As you most likely have already been informed in our last Newsletter, our Alumni Association is in the process of establishing a Scholarship Fund so we will be able to help our graduates finance their first year in college.
Currently we award scholarships with a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $2,500. We know at this point those amounts are not enough to pay anyone’s full tuition but, as I’m sure you are aware, any amount that will allow us to help our graduates is definitely worthwhile.
You, as someone who chose to contribute $500 to become a lifetime member in our Alumni Association have already shown that you really care about PRHS and the Alumni Association. It is our hope that you would be willing to make a contribution to our Scholarship Fund so that we can increase the value of our scholarships and increase the number of scholarships we distribute each year. Any amount you can donate will be gratefully appreciated.
Sincerely, John C. Woodman, Class of 1962 Alumni Association President Email: [email protected] Cell. : 347 612- 1379
To make a contribution, you can:
1) Write out a check and send it to our Treasurer, Carmen Cognetta, at 70 Springhill Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301
2) Go to our website PortRichmondAlumni.com and click on the Donate button. In that area it asks for your maiden name and year of graduation and please indicate that the donation is for the Scholarship Fund.
A 93-year-old woman who never had the chance to graduate high school was finally presented with her diploma 75 years later — all thanks to her loving family.
When Eileen Delaney’s 93rd birthday recently rolled around, the Staten Island, New York-raised woman expected to celebrate the day with her family, WABC reported.
What she didn’t expect, however, was to receive something she had been waiting close to eight decades for: her high school diploma from Port Richmond High School’s class of 1945.
“I had absolutely no idea this was going to happen,” Eileen told the outlet of the surprise gift. “I’m very lucky. I’ve had a good life. This was like the topping on the cake.”
“She is our Cinderella,” her daughter, Maureen Delaney, tells PEOPLE. “She is one great lady who makes the best of everything and has been the foundation for our family.”
The idea to surprise Eileen first came to her niece ahead of her birthday, according to WABC.
Eileen Delaney working for the New York Telephone Company COURTESY MAUREEN DELANEY
Eileen’s family knew that she never had a chance to earn her diploma after she was forced to leave her high school in Staten Island midway through her senior year in order to get a full-time job, the outlet reported.
“[My stepmother] insisted [during] my senior year that I got to work; that if I was going to live in the house that I paid rent, and I had no choice,” Eileen recalled to WABC.
By 18, Eileen landed a job working for the New York Telephone Company — a position she told WABC she was “very fortunate” to have because it did not require a high school diploma.
Eventually, she met her now-husband, Eugene A. Delaney, and they wed before welcoming six children together, Maureen, 64, tells PEOPLE. Today, Eileen resides in Virginia and has eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Eileen Delaney with her husband on their wedding day COURTESY MAUREEN DELANEY
With Eileen’s life story in mind and the fact that her class would be celebrating their 75th graduation anniversary this year, Maureen tells PEOPLE her cousin, Holly Delaney Wade, knew something must be done.
“My cousin just remembered my mother’s story… and thought it was a shame,” she explains. “She just thought this was the time.”
After coming up with the idea, Wade decided to reach out to the alumni association at Port Richmond High School and ask them if they could help, WABC reported.
Principal Andrew Greenfield happily obliged. He told the outlet that it was “the easiest and happiest” decision that he’s made this year.
Upon receiving the gift at her recent birthday gathering, Eileen told the outlet she was completely caught off guard.
“I belonged to the alumni association all these years,” she explained. “I’ve always had letters from them, but I had no idea.”
As special as the moment was for the 93-year-old woman, her family says it was equally as memorable for them.
“She was moved by receiving the honorary diploma,” Maureen tells PEOPLE. “Andrew Greenfield, the principal of Port Richmond High School, was so kind to hear my cousin’s request and act so quickly. It made for a very special zoom event with family.”
“[There was] not a dry eye in the house or on Zoom,” she continues. “My mom will be the first to tell you she never dwelled on not getting her diploma. She makes the most of every day and opportunity. It was a way to add a happy ending to what had been a difficult part of her life after losing her mother.”
Added Eileen’s granddaughter, Delaney Elliot, to WABC: “For someone who has done so much for everybody else and never asked for anything in return, I felt like this was the least that we could do for her.”
LET’S HELP THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION RAISE THE AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS IT CAN AWARD TO THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2021
In 2019, the Alumni Association was able to distribute $13,000 in scholarships to its graduating students. In 2020, we were fortunate to award $20,500 in scholarship to that year’s graduating students.
This year, we’re intending to reach out to lifetime members of the Alumni Association, meaning those who have become Benefactors by making a one- time contribution of $500. We’re hoping that members who have Benefactor status , and anyone else who is an Alumnus, will reach out and help our Scholarship Fund grow so the Alumni Association can increase this year’s scholarships to $25,000.
Here’s all you need to do to make a contribution to the Scholarship Fund: Write out your check to PRHS Alumni Association and in the memo area put Scholarship Fund and send your check to
Carmen Cognetta, Alumni Association Treasurer, 70 SpringHill Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301.
You may also go to our Website, PortRichmondAlumni.Com and click on the Donate button.
In the area that asks for your maiden name and year of graduation please also include “Scholarship Fund” so the donation is properly directed.
Attention All: The 2020 – 2021 Board is looking for an additional member for its Board of Directors
Meetings are generally held on the second Wednesday in Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March, April, May and June. The meetings normally are held at the school and begin at 7:30 PM and end about 9:00 PM.
Our duties include sponsoring our Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, helping to select our scholarship award winners, and supporting a myriad of school activities.
If you have an interest in helping the students at Port Richmond HS succeed and have some available time to spend with this organization, please consider contacting Alumni Association President, John Woodman, who can be reached via telephone at
