Vecellio Family Foundation Nears
$2 Million In Scholarships
(4th Quarter 2004)
“Giving back to the community” is not just a cliché for the Vecellio Group. It’s a fact, with more than $1.96 million in college scholarships awarded thus far by its charity arm, the Vecellio Family Foundation.
“We believe in the value of a good education and in giving back to the communities where our company’s roots were formed,” said Leo Vecellio, Jr., CEO of the privately held group, founded in 1938 as Vecellio & Grogan (V&G) in Beckley, W.Va.
Jordan Pratt
Guinevere Pressley
Stephanie Yoder
Specializing in heavy/highway construction, the company prospered over the years and in 1973, family members established the foundation.
Independent review boards administer the scholarships, choosing recipients from selected West Virginia high schools, a state-wide conservation program, and among dependents of Vecellio Group employees.
To date, 239 scholarships have been awarded, with 11 granted last year worth $10,000 each. Three went to employee dependents Jordan Pratt, Guinevere Pressley and Stephanie Yoder.
Jordan, son of V&G equipment operator Glenn Pratt, is attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. Guinevere is the daughter of Bill Pressley, helicopter pilot for the West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Vecellio Group; she is majoring in theater at Florida Atlantic University. Stephanie, daughter of Estimator Bill Yoder of subsidiary Ranger Construction Industries, also based in West Palm, is studying physical therapy at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
Eight scholarships were awarded through the West Virginia programs.
Jared G. Lilly of Daniels, representing Shady Spring High School, was selected for a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship, named to honor V&Gs late co-founder. Liberty High School graduate Tiffany Jenkins, of Glen Daniel, also received a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship.
At Woodrow Wilson High School, three students received scholarships: Kristin A. Carnes of Beaver, with a Rick Vecellio Memorial Scholarship, named to honor the late brother of Leo Vecellio, Jr.; Leslie N. Lagowski of Mabscott, who earned a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship; and Andrew F. Conner of Beckley, who received an Al Janutolo Memorial Scholarship, named for a long-time V&G employee.
A Leo A. Vecellio, Sr., Memorial Scholarship was also given to Nicole M. Goddard from Independence High School.
In McDowell County, Joni M. Cline of Roderfield was awarded a Dr. Dante Castrodale Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of Leo A. Vecellio, Sr.s brother-in-law, who served as a physician in the area for many years.
Heather M. Gillich of Martinsburg received the Rick Vecellio Memorial Conservation Scholarship/Youth Conservation Award.
With operations throughout the South Atlantic states and beyond, the Vecellio Group is one of the countrys top 200 contractors — top 30 in heavy/highway construction — as ranked by Engineering News-Record.
Ranger Golf Builds Two Top 10 Courses
(4th 2004)
Two of the best new golf courses in the country in 2004 were built by Ranger Golf, reports Travel & Leisure GOLF.
The magazines Ten Best New Public/Resort Courses list includes two Ranger-built golf courses: Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland, CA, and Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viego, CA
Nestled at the base of Angeles National Forest, the Sunland course was designed by Jack Nicklaus Design, with Steve Nicklaus as Lead Designer. It plays at 7,141 yards.
Arroyo Trabuco is a links-style layout against a rolling hills backdrop, with numerous water hazards from Trabuco Creek. Co-designed by Tom Lehman and Casey OCallaghan, the course plays at just over 7,000 yards.
VA-Tech Hears Vecellio Lecture
(4th Quarter 2004)
Michael Vecellio chats with Patricia Galloway after her presentation of the 2004 Vecellio Lecture at Virginia Tech. Ms. Galloway is CEO of Nielson-Wurster Group and President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The annual lecture is part of the school’s Vecellio Construction Engineering and Management Program, the result of a generous endowment by the Vecellio Family Foundation and individual family members.