Debate coach's memory to live on in scholarship
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - Students of Kathleen Viscardi describe their former Shrewsbury High School (SHS) Speech and Debate Team coach as a caring, involved woman who has been greatly missed since her death in 2005.

"Mrs. V cared about her students as people even more than she cared about us as competitors. She gave us birthday cards and graduation gifts," said Christina Manos, a former student of Viscardi's. "If she knew a student had a difficult home life, she went out of her way to provide extra support for that student. If someone didn't have the means to buy appropriate clothing [for competitions], Mrs. V would just happen to have a sport coat and tie or a skirt in the right size that the student could have."

It was this compassionate nature that Manos said led her to want to do something to honor the woman who meant so much to so many. She and current SHS Speech and Debate Coach Marc Rischitelli, who was also a student of Viscardi's, have created the Kathleen Viscardi Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship will go to one graduating senior who has been active with the Speech and Debate Team. Although the rest of the criteria for applicants has not yet been determined, Manos said, a strong sense of spirit was always more important to Viscardi than the number of wins.

"Her most-repeated line was, 'You're all winners just by getting on that bus at 7 this morning.' She really believed that the process of competing was important: the discipline, the practice, the getting dressed up," Manos said. "It truly didn't matter to her if her students won, because she believed that participating was the most important thing."

Manos said she's hoping to be able to off er the scholarship on a yearly basis, but it will depend on the level of donations received each year.

To contribute to the Kathleen Viscardi Memorial Scholarship, contact Marc Rischitelli at Shrewsbury High School for more information.