News at SHA

At an awards ceremony on June 24, Isabella Paesano ‘26 accepted a $10,000 scholarship from the Mineola-based Dante Foundation. The competitive grant is awarded each year to a handful of students across Nassau and Suffolk counties who are of Italian heritage, achieve an above average score on the SATs, are actively involved in their high schools, and plan to attend college after graduation. The event, which took place at the elegant Westbury Manor, is an annual celebration founded to encourage fellowship among Italian-Americans and fundraise to establish scholarships for outstanding youth.

Isabella credits her time here at Sacred Heart Academy for helping her earn the scholarship. She says the transformative power of a single-sex education has helped her gain the confidence and leadership skills necessary to succeed in college and beyond. 

“Going to an all-girls school had great benefits. I met my lifelong friends here and it helped shape who I am today.”

Isabella says staying involved in sports and activities helped foster those friendships and gave her a sense of belonging. Over the course of her time here at Sacred Heart Isabella played on Varsity Field Hockey, and immersed herself in clubs such as Best Buddies, Lady Spartans Against Cancer, Limb Kind Club, Friend of Ronald McDonald House, and of course, Red & Gold. 

As Isabella prepares to attend Fairfield University this fall, she fondly reflects on her years here on campus, specifically her experience as Spirit Captain for Gold in last year’s Red & Gold. 

“One memory that will always stay with me from my time at Sacred Heart is when it was announced that the Gold team won, proving everyone's hard work and dedication to the team paid off!”

Isabella’s dedication extends well beyond the SHA campus and into her community. Every summer, Isabella immerses herself in service, volunteering at Camp ANCHOR and giving her time to the Mary Ruchalski Foundation, a Long Island charity dedicated to raising awareness for pediatric cancer. 

“Throughout my experience at SHA I have learned to Lead with Heart. From my freshman year to senior, my classmates have always been there for me.” 

She added that the faculty here at SHA, specifically the teachers of the Resource Room, helped her achieve her academic goals. “They believed in me and gave me so much support through my entire career SHA.”

Isabella will study psychology at Fairfield in the hopes of becoming an occupational therapist for children with special needs.

Sacred Heart Academy congratulates Isabella on her well-earned scholarship and is  proud to count her among the most recent members of its national sisterhood of SHA alumnae!