McHale and Bennett win 2007 Finnegan scholarships

Central Valley - Seniors Christopher McHale and Matthew Bennett received the 2007 “Michael J. Finnegan” Scholar Athlete Scholarship Awards at the Monroe-Woodbury Parents’ Football Club dinner held at the beginning of January. McHale, a prominent offensive team contributor to the 2007 M-W New York State Division AA Finalist Football Championship Team who was selected to The Times Herald-Record’s First Team Offense, received a $15,000 scholarship. His coaches described McHale as a hardworking, dedicated athlete, very popular with his teammates and an invaluable quiet leader, setting a valuable example to his teammates, both on and off the football field. He has a cumulative grade point average of 93 percent, ranks in the top 20 percent of the 2008 M-W High School graduation class, and has a combined English and Math SAT score of 1240. He is a member of the National Honor Society, a member M-W Symphonic Orchestra and French Club and has volunteered his time to numerous community organizations. Bennett received a $7,500 scholarship award. The scholarship fund organizers noted that Bennett epitomizes the qualifications for this scholarship for he is an outstanding student, an excellent leader, and unselfish teammate. Likewise, the varsity football staff characterized him as a “coach’s dream.” And like his teammate McHale, Bennet was a vital member of the 2007 Crusaders football team. As for academics, he ranks in the top 20 percent of the class, has maintained a 92 percent cumulative GPA for his four years of high school and has a combined score of 25 on the ACT Exam. ,Bennett is a member of the National Honor Society, and has volunteered his time to a number of school and community organizations. In its eighteen-year history, the Michael J. Finnegan program has awarded a total of $323,500 in scholarships to 31 scholar athletes from the Monroe-Woodbury community.