Three dependents of Vecellio Group employees and eight other graduating high school seniors received scholarships worth a total of $110,000 from the Vecellio Family Foundation in 2011.

The Foundation has helped 312 students since it was founded in 1973, providing $2.6 million in scholarship funds to employee dependents and students at selected West Virginia high schools where Vecellio & Grogan established strong ties in its early years.

Recipients were selected from among eligible applicants by an independent review board, not by anyone from the Vecellio Group or Family Foundation. The scholarships are valued at $10,000 each, with recipients receiving $2,500 per year for four years in care of the chosen college or university.

Three Employee Dependent Scholarships

Three Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarships, honoring the company’s late co-founder, were given to employee dependents in 2011:


Lina Maria Cajiao, daughter of Raul Cajiao, Terminal Operator at South Florida Materials Corp., will be attending Florida Atlantic University to earn a Nursing degree. Shown are Lina and her parents, with Christopher Vecellio, right.


Alexandra Lee Cannon is the daughter of Todd Cannon, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vecenergy. Alexandra is studying Psychology and Science/Zoology at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Shown with Alexandra are her parents and grandparents, with Christopher Vecellio, right.


Elizabeth Ann Mackiewicz is the daughter of Ed Mackiewicz, a Senior Project Manager at Ranger Construction’s Winter Garden operation. She is studying for an Engineering degree at the University of South Florida.

Eight Additional Scholarships

The Foundation also awarded eight scholarships through schools in West Virginia.

At Shady Spring High School, Aditya Kesari received a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship. She is attending West Virginia University.

Liberty High School graduate Jacob Ryan Abrams is attending the College of William & Mary, also on a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship.

Two other scholarships in memory of Mr. Vecellio were given. Independence High School graduate Stacey N. Farley is now attending Concord University, while Emily Michele Wright, who graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, is going to Marshall University.

Woodrow Wilson also had two other recipients. Rachel Ann Gunther received a scholarship in memory of Al Janutolo, a key management figure during Vecellio & Grogan’s early years, while Matthew Bryan Prelaz’s scholarship honors Rick Vecellio, the late brother of Leo Vecellio, Jr. Rachel goes to West Virginia University, while Matthew is attending Virginia Tech.

Amanda B. Hannon, also a West Virginia University freshman, was awarded a Rick Vecellio Memorial Scholarship/Youth Conservation Award.

Shawn Cheeks of McDowell County received a scholarship honoring Dr. Dante Castrodale, an uncle of Leo Vecellio, Jr. Shawn is attending Marshall University.

Scholarship recipients are chosen by an independent scholastic review board based on SAT/ACT scores, school transcripts and other indicators of probable future success.

The Vecellio Family Foundation also supports other educational, industry and charity organizations.

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Facts About The Vecellio Group Employee Dependent Scholarship Program

Each year, the Vecellio Family Foundation awards two or three scholarships to dependents of employees of Vecellio Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries and divisions. For your dependent child (natural or adopted) to be eligible, he or she must be a graduating senior, and you must be an employee of the Vecellio Group (any company or division) with at least one year of continuous and active service before January 1 of the scholarship year.

Scholarship applications are available from the human resources office of each company or division. Applications must be completed and returned no later than March 1 of the scholarship year for consideration.

Scholarships are awarded by independent review boards, not by the Foundation, the company or its personnel. Decisions are based on SAT/ACT scores, school transcripts, and other indicators of probable success in collegiate and post-collegiate life.

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