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The Mary DeBonis Scholarship

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The history of
our scholarship​

Welcome to our club, formerly known as the Italian-American Women’s Club of Cary. In 1998, we proudly established our identity, with Mary DeBonis as our first President, as members from Cary split off to form a vibrant community.  Our roots trace back to the Raleigh club, and today we celebrate a diverse membership from Cary, Raleigh, Apex, and beyond. With a commitment to scholarship and community, we honor our heritage and continue to support young women of Italian descent in their pursuit of higher education.

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​​The original amount of funds that moved over from the Raleigh club was $1,424.  The original Cary club officers in 1998-1999 were:  Mary DeBonis, Nancy Krischner,  Joan DeRosa and Loretta Consiglia.

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The Mary DeBonis Scholarship is a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable woman who made a lasting impact on many lives. Established by Mary, a beloved local chiropractor, this scholarship supports young women of Italian descent from a local Triangle-area high school who aspire to further their education. Each year, our scholarship dinner filled with joy as we surprise the recipient, celebrating her journey and honoring our shared heritage. Though we lost Mary to lung cancer in June 2004, her legacy endures through this cherished tradition and the strong bonds we continue within our community.​  â€‹

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E il nostro patrimonio italiano vive! ​

(And our Italian heritage lives on!)

Past scholarship
winners

     2025 - Kathryn Kilgallen

     2024 - 

     2023 - 

     2022 - Makayla Johnson 

     2020 - Abby Welch 

     2019 - Morgan Pirozzi    

     2018 - McKenna Crawford

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