Scholarship Winners - Where are they Now?
Norman Castello (Zeta ’49) nominated his grandaughter.
Jodi Castello (4 time scholarship winner 2003-2005, 2008). I graduated summa cum laude with a final GPA of 3.89 from Oswego State University in 2006 with dual majors in Music and Psychology. APD scholarships helped fund my collegiate expenses while I worked for 3 years as a Resident Assistant on campus.
I pledged a co-ed music fraternity during my undergraduate years (Mu Beta Psi) and was able to experience first-hand, the amazing and supportive family that is offered through involvement in a Greek organization. I stayed at Oswego State and pursued my graduate studies while working full time as a Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Counselor for a women's shelter. I graduated summa cum laude with a final GPA of 3.98 in 2009 with a Master’s Degree and Certificate of Advanced Studies n School Counseling.
I'm currently employed full time as a School Counselor at Indian River Middle School in Philadelphia, NY where I work primarily with military students who reside on and around Fort Drum (Army base). My grandfather and I shared a mutual love and appreciation for music and performance, specifically singing. Music continues to be a major part of my life. I perform regularly in musicals and plays through Northern New York - with Watertown Lyric Theatre, Little Theater, and The Butler Did it Players Murder Mystery Theatre Troupe.
In addition to this, I've been performing for over five years with Northern Blend Chorus, an internationally acclaimed women's barbershop chorus. For the past year and a half, I have also sung lead in a barbershop quartet called Lip Service, and competed in the women's international barbershop competition in Halifax, Nova Scotia. My grandfather not only fostered my love for music, but supported my pursuit to learn the craft by funding private vocal lessons and driving me to-and-from each lesson throughout all of high school. In 2015, I married my partner of 8 years, Patrick Maniccia, on board the Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship in Manhattan, NY and then sailed with 40 of my closet friends and family up the east coast. We currently reside in Watertown, NY with our two dogs Tank and Duke.
Upon Norman's passing, Jodi sent us the following letter:
To the Brotherhood of Alpha Phi Delta,
I regret to inform the brotherhood of Alpha Phi Delta that my grandfather, Norman P. Castello (Zeta ’49), passed away on July 31st at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, NY.
Alpha Phi Delta was a great source of pride for my grandfather. He cherished reading every Kleos Magazine cover-to-cover and would always forward me (as a former scholarship winner) his copy so I could look through it. I am forever grateful for the financial support Alpha Phi Delta offered me throughout college and graduate school by awarding me scholarships for multiple years. My grandfather was extremely proud of this and had been insisting I reach out to the brotherhood and give an update on where I'm at now in my life - as he said they had been featuring previous scholarship winners. I know it's too late for him to read these words in print form, but in honor of his request, I'd like to assure the Scholarship Committee that their scholarship monies were well spent.
I slept by my grandfather's side in the hospital in the days leading up to his passing and held his hand as he closed his eyes for the final time. His last wish was that I perform the Ave Maria at his funeral, which I proudly did (with tears in my eyes). My grandfather was an AMAZING man and he will be forever missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.
My grandfather's Alpha Phi Delta paddle now hangs proudly in my living room.
All my best,
Jodi Castello
Jodi Castello (4 time scholarship winner 2003-2005, 2008). I graduated summa cum laude with a final GPA of 3.89 from Oswego State University in 2006 with dual majors in Music and Psychology. APD scholarships helped fund my collegiate expenses while I worked for 3 years as a Resident Assistant on campus.
I pledged a co-ed music fraternity during my undergraduate years (Mu Beta Psi) and was able to experience first-hand, the amazing and supportive family that is offered through involvement in a Greek organization. I stayed at Oswego State and pursued my graduate studies while working full time as a Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Counselor for a women's shelter. I graduated summa cum laude with a final GPA of 3.98 in 2009 with a Master’s Degree and Certificate of Advanced Studies n School Counseling.
I'm currently employed full time as a School Counselor at Indian River Middle School in Philadelphia, NY where I work primarily with military students who reside on and around Fort Drum (Army base). My grandfather and I shared a mutual love and appreciation for music and performance, specifically singing. Music continues to be a major part of my life. I perform regularly in musicals and plays through Northern New York - with Watertown Lyric Theatre, Little Theater, and The Butler Did it Players Murder Mystery Theatre Troupe.
In addition to this, I've been performing for over five years with Northern Blend Chorus, an internationally acclaimed women's barbershop chorus. For the past year and a half, I have also sung lead in a barbershop quartet called Lip Service, and competed in the women's international barbershop competition in Halifax, Nova Scotia. My grandfather not only fostered my love for music, but supported my pursuit to learn the craft by funding private vocal lessons and driving me to-and-from each lesson throughout all of high school. In 2015, I married my partner of 8 years, Patrick Maniccia, on board the Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship in Manhattan, NY and then sailed with 40 of my closet friends and family up the east coast. We currently reside in Watertown, NY with our two dogs Tank and Duke.
Upon Norman's passing, Jodi sent us the following letter:
To the Brotherhood of Alpha Phi Delta,
I regret to inform the brotherhood of Alpha Phi Delta that my grandfather, Norman P. Castello (Zeta ’49), passed away on July 31st at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, NY.
Alpha Phi Delta was a great source of pride for my grandfather. He cherished reading every Kleos Magazine cover-to-cover and would always forward me (as a former scholarship winner) his copy so I could look through it. I am forever grateful for the financial support Alpha Phi Delta offered me throughout college and graduate school by awarding me scholarships for multiple years. My grandfather was extremely proud of this and had been insisting I reach out to the brotherhood and give an update on where I'm at now in my life - as he said they had been featuring previous scholarship winners. I know it's too late for him to read these words in print form, but in honor of his request, I'd like to assure the Scholarship Committee that their scholarship monies were well spent.
I slept by my grandfather's side in the hospital in the days leading up to his passing and held his hand as he closed his eyes for the final time. His last wish was that I perform the Ave Maria at his funeral, which I proudly did (with tears in my eyes). My grandfather was an AMAZING man and he will be forever missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.
My grandfather's Alpha Phi Delta paddle now hangs proudly in my living room.
All my best,
Jodi Castello
