JARED BERGEN HAS BEEN AWARDED THE FIRST HONORABLE PETER FOX COHALAN SCHOLARSHIP IN AMERICAN HISTORY FOR ISLIP TOWN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

 HAMPTON BAYS, NY 4/2016 – The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is pleased to announce Jared Bergen of the Sayville Public School District as the winner of the first annual Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan Scholarship in American History for Islip Town High School Seniors.

 The scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating Islip Town high school student who will pursue an undergraduate degree with a concentrated study in American History and/or American Government.

The award amount will be $10,000 annually for 4 years, offering a total of $40,000 toward degree completion.

Jared Bergen is the Valedictorian for the Sayville Public Schools 2016 graduating class. Jared’s winning essay was: Levittown: The Legacy of Long Island’s Original Suburb. He will be pursuing a future in International Relations.  Jared’s interest in history was always part of his life. He is the President of the High School History Club. Jared and his team competed in the National History Quiz Bowl and went to the National competition. Jared Bergen and Emily Sneddon placed in the New York State National History Day Website design category and represented New York State in the National History Day Competition in Washington D.C. winning first place in 2015. Jared will be attending the College of William and Mary in the fall.

The Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan Scholarship in American History for Islip Town High School Seniors is named for the Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan. Peter Fox Cohalan has a rich family history based in service to the community. His family roots, which can be traced back to the American Revolution, include five generations in public life with four generations holding distinguished positions on New York State high courts. A former Islip Town Supervisor (1971-1979) and Suffolk County Executive (1979 -1986), Cohalan recently retired from the New York State Supreme Court where he served for more than 25 years. Actively involved in historic preservation for four decades, the Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan is currently serving as the Suffolk County Historian. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

“The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is delighted to offer this educational scholarship opportunity to the residents of Islip Town. By establishing the annual Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan Scholarship in American History, it is the hope of the Foundation that the rich history and heritage of Long Island will be studied, researched, and interpreted with fresh and innovative perspectives. As this is a four-year gift, the awardees will be responsible for a yearly service project to a Suffolk County-based historical society. These projects will aim to advance the stewardship of local historical organizations, thus enabling them to become more vital to their respective communities,” said Joseph R. Attonito, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

Kathryn Curran Executive Director of the Gardiner Foundation said, “Jared’s passion for history is reflected in not only his academic achievements, he also embraces local history in his commitment to serving his community.”

Details about eligibility, the submission process, and annual renewal requirements will be provided yearly to all Islip Town School District Superintendents, High School Principals, History, Humanities, and Social Studies Department Chairs and district Guidance counselors.

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation’s mission is inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner’s lifelong passion for New York history. Until his death in 2004, Robert David Lion Gardiner was the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, NY. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner’s Island since 1639 by way of a royal grant from King Charles I of England. The Gardiner family has also had strong ties to Islip Town since the 1700s.

 The Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation, established in 1987, primarily supports the study of New York State history, with an emphasis on Suffolk County.

 The purpose of the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation is:

• To educate and inform the general public in the State of New York, particularly in the area of the Town of Islip and more generally in Suffolk County, concerning the culture, art, and tradition of the locality;
• To cultivate, foster, and promote interest in, and understanding and appreciation of, the societal heritage of the Town Islip, particularly during the nineteenth century;
• To encourage and sponsor the creation and perpetuation by existing and future historical societies of collections and repositories for the deposit collection and examination of documents and artifacts of various kinds relevant to such heritage and traditions; and
• To sponsor and encourage the preservation, restoration, and exhibition by existing and future historical societies of at least one facility appropriate to such purpose.

Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director

Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, Inc.

148 E. Montauk Hwy.

Hampton Bays, NY 11946

631-594-3990

Kathryn@rdlgfoundation.org