WILMINGTON, Mass. (August 2024) — UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF), a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products and first aid and safety services, is proud to announce the 2024 recipients of the Aldo Croatti and Ronald D. Croatti Scholarships. Since the inception of the UniFirst scholarships, the Company has awarded close to one million dollars in financial support to deserving students and employees, underscoring the company’s commitment to education and professional growth.
The Aldo Croatti Scholarship is awarded annually to the children of company employees. This UniFirst scholarship honors the legacy of UniFirst’s founder, Aldo Croatti. Since 2004, this scholarship program has granted more than $500,000 to support students in their academic endeavors.
Each year, 12 Aldo Croatti Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students enrolled or enrolling in full-time undergraduate studies at an accredited college or vocational/technical school. Applications are open to children of full-time UniFirst or UniFirst subsidiary employees who have been with the company for a minimum of one year.
The 2024 Aldo Croatti Scholarship recipients collectively received $22,000 toward their educational goals. The recipients are as follows:
Aldo Croatti Scholarship Recipients:
- Aagam Prakash | Wilmington, MA | Emory University
- Abigayle Levine | Portland, ME | Saint Joseph’s College
- Alexia Arthur | Wilmington, MA | University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Ashley Myhr | Nashville, TN | Tennessee Tech University
- Cali Bean | Fort Myers, FL | University of Florida
- Ella Dickinson | Wilmington, MA | University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Emily Gariepy | Springfield, MA | University of Vermont
- Haiven Potts | Wilmington, MA | Union University
- Isabella Cerna | Charlotte, NC | University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Isabella Dolce | Jacksonville, FL | University of Florida
- Makenna Carricato | Pittsburgh, PA | University of Pittsburgh
- Margaret Ritchie | Wilmington, MA | Providence College
Ashley Myhr, one of the 2024 Aldo Croatti Scholarship recipients, shared her gratitude, stating, “Receiving this UniFirst scholarship means a lot to me because my dad has been working at UniFirst for as long as I can remember. I am so grateful that I get to apply this scholarship to my tuition and make my parents proud.”
The Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship provides financial support to full-time UniFirst employees. This UniFirst scholarship honors Aldo’s son, Ron, who led the company from 1991 until his passing in 2017. The program assists those pursuing full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate studies at accredited colleges or vocational/technical schools for an entire academic year. Since 2015, UniFirst has given more than $350,000 to support the educational aspirations of its employees.
The 2024 Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship recipients collectively received $33,740 toward their educational goals. The recipients are as follows:
Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship Recipients:
- Jose Nunez | Wilmington, MA | Liberty University
- Zach LePage | Springfield, MA | Southern New Hampshire University
- Stephanie Roman | Wilmington, MA | Southern New Hampshire University
- Andrew Rohlfs | Jackson, MI | Northwood University
- Shannon Howard | Richland, WA | Columbia Basin Community College
- Khai Lian | Owensboro, KY | Brescia University
- Clare Berlanga | San Antonio, TX | San Antonio College/University of the Incarnate Word
- John Leugers | Cincinnati, OH | Rivier University
- Dawn McNelis | San Antonio, TX | Southern New Hampshire University
- Vincent Barbato | Watervliet, NY | Brescia University
- Trevor Cottle | Salt Lake City, UT | Western Governors University
- Sergio Ledezma | Ontario, CA | Riverside Community College
John Leugers, one of the recipients of the 2024 Ronald D. Croatti Scholarship, expressed his deep appreciation for the support, stating, “This UniFirst scholarship means a lot to me since I worked for Ron Croatti for so many years. He shaped me into the leader that I am today. It is an absolute honor to continue my development with a scholarship that was created in memory of him and his remarkable contributions to this great company and its team partners.”
“By investing in the education and development of our UniFirst team partners and their families, we are also investing in the future of our company,” said Steven Sintros, UniFirst President and CEO. “Both Aldo and Ron Croatti were big proponents of supporting our employees’ educational aspirations. The UniFirst scholarship program continues their legacy by nurturing the potential within our UniFirst family.”
UniFirst extends its congratulations to all the scholarship recipients and their families. The company is committed to supporting the growth and education of its team members, reflecting the values and vision of its founders. For more information, visit UniFirst.com.
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About UniFirst
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, as well as first aid and safety supplies and services. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. In addition to partnering with leading brands, UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at its five company-owned ISO-9001-certified manufacturing facilities. With more than 270 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 16,000-plus employee Team Partners, the company outfits more than 2 million workers every day. For additional information, contact UniFirst at 888.296.2740 or visit UniFirst.com. Follow UniFirst on Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram.
