The North Fork Women for Women Fund (NFWFWF), a 501(c)3 charitable organization, is awarding the 2014 Anne MacKay Memorial Scholarship to three North Fork graduating seniors. The students, Brittney Longley, Alaina Robins, and Nicole Scartozzi, all of Mattituck HS will each be awarded a full $1,500 scholarship.

The NFWFWF Anne MacKay Memorial Scholarship was established in 2012 following the death of Ms. MacKay, an original NFWFWF member and supporter. Ms. MacKay was a longtime Orient resident who was a teacher, author, poet and sailor. The scholarship seeks to honor students who reflect Ms. MacKay’s eclectic and diverse life.

The award, typically of a single $1,500 scholarship, is one of the largest privately funded scholarships available to graduating seniors on the North Fork. The applicants are required to submit an application along with an essay describing a personal experience or episode that best reflects the applicant’s commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion in their community.

The experiences of this year’s three finalists reflect Ms. MacKay’s commitment not only to learning but also to the community at large. Indeed, after reviewing the applications and essays, and meeting with the applicants and their guardians, the NFWFWF committee was so impressed that it decided to award a full grant of $1,500 to each of the three finalists.

These students are truly inspirational. Brittney Longley has worked tirelessly to educate her peers on the effects of alcoholism on families. Her inclusion in the Emmy award winning documentary, “Children Under The Influence,” demonstrated her commitment to educating her peers and the larger community on this issue. Alaina Robbins has already touched many lives through her travels to Haiti to help build schools in the storm-ravaged area. Ms. Robins intends to study bio-medical engineering where she will focus on the development of prosthetics. Nicole Scartozzi has overcome numerous obstacles to become an Honor Student. Her goal is to develop new medications to ease pain and eliminate learning disorders.

NFWFWF is confident that all three students will make important contributions to their community and is honored to be able to bestow this award on all three young women. They truly embody Anne MacKay’s commitment to education, diversity and inclusion.