Since 1956, the Cranston Veterans’ Memorial Fund (CVMF) has played a role in supporting students furthering their education at accredited schools after graduating from the city’s high schools. The organization awarded 12 individuals with $1,500 interest free loans and two students with $2,000 scholarships. Many of those students attended the awards night at Governor Sprague Mansion on Dec. 27.

CVMF is a rotating loan-fund supported and operated by Cranston citizens with the cooperation of Cranston Public Schools (CPS). The fund is administered by community members, educators, business and professional people and civic leaders working with the district. The fund was established in 1956 as a living memorial to the 73 sons of the city who laid down their lives for democracy during World War II and the Korean War.

According to the organization, each loan is renewable each year for a total of $6,000 and must be repaid in full within six years after completing an educational program; complete payback is vital to the continuing CVMF’s success. CVMF executive board members select recipients based on a student’s application, school and community involvement and recommendations. The number of loans awarded each year is determined by the fiscal strength of the organization.

This year’s recipients are Lauren Hammond, Paul Maguire, Christian Pena, Amy Jimenez, Alex Seng, Hope Halvarson, Abigail Royal, Sophia Tomaselli, Rowan Hanley, Lusine Avakyan, Ashley Padula, Justin Soriano, Spencer Hill and Susanna Ovsepian.

On Dec. 27, Mcguire received the first award of the night. A student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Michael Crudale presented him with the Del Santo family Award. This award was established in 1996 and honors Frank and Barbara Del Santo who were both retired educators and had a deep commitment to education and teaching young Cranstonians. Their daughters had attended Cranston Public Schools and graduated From Cranston West.

Many of the awards were in honor of Cranstonians who made an impact within the city and beyond. This connection was noted when Ed Blamires presented Seng, who’s attending URI with the Joseph Coccia Award.

“If you listen to the names of the presentations, it’s really a history of Cranston – people who have been here before us,” said Blamires, who explained that Coccia was the first full-time principal at Cranston West.

Former Cranston East teacher Alice Roe-Grenier had an award named after her, which Tomaselli – who’s attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute – received Dec. 27. Roe-Grenier graduated from Cranston High School in 1932 and earned her bachelor's degree in math from Pembroke (now Brown University) and her masters in education from Rhode Island College. As someone who took great pride in being a tough teacher, Roe-Grenier worked as an algebra teacher and was a member of the Cranston East faculty for 40 years. Besides being a world traveler, she was active in the Oaklawn Grange, a member of Cranston Historical Society and a former deacon at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church. She passed away at 100 years old and bequeathed a generous donation that resulted in CVMF’s perpetual interest free loan.

“Alice Roe-Grenier would have been very proud to know that she is still assisting Cranston students,” Spolidoro said.

The Anthony DiPetrillo Award was presented to Royal, who’s attending the University of Tampa. DiPetrillo was a Cranston resident and graduate of Rhode Island State College (now URI) and Boston University Law School. He was one of the founders and board members of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Injury Fund, a board member of the Cranston Injury Fund and board member for the Providence Boys Club.

Hanley, who will be attending URI, received the Frederic "Fritz" Etter Award. Fritz joined the Cranston High School faculty as a physical education teacher in 1927 and, the following year, started the school’s first soccer team where he coached until 1935. He also created and coached the gymnastics team and officiated basketball for 27 years.

When Cranston West was established, he became the Director of Physical Education for Cranston’s secondary schools. In 1970, the School Committee named a field at West for his contributions; he retired after serving the youth for 44 years.

Other awards handed out that remembered coaches included the Stebbins Award which Avakyan received. Ed Stebbins began his 45 year CPS career in 1925 as a history and drafting teacher. Three years later he began a legendary coaching career as Cranston High School’s football coach – he coached for 41 years, served as head coach for 33 years and won 11 state championships.

Aside from football, he was a head basketball and baseball coach and founding member of the Rhode Island Interscholastic Injury Fund. The city acknowledged his contributions by renaming the Cranston East Stadium in his honor. His step son graduated from Cranston schools in 1957 and continued his education at URI. He was a member of the ROTC program and, after graduation, served in the army for three years and then four years in the reserves; he later achieved the rank of captain. His step son returned to Cranston East in 1976 and followed in his dad’s footsteps where he was the head football coach for 21 years. His team won the Division I Championship and he spent 42 years on the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Injury Fund board.

The Class of 1956 and 1962 created awards as part of their 50th reunion celebrations.

“It was recognized that this was the time for us to give back for the excellent education that prepared us for our chosen life’s journey,” said CVMF President Linda Blamires.

Padula, who is going to attend Merrimack College, receives the Class of 1962 Award and Soriano, who is going to Northeastern University, received the Class of 1956 Award.

The Bernard McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship Award was given to Hill and Ovsepian and  is named for Bernard McLaughlin – a 1977 graduate of Cranston East who lost his life Dec. 21, 1988, in the bombing of Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

While a student at Cranston East, McLaughlin excelled both academically and athletically. He was an Eagle Scout, All State runner and captain of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams. He was selected for several prestigious awards and graduated Cum Laude from Harvard University. This $2,000 scholarship is available to students from Cranston East and based on academic, athletic and community achievements.

Any Cranston resident who is a graduate of Cranston East, Cranston West or the NEL/CPS Career Academy and is enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution on a full-time basis is eligible to apply for CVMF’s interest free loans and scholarship. Loan recipients will automatically be sent an application to renew. Information and applications can be obtained from the guidance department at Cranston West, Cranston East and NEL/CPS Construction and Career Academy.

Blamires told recipients that, once they are established, the fund is looking for young people to continue the organization.