2 Nyack H.S. Students Win Scholarships Named For Slain Police Officers

Two Nyack High School students are among the winners of the 2011 O'Grady-Brown scholarships, named in honor of nearly 30 years ago.

South Nyack-Grand View Police Chief Robert Van Cura, chairman of the O'Grady-Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund, said the $1,000 scholarships are presented with the assistance of the Police Chiefs Foundation of Rockland County and the Rockland County Patrolman's Benevolent Association.

Scholarship winners Christopher Archibal and Nicholas Kydon, both Nyack High School students, are set to receive their awards at a 10 a.m. breakfast ceremony on Saturday, June 4 at the Nyack Seaport, 21 Burd St., Nyack.

Also named winners are:

- Matthew Barry, Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack.
- Laura Brennan, Clarkstown North High School in New City.
- Derick Macaulay, North Rockland High School in Thiells.
- Steven Rohrig, Clarkstown South High School.

The guest speaker at the breakfast ceremony is scheduled to be Rockland County Sheriff James Kralik. Kralik, a Sloatsburg Republican, is retiring from his elected post this year.

The scholarship is an annual tribute to the memory of Nyack Police Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Police Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown. They were slain in a shoot out at the Mountainview Avenue entrance to the New York State Thruway Exit 11 interchange on Oct. 20, 1981 as part of the Brink's armored car robbery at the Nanuet Mall.

Brink's guard Peter Paige was also killed in the robbery.

A memorial at the site of the shooting honors the victims of that deadly day.

The scholarship breakfast is open to the public. Tickets are $25 per person; call 845-358-0206, ext. 16.