Ruckh wins business scholarship

by Larry Austin
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 24, 2006

Lewiston-Porter Interim School Superintendent Don Rappold presents a $1,000 check to L-P senior Alex Ruckh as counselor Trina DiVincenzo and retired business teacher Rosemary Fiolkowski look on. (photo by Larry Austin)

Alex Ruckh didn’t know why he was scheduled to meet with Lewiston-Porter Interim Superintendent Don Rappold and High School Principal Paul Casseri on Tuesday morning in the administration building. He had no idea he was about to receive a scholarship from the Western New York Association of School Business Officials.

“I feel very honored and I feel very special. It’s shocking,” Ruckh, a Lew-Port senior, said after receiving the award. “I had no clue. I was scared yesterday when Mr. Casseri called me. I thought I didn’t pay my school lunch bill or something.”

“Every year, they select a student involved in business that exemplifies integrity, leadership, scholarship and community service,” Rappold told Ruckh before presenting a $1,000 check. Casseri said the scholarship was made available to Lewiston-Porter after Rappold was named School Business Official of the Year by the Western New York Association of School Business Officials.

The district, then, was able to select one business student for this award, Casseri said. Casseri, school counselor Trina DiVincenzo and retired business teacher Rosemary Fiolkowski were on hand for the presentation as well as Ruckh’s parents, Thea and Peter, and brother, Taylor.

“In talking with Mrs. Fiolkowski, there were a number of candidates,” Casseri told Ruckh. “However, when we really looked at the entire record of everybody and, more importantly, what they’ve given back to the school, the school culture and the community, you rose to the top.”

“I’ve never had a student quite so dedicated to his school and his community,” Fiolkowski said.

Ruckh is leaving June 28 for Army National Guard training at Fort Knox. Upon return, he’ll enroll at Niagara County Community College to study criminal justice for a year, and then move on the Niagara University.

“You should be very proud of not only what you’ve done in the school, Alex, but what you’ve done in the community as well with your work with the volunteer fire (company), and your going into the service. You are the type of person who gives, and that is a wonderful thing in this day and age that we appreciate. We will miss you very much,” Casseri said.