Triangle Sons & Daughters of Italy – Lodge 2817 – 2022 Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to our 2022 scholarship winners, Daniel Kunath and Patricia Polinski.
Daniel Kunath
Daniel is the son of TSDOI Member Matt Kunath. An active Boy Scout, in high school he achieved the highest honor in Scouting — the Eagle Award. He was both a Pope Eagle Scout Scholar and a National Merit Scholar. He attended and graduated from the University of Richmond in 2020 with a degree in Management, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. During his free time, Daniel volunteered with the Apex Community Emergency Response Team. After graduating from Richmond, he founded the One Zoom Schoolhouse, a business that provided remote learning strategies and tutoring for high schoolers. After working as a Patient Service Aide at Duke University Hospital and a Medic at Camp Durant (a Boy Scout Camp in Carthage, NC), Daniel realized that he was passionate about medicine. He enrolled in the University of Greensboro in pre-medicine and plans to receive his BS in Biology in December of 2022, after which he will apply to Medical School. While in school, he is working as an Emergency Room Technician and has received his EMT and Nurse Aid I certifications. In his essay, Daniel reflected on bonding with an elderly ER patient over their shared Sicilian (specifically Palermo) heritage and an Italian American upbringing that instilled in him a strong work ethic.
Patricia Polinski
Patricia is the granddaughter of TSDOI members Vivian and Jay Dewey. Patricia attends Pender Early College High School, where she has a weighted GPA of 4.45. She plays flute in the Community Band, and she volunteers with the Burgaw Parks and Recreation Department. She was active in Science Olympiad, medaling in events such as Astronomy and Sounds of Music, and even coached other students. Patricia is very involved in Girl Scouts. Active in her troop since the age of 5, she volunteers as a program aid, has worked as a Summer Camp Counselor, and has served as a Staff Member for numerous events at the troop, city, and county levels. Some of these events have required her to be certified in both Archery and Boating. Patricia has been awarded the Silver Award and the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting! She will attend Appalachian State in the fall. Patricia had the opportunity to showcase her Italian pride several times to her fellow Girl Scouts, sharing cannoli with them and introducing them to Grandma’s baked ziti. She is grateful to have learned about cooking and other Italian traditions. Beyond food, Patricia sees pieces of her Italian heritage all around her and wants to maintain these connections, especially to honor her late Great Grandmother.
Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) Merit Scholarships:
Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) also awards merit scholarships. For more information please click on this link: http://www.osia.org/programs/scholarships
Donate to the Scholarship Fund
Consider making a memorial contribution in the memory of a loved one.
If a donation of $750 or more is received as a memorial, the awarded scholarship will be named after your loved one.
Send your donation (any amount is welcome) in the form of a check, payable to TSOI -2817 to:
Treasurer: Mary Muth
115 Beasley Court
Cary, NC 27513
Please indicate if it is regular donation or a memorial donation.
Donations are not tax deductible.