Peekskill Rotary Club Foundation — Scholarships and Awards

Fontana Music Scholarships Awarded to Hendrick Hudson and Walter Panas Seniors

The Peekskill Rotary Club’s Joseph B. Fontana Award for Music was presented this year to Adrienne Knauer of Hendrick Hudson High School and Meghan McLoughlin of Walter Panas High School.

The $1,000 scholarship is open to graduating seniors from Peekskill, Walter Panas and Hendrick Hudson high schools. The award is given based on academics and musical talent, and requires the student to either major or minor in music while in college.

Dr. Joseph B. Fontana, a dentist and violist, was a member of the Rotary Club of Peekskill and a Rotary District Governor.

Adrienne plays the flute, harp and piano. She will begin music studies at Penn State Univ. in the fall and plans to be a music teacher. Peekskill Rotarians enjoyed a special treat when Adrienne – accompanied by her father Lowell – performed on both the flute and harp during a regular club luncheon meeting on July 21.

Meghan is an accomplished vocalist and will major in physics with a minor in music at Harvard Univ. Meghan this year also received a Rotary Fellowship Award of $500 for her high academic achievement and demonstrated leadership.

Peekskill Rotarian Dr. Donald Feldman, chairman of the club’s Fontana Memorial Scholarship Committee, introduced Adrienne and Megan and presented them with the awards during the club’s meeting June 16. He also played recordings of their musical talents which confirmed clearly their accomplishments and entitlement to Fontana scholarships.

While the scholarships is typically given to one student each year, the Rotary club board -- based on committee recommendation -- was so impressed by Adrienne and Megan that it decided to award scholarships to both.