USA Lacrosse announces Emilia Ferraro of Mapleville, Rhode Island and Preston James Blue of Hudson, Ohio as the recipients of 2024 Michael Breschi Scholarships.
Established in 2007 to honor the life and memory of Michael Breschi, son of University of North Carolina men’s lacrosse head coach Joe Breschi, the scholarships are awarded annually to two high school seniors who are attending college and are the son or daughter of a coach who serves as a full-time employee of an educational institution.
Criteria considered include academic qualifications, extracurricular activities, internships, community service, and employment experience. USA Lacrosse administers the scholarships, with winners selected annually by the Breschi family.
Ferraro is a graduate of Burrillville High School, where she was a three-sport athlete who served as a team captain for the volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse teams. In addition to winning state championships in volleyball and lacrosse, Ferraro served as vice-president and treasurer for the Class of 2024 and was president of her school's National Honor Society chapter. She has also been a referee for local youth girls' lacrosse and served a pathology lab internship at Brown University in each of the past three summers. Ferraro is now enrolled at Emmanuel College as a biology major and a freshman member of the women's lacrosse team.
"Emilia’s academic record speaks for itself; she has won numerous outstanding student awards for her academic achievements," said Stacy Lamontagne, one of the teachers at Burrillville High School. "It is not the grade that is noteworthy, however. Emilia is the type of person who chooses to pursue excellence in everything she does, even if it is not something she enjoys and especially when it is something that presents her with a challenge. Emilia is committed to do
the hard work necessary to get herself where she wants to be. Instead of running from challenges, Emilia will face them head on and use the experience to her advantage. These are the qualities that have helped Emilia to be successful in everything she does."
Blue graduated from University School, where he was a record-setting attackman in lacrosse and a two-time USA Lacrosse All-American. Blue concluded his career with 230 goals and 414 points, finishing as the Ohio High School Athletic Association's all-time points leader. He also graduated with honors, while serving as a mentor for local elementary and middle school students and as a volunteer with the Greater Cleveland Lacrosse League. Blue is attending Franklin & Marshall College and is a freshman on the lacrosse team.
Michael Smith, a science teacher who taught AP Environmental Science, wrote the following in a letter of recommendation for Blue. “Throughout the course, he tackled every assignment with vigor, performed at or near the top of the class on every test, and became the student willing to ask questions and dig into the complexities behind environmental problems. Preston's work ethic, determination, and grit helped him through one of the most rigorous AP courses that the sciences have to offer. A junior amongst a class of mostly seniors, he established himself as a leader. He understands the value and importance of asking questions, seeking guidance, listening to advice, and doing the hard work needed to excel."
Joe Breschi noted that his family was delighted to recognize the deserving recipients of this year’s scholarships.
"On behalf of USA Lacrosse & the Breschi family, I’m beyond excited to announce that Emilia Ferraro and Preston James Blue are this year’s recipients of the Michael Breschi scholarship," he said. "These are two extraordinary individuals who exemplify the spirit of Michael through their hard work and perseverance on the lacrosse field and in the classroom. We are honored by USA Lacrosse’s commitment to the scholarship and thrilled for Emilia and Preston as they continue to add to the legacy of great student-athlete recipients."
● See the full list of prior scholarship winners here
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes universal standards. With more than 400,000 members across the country, USA Lacrosse unites the community of players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. Working together, we inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience, and support the growth of the sport.
