And the winner is

UniFirst Corporation, provider of customized work uniform programs, corporate attire, and facility service products, announced the 2019 recipients of the company’s Aldo Croatti and Ronald D. Croatti scholarships.

“UniFirst has always valued higher education and remains committed to helping our employee Team Partners and their families achieve their educational goals,” says UniFirst President and CEO, Steven Sintros. “These scholarships honor the legacies of two former UniFirst leaders who were big supporters of continuing education and professional development for our staff. I’d like to personally congratulate UniFirst’s 2019 scholarship recipients —we wish them all well in their educational journeys.”

Named for Aldo Croatti, who founded UniFirst in Boston, MA, in 1936, The Aldo Croatti Scholarship was established in 2004 to encourage and assist children of UniFirst Team Partners in their academic pursuits. Since its inception, UniFirst has granted 191 of these scholarships totaling nearly $400,000.

Each year, 12 Aldo Croatti scholarships are awarded to students enrolled or enrolling in full-time undergraduate studies at an accredited two- or four-year college or vocational/technical school. Applications are open to children of full-time UniFirst or subsidiary Team Partners who have a minimum of one year of employment with the company.

The 2019 Aldo Croatti Scholarship recipients are as follows:

Nia Bard - Owensboro, KY - University of Louisville
Rachel Cain - Dyer, IN - University of Indianapolis
Kaycee Cross -  Amarillo, TX - University of Texas—Austin
Hannah Dorris - Sylvania, OH - University of Toledo 
Samantha Griego - Albuquerque, NM - University of New Mexico
Victoria Kish - Salem, NH - American University            
Brina Linder - Holcomb, KS - Colby Community College
Jacob Marcus -  Manchester, NH - College of the Holy Cross
Myah-Raye Vickers - Randolph, NJ - County College of Morris
Alexandra Wilson - Waterford, PA - Gannon University
Cortlyn Wolfe - Topeka, KS - Baker University
Gabija Ziemyte  - Owensboro, KY - University of Kentucky
 
Established in 2015, The Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship was named after Aldo’s son Ronald Croatti who took over executive leadership of the company from his father in 1991. He served as UniFirst’s Chairman, President, and CEO until his passing in 2017. This scholarship offers financial assistance to full-time UniFirst Team Partners who enroll in full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or vocational/technical school for an entire academic year. To date, UniFirst has awarded 44 scholarships totaling about $170,000 since it first began.

Congratulations to the following UniFirst employee Team Partner recipients of the Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship.

Wilfrido Abreu - Watervliet, NY - Excelsior College
Bob Bastien - Columbus, OH - Columbus State Community College
Diann Cross - Birmingham, AL - Jefferson State Community College
Todd Culberson - Ooltewah, TN - Bryan College – Dayton
Jennifer Drane - Somers, CT - Asnuntuck Community College
Kelly Fairchild - Summerfield, FL - Grand Canyon University
Rochelle Gaudette - Fall River, MA - Southern New Hampshire University
Sarah Gillis - Wilmington, MA - Southern New Hampshire University
Lori Hoagland - Owensboro, KY - Brescia University
Robert Keiser - Seabrook, NH - Southern New Hampshire University
Christine Tello–Lorenz - Groveland, MA - William James College
 
“I’m so excited and thankful to receive my scholarship from UniFirst,” says Victoria Kish, one of the 2019 Aldo Croatti Scholarship recipients. “College has become increasingly expensive and this scholarship will go a long way to help offset some of those costs.”