Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda) today announced Ellicottville Central School Senior, Madison Szpaicher of Ellicottville, has won an athletic scholarship from the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators. Szpaicher is one of two students to be awarded a $1,500 scholarship in athletics; two $1,500 academic scholarships were also awarded.

“I’m very proud of Madison, a student from my Assembly District in Western New York, for having been selected to receive one of four scholarships from a pool of students from all corners of the State of New York,” said Assemblyman Giglio. “Madison has proven herself to be a stellar athlete, an outstanding scholar, and a contributing member of her community. I’m certain that she’ll be successful not only at Alfred State College but also in the challenges and opportunities that the future may present.”

In addition to being a three-sport varsity athlete, Madison is currently President of the Student Council, President of the National Honor Society, Treasurer of the Music Association, a member of the Varsity Club, Jazz Choir, Jazz Band, and Vice President of the Foreign Language Club. Her three sports include Varsity Volleyball, Basketball and Softball, and she has served as Team Captain in both volleyball and basketball. In her community, Madison has been a peer tutor, a member of the Ellicottville Rotary Foundation for Youth, and assists in cleaning up the Ellicottville community after the many festivals.

On the volleyball court, Madison has been named a 1st Team All-Star, League Most-Valuable-Player, 2nd Team All Western New York and 2nd Team All New York State; on the basketball court, she has been named a 1st Team All-Star and Defensive MVP; On the Softball field, Madison was a 2nd Team All-Star and a recipient of the Golden Glove Award. Madison has also received other athletic honors including being a Channel 4 Athlete of the Month, a Channel 7 Super Seven Athlete of the Week, and a member of the scholar-athlete team for both the varsity volleyball and basketball teams.

Madison will graduate sixth in her class at Ellicottville Central School with a cumulative grade point average of 104.82 percent. She has been accepted at Alfred State College and will major in Sports Management. She received an Academic Excellence scholarship from Alfred State, where she will also play college volleyball.

Mark J. Ward, Ellicottville Central School Superintendent, said, “When you look at her personal resume of honors, awards, school participation, work and community service, her accomplishments and involvement are absolutely astonishing! In my 38 plus years as an educator, I have never seen a student with such a broad range of athletic, academic and community achievement. Madison, without a question, is one of the most well-rounded and diversified student-athletes Ellicottville has ever produced.”

Scholarship winner Madison Szpaicher said, “I’m humbly honored and excited to receive this scholarship. A huge over-the-top thanks to those who chose me for the scholarship. The funds will make a huge difference and are deeply appreciated as the smell of fall and college costs come rolling in. I’m in awe of the abundance of blessings I’ve been receiving.”

The New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators is a bipartisan organization of New York State Assembly and Senate members of Italian descent. The Conference mission is to highlight Italian-American contributions to the State of New York and to promote Italian heritage and culture. The conference holds an annual Italian Festival at the Capitol and sponsors the college scholarship competition. This is the third scholarship winner from Assemblyman Joseph Giglio’s Assembly District since his tenure in the Assembly commenced in 2005. Madison Szpaicher is one of four scholarship winners selected by an anonymous panel of professors from SUNY Albany.