Congratulations to seniors Kimberly Pianucci of Voorhees High School and Colin Macri of North Hunterdon High School who were the female and male winners of the first ever Frank Baldachino Scholarship Award through the Directors of Athletics Association of New Jersey (DAANJ)!
As the state winners, each senior will receive a $250 scholarship and a plaque. Their application and essay submission will now be considered for the sectional competition. If they win the sectional competition, which awards a $1,000 scholarship, they have the chance to enter the national competition and possibly win a $2,000 scholarship.
To enter the Frank Baldachino Scholarship Award competition, high school student-athletes needed to meet the following criteria:
- Must have achieved at least two of the following: a minimum of B+ average, ranked in the top 25% of class, ACT score of 24 or SAT score of 1100
- Must have participated in two sports for two years in each sport
- Must have earned at least one varsity letter in each of the two sports
- Must have letter of recommendation signed from high school athletic director
- High school athletic director must be a member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and a member of their respective state athletic administrators association
- Principal or athletic director must sign the application to ensure that the academic information submitted is accurate
Kimberly Pianucci has played field hockey since her freshman year and has been on varsity for three years. She is a state-level field hockey goal keeper and recently signed with Columbia University to play Division I field hockey. Pianucci also played lacrosse while at Voorhees High School and has been on the varsity team for one year thus far.
Colin Macri has been a part of the North Hunterdon High School football program since his freshman year, with three years on the varsity team. This past season as quarterback, Macri broke the high school’s record for completed passes in a single season. Macri has signed with the University of Chicago to continue his football career. He also played two years on the North Hunterdon High School boys’ basketball team.