Ryan Carosi’s passion was carpentry. However, his career and life were cut short: he was stabbed to death in Pittsburgh last summer. Now, his family and friends want to honor him and help other students pursue a vocational or technical career.
“Not a lot of people can say that they took their childhood dreams and their passions and turned them into a profession, but for Ryan, he really followed his heart and did that,” said Devin Carosi, Ryan’s brother.
Devin said his brother’s love of carpentry started at a young age.
“Painting and building these little racecars. Piecing them together, taking them apart. Using and doing everything with his hands that he could,” Carosi said.
Ryan took vocational classes at Greater Johnstown High School. He attended a trade school and eventually became a carpenter and moved to Pittsburgh, where he was killed.
“It’s hard reflecting back on some of those pictures on the times that were good. And for all of that to be taken away very, very quickly,” Devin said.
Devin and some of Ryan’s childhood friends started the memorial fund through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. They said they wanted to take a tragedy and turn it into something positive.
“Carry on Ryan’s legacy of carpentry, his love of trades, helping people and his love of others,” said Natalie Kauffman, one of Ryan’s childhood friends who helped start the scholarship fund.
The scholarship fund will award $500 each year to at least one GJHS senior planning to attend a vocational or trade school.
Devin said the scholarship can help build a bright future for students, for years to come.
“This is just a little silver lining that we’re doing something good for somene else,” Carosi said. “To give them that opportunity that they necessarily may not have.”
The deadline for GJHS seniors to apply is April 20th.
To learn more about the Ryan Carosi Memorial Scholarship, apply or donate to the fund, click here.