Scholarship Program
Each year, the Oceanside United Soccer Club awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have come through the OUSC program. The scholarships assist them to defray the costs of a post high school education.
Profits from the club's annual indoor and outdoor tournaments, as well as field advertising and sponsorship revenue from the outdoor tournament, help fund these scholarships. In the past 20 years, over $350,000 has been awarded to more than 200 graduating seniors.
Scholarships are awarded annually as follows:
Vito Sguera Memorial Scholarship, honors long time club member and coach Vito Sguera who passed away in 2019.
OUSC Merit Scholarship Award
This award is given to soccer players who have played for Oceanside and who have exemplified the characteristics of a true student athlete…dedication to academics, perseverance, volunteerism, hard work and sportsmanship.
Phil LaMonica Memorial Award
It is hard to encapsulate in just a few sentences the influential life of a man whose name was Phil LaMonica. Phil was a volunteer that represented the heart and soul of Oceanside and Oceanside United Soccer. Whether it was with his wife Bessie, his children Rudy and Donna or his grandchildren Taylor and Austin, Phil did all in his power to promote the importance of the sport of soccer, to sustain its growth and to make it truly accessible to all youth regardless of gender or ability not only here in Oceanside but on Long Island and in New York State. Therefore, OUSC has created this award to recognize a student that embodies Phil's spirit and passion for the sport of soccer.
Bob Schrager Memorial Scholarship
This award recognizes the tireless efforts of one of Oceanside United's most dedicated volunteers. Bob Schrager donated his time above and beyond all of the other members before him at Oceanside United. The club recognized his efforts by naming our ongoing Labor Day tournament in his name and the recipient of this scholarship has earned the award by following Bob's role as a volunteer.
Joe Goldberg Memorial Scholarship
A co-founder of the Oceanside United Soccer Club, Joe Goldberg was the driving force behind the creation and success of OUSC, serving the club and the Oceanside community for 51 years before passing away in May of 2013. With no equal in youth soccer in terms of organizational ability, his leadership qualities, his honesty and integrity, he was elected to both the Long Island Junior Soccer League and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Halls of Fame. This scholarship recognizes a deserving Oceanside player who represents the best of those qualities, both on and off the field.
Bessie Lamonica Memorial Scholarship
As a club founder, Director, Life Member, Bessie is considered the Matriarch of the Oceanside United Soccer Club. She was a force of nature who did not accept the word no on any challenge. Bessie was elected to both the Long Island Junior Soccer League and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Halls of Fame. Bessie exemplified the true spirit of volunteerism, she and her husband Phil founded Oceanside United Soccer Clubs’ girls soccer program in 1972. Bessie created and managed the Rudy Lamonica tournament journal and the Oceanside United Soccer Club Intramural Team Sponsorship program for many decades. The proceeds of this journal served as the primary source of the many college scholarships Oceanside United Soccer Club has awarded over the past 50+ years! The Intramural Team Sponsorship program helped offset the cost of running the Intramural program keeping family fees very reasonable. Her boundless energy, personal sacrifices and enormous contributions have left an indelible impact on the Oceanside United Soccer Club and Long Island Soccer which will forever distinguish Bessie’s legacy. This scholarship recognizes a deserving Oceanside player who represents the best of those qualities, both on and off the field.
Rudy LaMonica Memorial Award
Rudy LaMonica was one of Oceanside's finest players whose life was cut short before he achieved his dream of playing in college and professionally. Rudy truly had the skill and the ability. He was strong academically and he exhibited all the characteristics of a great player such as technical ability, knowledge of the game, work ethic, perseverance and sportsmanship. Oceanside United continues to host the longest running Indoor Tournament in the nation, in Rudy’s name. OUSC would like to remember Rudy by presenting one of our most prestigious awards to the student who represents all that made Rudy great and to assist them in attaining their goals. This year’s winner is…
All scholarship applicants must meet the eligibility qualifications (SEE GUIDELINES & APPLICATION BELOW) and follow the application procedures set forth by the Board of Directors. Announcement of the scholarship winners is made at either Oceanside High School 's annual awards night or the individual recipient's home school senior honor night, as well as at OUSC's annual June awards ceremony.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
2008 Scholarship Recipients
2006 Scholarship Recipients
The club wishes to acknowledge and greatly appreciates the continued generosity and support of all of the contributors to our annual indoor tournament journal. Those proceeds, in addition to the support of all who take out ads for our Labor Day tournament. enable the club to sustain these scholarships each year. THANK YOU!