The Hamilton Area YMCA has selected two outstanding scholarship recipients to receive its inaugural William “Bill” Pecci scholarship for their studies beginning in the Fall of 2018.
The Hamilton Area YMCA created the William “Bill” Pecci Scholarship to carry on the legacy of Pecci and to honor his passion and dedication to the sport of baseball and the children of Hamilton Township. The scholarship celebrates athletes who demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship and community service. Two $1,000 awards will be given each year.
Geovany (Gio) Narvaez and William Wall have been awarded the $1,000 scholarships from the Hamilton Area YMCA. The two young men were chosen from the field of applicants because they have distinguished themselves not only as students, but as athletes — soccer, cross county, swimming and track — and have dedicated many hours to volunteerism and service.
Narvaez volunteered for the Hamilton Area YMCA SKOR (Special Needs Organized Recreation) program and was a residential camp counselor at YMCA Camp Mason. Wall was involved in student government as a school board representative and volunteered for Mercer County Parks nature program.
The young men credit the Hamilton Area YMCA for impacting their lives at an early age. They both were campers at the Sawmill Branch of the Hamilton Area YMCA and say they learned social skills, how to interact with a diverse group of people, fitness and core values like caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
“Both of our recipients embody the spirit of Bill [Pecci], showing passion, dedication and leadership in the causes that are most important to them,” Hamilton Area YMCA CEO Diana Zita said. “These young men have distinguished themselves through their commitment in their schools as well as their communities, and knowing they were part of the Y family really drives home the work we do here.”
This fall Narvaez is headed to the Culinary Institute of America to study culinary arts/hospitality, and Wall is headed to Ramapo College of New Jersey to study environmental science/biology.
For more information about the Hamilton Area YMCA and the programs they offer, visit hamiltonymca.org.
