Whitestone scholars honored

Francesca Marotta, 8, (front left) and Amber Fioranalli, 9, (front right), greet thousands from the Perillo Tours float, as they made their way up the Fifth Avenue route of Manhattan’s 63rd annual Columbus Day Parade. Behind them, moms Loredana Marotta and Jennifer Staffa beam with pride.
The two Whitestone girls were among 849 deserving Italian-American students who were awarded scholarships by the organizers of the parade, the Columbus Citizen’s Foundation.
Fioranalli attends St. Luke’s school in Whitestone; Marotta attends St. Mel’s school in Flushing.