members or the child of a LISRA member, and moving on to higher education. The Scholarship Committee selects the recipients based on essay, resumé, recommendations and grades.
On June 13 at the Huntington Hilton in Melville, six outstanding teenagers received LISRA scholarships:
• Jocelyn Nashtatik, graduated from Bellmore JFK High School, attending Cornell University
• Julianna Annunziata, graduated from West Babylon High School, attending Farmingdale State College
• Tristen Ventura, graduated from Chaminade High School, attending Brown University
• Patrick LaBarca, graduated from Hicksville High School, attending Binghamton University
• Liam Henshaw, graduated from West Babylon High School, attending Adelphi University
• Michael Iemma, graduated from Plainedge High School, attending Methodist University
Liam Henshaw and LISRA Scholarship Chairperson Jean-Marie Maio. Michael Iemma was camera shy.
Elections were also held at the June LISRA meeting with a robust election slate of 12 candidates vying for Director positions. Scott Abel (Technology), Marty Foeppel (Recruitment), Al Giorgianni (Finance), Eugene O’Neill (Legal Counsel) and John Sengelaub (Instruction) were all re-elected with Neal Smith being elected and Joe Pagano being appointed to seats on the Board of Directors. Tom Murphy (Webmaster) was re-elected and he was appointed to the open position of Corresponding Secretary.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/