Pictured are winners of the Patrick K. Coughlin. From the left, Zachary Rybak, Silver Creek; Cassandra Essek, Fredonia; Lydia Lanski, Fredonia; and Ashley Holt, Fredonia.

The Patrick K. Coughlin Scholarship committee, under the direction of the RO Foundation, recently awarded scholarships to four well-deserving students. The committee, along with its parent organization the RO Foundation, and members of the Coughlin family, held a small gathering at Coughlan’s Pub for the students and their parents. It was a great evening of celebrating dynamic young adults before they begin their college careers.

This year’s recipients have each received a $1,000 scholarship and are as follows:

Cassandra Essek is a Fredonia Central School Class of 2018 graduate and is pursuing a degree in early childhood education at SUNY at Fredonia State College. She is the daughter of Julie and Doug Essek.

Ashley Holt is a Fredonia Class of 2018 graduate and will be attending Nova Southeastern University for a degree in Optometry. Ashley is the daughter of Gretchen and Gregory Holt.

Lydia Lanski is a Fredonia Central School Class of 2018 graduate. Lydia will be pursuing a degree in biology at the University of Buffalo. She is the daughter of Louise and Christopher Lanski.

Zachary Rybak is a 2018 Silver Creek graduate and will be attending Brockport University with a major in exercise science. He is the son of Cara and Ron Rybak.

The annually awarded PKC scholarships are awarded not only on merit, but also on community service and leadership. In addition, each student is required to pen a brief essay that highlights the personal meaning of this scholarship and how their past, as well as their future, relates to Patrick’s heartfelt contributions to his community and his teammates. The monies for these scholarships have been funded through the Patrick Coughlin/Joe Russo golf tournaments, the PKC Hockey tournament, the generosity of the Fredonia Class of 1981, as well as many other fund-raisers generously organized through the RO Foundation.

The RO Foundation was founded in 2010 by Joe Russo and Maggie Link Owen, and is currently under the direction of Maggie Link Owen and Dot Russo.

Its mission is to raise monies through fund-raising events and donations to assist local patients with monies to offset the rising cost of transportation to and from medical appointments and treatments. Find more information on the RO Foundation at its website www.rofoundation.com.