Rockland firefighters give scholarships to 2 college-bound residents
By Hema Easley • July 11, 2009
Two college-bound Rockland residents received the Stuart L. Gates scholarship
awarded by the Rockland County Volunteer Firemen's Association yesterday. Joanna
Felice of Garnerville and Brandon Mager of Suffern both received $1,250.
Felice, who ranked fourth in her North Rockland High School graduating class,
plans to study special education at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She was on the
principal's honor roll all four years of high school and in five honor
societies. She was a member of Key Club and Youth Against Cancer, tutored her
peers at the Homework Center, helped at church summer Bible school and
volunteered at the Haverstraw King's Daughters Library. Her father, Jerry, is a
life member of the Lady Warren Hose Comp-any No. 5 of Haverstraw and a member of
the firefighters association since 1976.
Mager plans to attend Lesley University in Boston to gain certification to help
children with special needs. He earned the Iron Horse Award in 2008 for his
motivated efforts in football. He won medals in the ninth, 10th and 11th grades
for varsity winter track and was kick returner and running back during grades 11
and 12 for varsity football. Mager was a teaching assistant at Viola Elementary
School in 2007-08 in a special-education classroom. He coached Pee Wee and youth
lacrosse for three years and was a counselor at Blue Rill Day Camp. He was
school sportscaster for hockey and basketball during the past year. His
grandfather, Robert Burton of the Tallman Fire Department, was the RCVFA
president from 1984 to 1985.