Scholarship Awarded in Elizabeth Fasciano's Memory

The Westwood Chamber of Commerce awarded the first piece of a $10,000 scholarship during the summer festival Saturday.

The scholarship is named in memory of Elizabeth Fasciano, a Westwood girl who was just 7 years-old when she died earlier this year after having suffered brain cancer for much of her life.

The recipient of the scholarship is recent Westwood Regional High School grad Amanda Pirola, who is headed to Harvard Medical School in the fall. The Chamber presented her with a novelty $10,000 check and plaque Saturday. They plan to present her with a $2,500 check each year for four years.

Joseph Abou-Daoud, the executive director of the Chamber, said they chose Pirola because she was "an overall outstanding student" with strong academics and athletics who personally knew Elizabeth.

John Vitale, the chairman of the committee which awards the scholarship, previously told Patch that they plan to keep up with the recipients during their time in college and ensure they do good work in honor of Elizabeth.

The Chamber hopes to award scholarships in Elizabeth's memory to a graduating student from Westwood or Washington Township each year, Vitale said. The recipients will have excelled as students and spent time volunteering and demonstrating leadership in the community, he said.

Corrected to reflect the actual amount of the scholarship.