Two Teens Receive Scholarships Through Smithtown Library

Nicholas Favazza, of Nesconset, and Ryan Bernard, of Smithtown, were awarded $500 and $250 respectively for finishing in the top two places for the sixth annual Friends of the Smithtown Library scholarship. 

Formed to reward teens for volunteering at the library, the scholarship winners were selected after a long process of fundraising, reading scholarship applications and committee meetings.

In his entry, Nicholas wrote about an early experience reading picture books to a young boy when he himself was twelve. “I was finally able to get him to sit for a story,” Nicholas wrote. “As I regaled him with one of my adventures of Curious George, I began to see a little glimmer of interest appear on his face. This inspired me to add more emotion into my reading, which elicited an even brighter glimmer.”

Nicholas, who plans to attend medical school, continues to volunteer to this day, and recently completed 30 hours of volunteer works in the emergency room of a local hospital. 

For the past six years, teens like Nicholas and Ryan have received scholarships as the kick-off to the library’s summer concert series. For more information on the Friends of the Smithtown Library Scholarship, call librarian William Salas at (631) 360-2480 extension 128 or visit the Friend’s Page on the Smithtown Library website.