Frangione, Engler Receive Basketball Referee Scholarships

Robert Frangione and Josh Engler were chosen as this year’s Newtown Youth Basketball Association (NYBA) Referee Scholarship recipients.

The NYBA Referee Scholarship award is designed to encourage better overall performance among the program’s high school refs. The scholarship also recognizes and rewards those referees who take their responsibilities seriously and consistently do an outstanding job on the court and at the scorers’ table.

To be eligible for the scholarship students need to serve as a referee in the NYBA program for at least three years. They must be a high school senior and establish a record of outstanding performance as a referee.  

Both Frangione and Engler have served as referees for the NYBA program for the last three years, with the majority of their duties involving the Junior (seventh and eighth grade) boys’ league. Both individuals were selected for the NYBA scholarship because of their commitment to working hard, being dependable, exhibiting strong referee skills, and acting as leaders especially in the role of mentoring younger, less experienced refs.

Frangione, who graduated from Newtown High School in January, is currently enrolled in Western Connecticut State University and is working at Newtown Youth Academy as well as performing carpentry and construction jobs. Engler will attend SUNY New Paltz in the fall pursuing a business major in addition to playing basketball.

Frangione and Engler each received a scholarship check for $500 to be applied toward their college educations.