About the Lacrosse Camp Scholarship Program
The Boiardi Foundation’s Summer Lacrosse Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to deserving middle school student-athletes to attend the summer Big Red Boys Lacrosse Camp at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where George Boiardi was a student leader and captain of the lacrosse team. Scholarship recipients are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to the values George embodied, including selfless leadership and service to the community. Like George, they must work hard both on the field and in the classroom, submitting a report card and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or school official. The scholarship includes transportation to and from Ithaca, as well as full tuition for the camp, which is run by National Coach of the Year Jeff Tambroni and his staff. Applicants must be boys in grades 5-9. Coaches or players interested in submitting an application should contact Brigham Kiplinger for more information at bkiplinger@gmail.com.
2009 Big Red Campers
The inaugural scholarship recipients are a special group; hardworking students, committed lacrosse players, and caring young men. Chace McCartney is a sixth grader in New York, NY; Bernard Lea is an eighth grader in Baltimore, MD; Schazz Lee is a ninth grader in Baltimore, MD; Jaylin Sandifer is a ninth grader in Washington, DC; and Jelani Wright-Guise is a sixth grader in Washington, DC. The boys had a wonderful experience at Big Red Camp, making new friends and honing their lacrosse skills under the direction of current Cornell players and coaches. Says Schazz, “My favorite part of the camp was having the experience to see how everyone at Cornell is one big family while feeling and becoming part of the family, too.” Chace adds: “The most difficult part was making it to the championship… all the teams were working as hard as they could. I didn’t care that we had to work hard because at the end it all paid off when we won the championship.” As they continue their academic and athletic careers, the boys have taken some valuable life lessons from their Big Red camp experience: “I learned that I need to continue on the path I’m on right now,” says Schazz, “keeping my grades above 3.4 and keeping a positive attitude in hopes that I can get a scholarship and attend Cornell to study law.”
2009 Scholarship Recipients after Big Red Camp Championship Game: (L-R) Chace McCartney, Bernard Lea, Jaylin Sandifer, Schazz Lee (not pictured: Jelani Wright-Guise)
(L-R) Cornell Assistant Coach Kyle Georgalas, Chace McCartney, Bernard Lea, Cornell Head Coach Jeff Tambroni, Jaylin Sandifer, Schazz Lee
Future Programs
The Boiardi Foundation is exploring the possibility of providing additional scholarship opportunities, by both expanding the camp program to more students and new sports, and by creating academic scholarship opportunities.