JFK Knights Alumni

04/14/2026

Good morning JFK Alumni!
Attached, please find the Scholarship online application to be submitted no later May 31, 2026

Once again, the Ms. D’s JFK Family Dream Maker Scholarship (application link at end of email) funded by the Mary DeCesare JFK Knights Family Scholarship Corporation is available to immediate family members of JFK Alumni.

The JFK HS Knights family believes that helping young people build strength of character is fundamental to success in life. It’s active learning experiences are all about ensuring young people build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience, so when they face new challenges, they are equipped to overcome them.

The MS.D. JFK Family Dream Maker Scholarship is a need and merit-based program providing support with the expensive college or trade school experience. Higher education is a critical factor in unlocking opportunities for young people to thrive, and the Knights family is committed to their success.

The initiative bestows upon its recipients a monetary award to offset some of the expenses inherent with post high school education.

Eligibility Requirements

The program is open to graduating high school seniors planning to attend college or trade school the following year. Candidates must be a Knight, an immediate family member of a Knight Alumni or a Knight Youth league alumni. All applicants will be considered based on academic performance, community involvement, volunteerism, and other criteria.

Academic Requirements

Must be classified as a high school senior as of December 31, 2025.
Must have a minimum score of 28 on the ACT and/or 1200 on the SAT.
Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale.
Must be attending a four-year accredited college or university, a community college or a trade school in Fall 2026.
Community Participation

Must show evidence of responsible volunteerism or citizenship through meaningful involvement in community and/or civic

06/22/2025

Happy Birthday Mary!
I think you would be very happy that I finally created a JFK HS scholarship in your memory, just in time for what would have been your 74th birthday! Last week, we awarded 5 scholarships!

We are also making sure they know about you and how you, Ms. D., made a lot of your “kids’” dreams come true!

You live on in all our hearts and memories!💕💕

04/07/2025

IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Please read eligibility requirements as JFK Knights Alumni immediate family members eligible even if they don’t attend the JFK campus schools.

I am excited to announce the Ms. D’s JFK Family Dream Maker Scholarship (application link below) funded by the Mary DeCesare JFK Knights Family Scholarship Corporation.

The JFK HS Knights family believes that helping young people build strength of character is fundamental to success in life. It’s active learning experiences are all about ensuring young people build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience, so when they face new challenges, they are equipped to overcome them.

The MS. D. JFK Family Dream Maker Scholarship is a need and merit-based program providing support with the expensive college or trade school experience. Higher education is a critical factor in unlocking opportunities for young people to thrive, and the Knights family is committed to their success.

The initiative bestows upon its recipients a monetary award to offset some of the expenses inherent with post high school education.

Eligibility Requirements

The program is open to graduating high school seniors planning to attend college or trade school the following year. Candidates must be a Knight, an immediate family member of a Knight Alumni or a Knight Youth league alumni. All applicants will be considered based on academic performance, community involvement, volunteerism, and other criteria.

Academic Requirements

Must be classified as a high school senior as of Dec. 31, 2024.
Must have a minimum score of 28 on the ACT and/or 1200 on the SAT.
Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale.
Must be attending a four-year accredited college or university, a community college or a trade school in Fall 2025.

Community Participation

Must show evidence of responsible volunteerism or citizenship through meaningful involvement in community and/or civic activities.

About Ms. D.

Mary DeCesare grew up in the Bronx. She was a dedicated mathematics teacher, college counselor, tennis coach and a Knights football assistant coach (and coach for one year). She was passionate about education and sports. Ms. D., as her students affectionately called her, felt that sports taught youths more than just playing a game. It taught them many qualities of life that would help them succeed in their futures.

Mary excelled in getting many of her students into higher education institutions academically and through financial aid. She gave so much to her students and stayed in touch with many of them as they became adults.

Ms. D. passed away suddenly in 2017. As a heartening tribute to her, a voluminous number of her ‘kids’ attended her wake and funeral and wrote many heartwarming words about her generosity, support, guidance, friendship, etc.

To continue Ms. D’s mottos of “pay it forward”, “be kind’, “be the best you can be”, and ‘dream big’, her sister, friends and the Knights alumni want to help youths achieve their life’s goals and dreams in her memory.

Dedication

This year, the awarding of this scholarship will be dedicated to Tyrone "Moe" Murray, who was a JFK Football Knight and is currently an assistant coach to the team. He also created and runs the JFK Knights Youth football camp. Moe and Ms. D. were close friends and he was very excited about this scholarship award in her memory. Moe recently had a serious medical incident and will be embarking on a long road to recovery.

Attached, please find the online application to be submitted no later than May 30, 2025.

03/12/2025

https://gofund.me/47846812

Support Coach Tyrone “Moe” Murray – A Kennedy Knights Legend For ove… Kennedy Knights Alumni needs your support for Stand with Coach Moe: 40 Years Strong