Schools

Melissa Frabotta Receives Justin Veatch Fund Music Scholarship

Yorktown High School graduating senior Melissa Frabotta will continue to study music at the State University of New York at New Paltz in the fall.

Yorktown High School graduating senior Melissa Frabotta received the during Wednesday's Senior Awards Night. 

Frabotta, a singer/songwriter who has performed her original songs at many community benefit events, will study music at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She was also accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston. 

"It’s a special kind of award," Frabotta said in accepting the award. "There’s actual meaning behind it. There’s intent, growth, hope, and a sense of community, all wrapped up into the name Justin Veatch. I’m just happy that Justin’s passion and pursuit of music are still living and reaching out to communities all over."

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The music scholarship is a part of The Justin Veatch Fund’s mission to create programs for young, emerging musical artists. The Fund was started in honor of Justin Veatch, who died in his sleep as the result of an accidental drug overdose at age 17 in 2008. 

Justin was an exceptionally talented songwriter, singer and musician whose work was celebrated on the album “Permagrin: The Music of Justin Veatch by The Ivoryton Piano Factory and Friends” released in 2009 by Polyvinyl Records.

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In announcing the award Jeffrey Veatch, Justin’s father, said a significant amount of the funds for the award came from royalties from Justin’s music.  

"It’s amazing to me that Justin’s creative work,  stopped short when he was just 17, continues to provide monetary support for his perpetual peers," Veatch said. 

 were Erika Nininger, an Ohio Wesleyan student, and Beatrice Naumann, a runner up, who is studying at Montclair State in New Jersey. Stephen Graniero, a member of Justin’s class, now attending Purchase Collage, was the first recipient. 

The Justin Veatch Fund, a non-profit organization, also co-sponsors the popular First Fridays Open Mic nights with the and produces a that exposes talented teens to nationally recognized artists in a setting that allows collaboration and growth. The Fund has also created by Jeffrey Veatch to tell Justin’s story and prevent other teens from falling prey to substance abuse.

To watch Melissa Frabotta perform at an Open Mic at the Teen Center, along with other teens, click here. 

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