About the Scholarships
Frank J. Klesack Memorial Scholarship
Awarded in recognition of perseverance toward academics and community service.
Frank was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1920 and lived in Medina. It was there that he met his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Mae Hood and helped raise their two children, June and Maria.
He was a proud World War II Navy veteran and served on board the USS Wasp in the South Pacific. After the war he went to trade school and became a master plumber and “Frank of all Trades.”
Frank believed in giving back to his hometown and that any job, done with honest effort, strengthened the community. He was a volunteer fireman and Fire Chief. He sat on the local zoning board and even built stage sets for the school plays.
Whether repairing a leaky pipe, fixing a neighbor’s clogged drain, or training an apprentice, he treated each task with the same care and respect, knowing that reliable work kept businesses open, families safe, and homes comfortable. To him, skill and humility turned ordinary labor into public service, and every completed job was a quiet, essential act of neighborliness.
Later in life, Frank loved to bake and became “famous” for his coconut cake! He lived a happy and full life to the age of 94.
Elizabeth Mae Hood Salutatorian Scholarship
Awarded in recognition of excellence in academic endeavors.
Frank’s wife “Betty” was born in Medina, Ohio in 1922. Though officially married in December of 1941, she and Frank kept their marriage a secret so that he could enlist in the Navy.
Betty was a devoted mother and enjoyed her role as a “domestic engineer,” as she liked to call herself. She was a wonderful cook, baker and avid gardener, as well as a loving caregiver to her 103-year-old mother, Lola Hood.
Like Frank, Betty was thoroughly engaged in the community. She was a member of the league of Women Voters and was a poll worker for many years. Betty’s greatest passion, however, came from her involvement in the PTA, (she held all the offices over the years) and her belief in the value of a good education.
Betty and Frank were married for 68 years with two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild! Betty lived a full, rich and happy life to the age of 86.
Fred and Elizabeth Van Bourgondien Scholarship
Awarded in recognition of outstanding community service and excellence in academic endeavors.
Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Van Bourgondien (née Eppig) was a lifelong resident of the Babylon area. She graduated from Babylon High School in 1940. Betty married Fred Van Bourgondien from Hillegom, Holland, in 1946, and together they had five children- John, Jim, Mary, Joe, and Barbara, all of whom were graduates of Babylon High School.
While flowers and bulbs were the essence of both the Van Bourgondien and Eppig businesses, Betty’s passion was advocating for education for all. She was one of the original volunteer members of the Babylon Scholarship Committee which helped create and fund scholarships for local students.
In addition, she spent 25 years serving first as a member of the Babylon Board of Education, and then on the Board Of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) board. She was one of the first women to be elected to these boards and used this opportunity to continue to advocate for increased opportunities for all students.
In addition, she spent 25 years serving first as a member of the Babylon Board of Education, and then on the Board Of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) board. She was one of the first women to be elected to these boards and used this opportunity to continue to advocate for increased opportunities for all students.
She almost never missed a chance to speak at a graduation, inspiring individuals of different abilities to be the best they can be in whatever future path they chose to pursue.
In addition, Betty was also one of the founding members of the local chapter of the Catholic Daughters of America 60 years ago. She worked with other volunteers to donate and raise money for charities, administer scholarship programs, and strive to help others wherever there was a need.
The Elizabeth and Fred Van Bourgondien Family Scholarship was started in 2005 in a tribute to Betty’s commitment to education.
The BCSF Founders Valedictorian Scholarship
Awarded in recognition of excellence in academic endeavors.
Babylon Community Scholarships
Awarded in recognition of excellence in academic endeavors with an emphasis on community service.
The Babylon Community Scholarship Fund, founded in 1965, provides scholarships to graduating seniors who live within the Babylon School District
The Founders Valedictorian Scholarship is awarded to the valedictorian of the graduating class of Babylon High School.
The Babylon Community Scholarship recipients are selected based on a combination of academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, work experience, and a strong commitment to community service.
The program is entirely community-supported, funded through annual events like the Annual Fashion Show as well as donations, allowing the local community and businesses to invest directly in Babylon students’ future educational goals.