Hundreds of people of faith focused on kids and teachers on Tuesday, April 30, as the nonprofit Futures in Education held its biggest fundraiser for Catholic school scholarships.

This year’s annual gala raised more than $1.5 million, which will help pay tuition for some 3,000 students across the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The event at Cipriani Wall Street was a testament to the community’s dedication to Catholic education. With a remarkable turnout of 740 attendees, who generously donated or participated in auctions, the event showcased the collective effort towards a common goal.

By Katie Vasquez

In Paul Mazza’s 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes, students know not to expect an easy A.

The St. Joan of Arc teacher said he holds his students to the highest standards.

“I have a reputation for being tough, you know,” Mr. Mazza said.

But just because Mr. Mazza is tough doesn’t mean he isn’t shaping these young minds for the better.

“He helped me to be more open about poetry, and now I’m able to express myself more freely and have more confidence in that,” said Adriana Moreno, an eighth grader at St. Joan of Arc.

For the last 38 years, Mr. Mazza has seen dozens of students come and go, and while some things may have changed for the former math teacher, now science teacher, the one thing he’s always done is encourage his kids to try.

“Kids are always afraid of wrong answers,” Mr. Mazza said. “With science, some of the best science guys came from wrong answers. So don’t ever be afraid of the wrong answer.”

His perseverance for his pupils is why Mr. Mazza is one of the teachers being recognized at Futures in Education’s upcoming gala.

While the nonprofit for years has been putting the spotlight on kids- and helping them attend Catholic schools across Brooklyn and Queens.

This year, they focus on the teachers and highlight those who go above and beyond.

St. Joan of Arc Principal Agnes Mosejczuk says no one deserves it more than Mr. Mazza.

“Mr. Mazza is an outstanding educator,” Mosejczuk said. “He truly cares about his students and learning. He inspires them to dream big, reach high, and work hard. His work ethic is so high, and he instills that in his students. He expects them to, you know, do work on time to be in school on time.”

Mr. Mazza is honored by the recognition, but he says his job is about one thing.

“I’m here for the kids, and what can I do for them,” Mazza said. “What do we need to get done today, and such, and that sort of keeps me grounded.”

Because he has seen the fruits of his work in his classroom.

For Brandon Novillo, an eighth grader at the school whose dad also had Mr. Mazza, the hard work Mr. Mazza gives his students is ultimately purposeful.

“My dad came here from public school in the seventh grade, and his first teacher was Mr. Mazza. “To this day, he has stories about how Mr. Mazza was strict but also changed his life for the better.

To learn more about how you can help make a Catholic education possible for thousands of students across Brooklyn and Queens, visit futuresineducation.org.

By Katie Vasquez

A community in mourning gathered to pay tribute to Marine Park resident and firefighter Steven Pollard, who tragically lost his life in 2019 while responding to an emergency call on the Mill Basin Bridge. Steven fell between the gaps as he attempted to rescue victims of a car crash.

Five years later, his legacy continues to thrive, thanks to the firehouse where he served. The Steven H. Pollard Memorial Foundation has been established in his honor. Recently, the foundation awarded a scholarship with a $150,000 gift in his name to students at his alma mater, St. Edmund Prep.

“I think that he’d be very happy to be awarding a scholarship at his own high school,” said Firefighter Andrew Spadaro. “He took great pride in going to this place, and he was very pleased with the education he got here.”

Two juniors, Sienna James and Ziaire Hope, were selected as this year’s scholarship recipients. Principal Allison McGinnis stated that the decision was clear once she learned about the scholarship, as both students displayed qualities reminiscent of Steven.

“More and more people were writing about Sienna and Ziaire, and we saw this pattern that was emerging among other students as well,” McGinnis said. “And then those names got shipped off to the firehouse.”

Like Pollard, James and Hope are actively involved in sports and extracurricular activities. They also share his quiet demeanor, though they assert that this does not diminish their dedication or effort.

“People who are hardworking and kind of not that it goes unnoticed, but you’re not like the loudest or like the top of your class, but like you’re still close enough up there.” Ziaire Hope added, “He was quiet, but he did just enough to get recognized. He was an amazing student, amazing athlete, funny when necessary, and just. He was all around a great person. Once you got to know him.”

The scholarship will cover half their senior year tuition, totaling $7,500 each. However, they express that being compared to the man known as the silent hero is its reward.

“I was really honored to know that so many people felt that I showed the characteristics of myself in him,” said Sienna. “It tells me that I’m living on his legacy in his school that he strived on to become a firefighter later on in life.”

This scholarship is endowed, ensuring that students will benefit from it for years to come and thus ensuring that Steven’s legacy lives on.