Scholarship Review Committee
In the Spring, the Scholarship Review Committee, consisting of volunteers who are professionals in fields of education, medicine, learning challenges (disabilities), law, nonprofits, and engineering, meet to evaluate applications from around the country. The applications go through a series of rigorous reviews to determine if the applicant meets the criteria, has told a compelling story, is reminiscent of Joseph, and has explained how the funds would have a significant financial or emotional impact on them. Prior Joseph James Morelli Scholarship recipients are strongly encouraged to reapply. Scholarship awards may be applied towards uses that can help a student be successful, and include tuition, tutoring, assistive technology, and testing. Applications open in January and close mid-March each year.
Committee Co-Founders
Barbara Morelli
Barbara Wirostko (Morelli) MD is the mother of the late Joseph James Morelli and the founder of the Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation. Barb received her BA from Cornell University and her MD from Columbia University. She is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship trained glaucoma specialist with an Adjunct Professor appointment at Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. She is an entrepreneur and serves on several local boards and committees. Barb lives in Park City, UT with her husband and children.
Joseph Morelli
Joseph John Morelli MD is the father of the late Joseph James Morelli and serves on the board of the Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation. Joe received his undergraduate from University of Virginia and his MD from Columbia University. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist and fellowship trained in pediatric anesthesiology. He serves on the governing boards of Park City Medical Center and Mountain West Anesthesia. Joe lives in Park City, UT with wife Barbara and children.
Committee Members
Marcy Abate, Chairperson
Marcy holds a degree in Business Logistics from Penn State and worked in production planning, inventory control, and project management roles for 18 years, most recently for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. She has been involved with various scholarship committees related to the schools her children attended, both in Connecticut and in Utah, ranging from preschool to high school. Marcy resides in Park City, Utah with her husband.
Riki Case, Program Manager
Riki serves as the administrator of the scholarship application software and assists the Foundation board with donor database management, communication, process definition, and whatever else needs to be done. Riki received a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech. She and her family reside in Park City, UT.
Amy Baribeault
Amy holds a degree in economics from Cornell University. Amy spent 25 years at State Street Corporation where she held a variety of senior management positions in operations, transaction execution, risk, and compliance. She most enjoyed coaching and developing new employees. Amy lives with her family in Boston, MA
Emily Baribault
Emily works in the health insurance industry and is currently pursuing an under graduate degree. She is a lifelong friend of the Morelli family and is excited to be part of the Review Committee. Emily can empathize with the scholarship applicants since she shares some of their same challenges.
Judy Brownstein
Judy has a degree in education with a BA in English and a masters in secondary education from the University of Pennsylvania. She served as an English teacher in Philadelphia, and most recently as an editor of academic, scientific, and medical books for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers in New York City, and an editor and writer for Scientific American Medicine. Judy has served on committees and boards of several local and national nonprofit organizations.
Charlie Matthews
With degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University, Charlie has worked with high school students for over 30 years. He has been an AP Physics teacher at Park City High School from 1992 to 2016. As the engineering facilitator for the Park City School District Center for Advanced Professional Studies, Charlie has had the opportunity to immerse students as engineers into work-based projects. Charlie now serves as STEM Coordinator for the Park City School District. He lives with his family in Park City.
Jack Mercer
Jack serves as a special advisor to the Scholarship Review Committee. He received his B.A from Duke University, and a Masters in Special Education from North Carolina State University. He is the recipient of a fellowship in the Special Education doctoral program at the University of Utah, and is pursuing his PhD. Prior to enrolling at the University of Utah, he served as Director of Special Education at Alianza Academy in Salt Lake City, Special Education teacher at Basalt High School in Basalt, Colorado, and Academic Director at the Aspen Valley Ski Club in Aspen, Colorado.
Julia Morelli
Julia graduated from the University of Southern California in May of 2020 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. She currently lives in San Francisco working as a technology consultant for the healthcare industry. She proudly sits on the review committee for the foundation that honors her brother Joseph and enjoys getting to know all the applicants and awardees. She enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, and simply being outdoors, as did Joseph.
Donell Pons
Donell Pons is a reading specialist and dyslexia specialist in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pons started her career in education when her youngest son was diagnosed with dyslexia, going on to receive a dual master’s degree in Education and Teaching from Westminster College along with a certification in Special Education. She is also a tutor in several Orton-Gillingham based reading programs and is a certified dyslexia screener and consultant. Donell’s mission is to identify, screen, and remediate every student who struggles with reading and engage every K-12 teacher in the reading process.
Laura Schiro
Laura is a global executive director of technology at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Working in technology for over forty years, she has expertise leading IT organizations, projects, and transformations across financial, telecom, pharma and consumer-goods industries. Throughout her career, she has taken advantage of any opportunity to foster the professional and technical development of more junior technologists. Laura has also been an active volunteer for several charity organizations. Outside of work, Laura can be found on the slopes of Vermont and Utah, or sailing the northeast coast with her husband and daughter.
