FREEHOLD — Apair of Freehold High School students have been named the recipients of two $2,500 scholarships given in memory of Frank “Spat” Federici.
Federici was a member of the Freehold High School class of 1941. He owned and operated the Federici Family Restaurant on East Main Street in downtown Freehold. He died in 2009. The scholarship is in its second year.
Federici’s wife, Patricia, presented the scholarships during an awards ceremony for culinary arts students on June 8 at the high school.
The scholarship recipients are Jillian Lemesevski, 17, and Brian Nulty, 18.
Nulty will be studying culinary arts at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, and Lemesevski will be studying at Johnson andWales, Miami.
“My father dedicated his life to our family restaurant and provided a culinary legacy to our family,” said Federici’s son, Michael, who now operates the restaurant. “This scholarship is a way for our family to support a young aspiring chef, further promoting our father’s legacy.”
Federici said he spoke to the students during the awards ceremony.
“I told them my father was instrumental in building the business into what it is today,” he said. “I told them how much my father loved the business and that he passed that love on to us. Arestaurant is one of the most self-rewarding businesses you can have if you do it well and if you love it. And people will know whether you are doing it because you love it, because it’s in your blood, or because it’s a job.”