Alumni Rugby Football

The Robert David Peraza Scholarship

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Craig Chatfield (SBU 2011) - 2007 (Inaugural) Scholarship Winner

Craig Chatfield of Cheshire, CT, is the inaugural Robert David Peraza Memorial Rugby Scholarship winner.  He was selected from among the finalists by the Peraza Family.  Craig has started at Fly Half for the SBU Men’s Rugby Club all season.  The Outlaws are currently ranked #16 nationally at 6-0.

 Craig was introduced to rugby in 2005/06 at the start of the Cheshire Rugby program. He took to the game immediately and found this to be a great release. Although he suffered an injury that kept him sidelined much of the first season, he attended every practice and learned. He was given some DVD's on Johnnie Wilkinson (England 2003 Rugby World Cup MVP) and became very proficient at kicking. In fact one of the best in the high school sport. Craig had an outstanding year in 2007 and was a leader in scoring. He was a significant contributor to the team's second season success and took the D II New England Championship. The team had a 9-1 season and lost only to Greenwich, CT, a team that is nationally ranked. Craig took MVP honors and was considered a leader on and off the pitch.

 Thanks to the excellent coaching from Bill Bishop, who mentored Craig as well as direction from his other coaches, Joe Masi, Peter Velcofsky and Dr. Dan Ruddy, Craig has excelled at Rugby and is really looking forward to attending St. Bonaventure. When the Peraza Scholarship was announced that this was available, we all knew that Craig was the individual who would most deserve it and would honor the scholarship with pride and excellence

Scholarship Letter

Dear SBU Rugby Alumni Members,

In 1975, the St. Bonaventure University Rugby Football Club (SBURFC) was formed.  Since then, the University and the game have brought together scores of great memories and friendships that continues to grow to this day.  “The Robert David Peraza Rugby Scholarship” is a way for us all to give back to the University and the rugby club that has done so much for all of us. Thanks to the Peraza Family’s generosity, commitment and love for the St. Bonaventure rugby community, the “Robert David Peraza Scholarship” will now be called the “Robert David Peraza Rugby Scholarship” and will be awarded to an incoming high school rugby player.  This Scholarship is the one of the first of its kind at any Catholic University in the United States. 

Our goal for the “Rob Peraza Rugby Alumni Weekend” and the “Rob Peraza Memorial Golf Outing” is to bring friends and family together in celebration of an amazing person.  In doing so, we have helped raise funds for “The Robert David Peraza Rugby Scholarship”, an endowed scholarship that was established at St. Bonaventure University in June 2002 where Rob played rugby and earned both his undergraduate degree (1994) and MBA (1996). This Scholarship is set up to make it easier for deserving high school rugby players to attend St Bonaventure University and follow in Rob’s footsteps. It will be funded by SBU Rugby Alumni, family and friends of Rob and awarded to qualified high school rugby players looking to attend St. Bonaventure University.

We are asking each and every one of you to donate to the scholarship.  Your generosity will go a long way:

·         Your donation will help a needy student attend a school that they may not have normally been able to due to the rising costs of attending college.

·         It will help support and promote St. Bonaventure University- this will be the first rugby specific scholarship at a Catholic University in the Unites States.

·         It will help the SBURFC by seeding it with high quality student athletes who already know how to play the game and can help teach the game’s fundamentals to teammates who have been introduced to the game for the first time.

What type of scholarship is it?

The Scholarship is held at St. Bonaventure University and became be fully endowed when it reached  $25,000.  Currently, the scholarship has approximately $110,000 in it.  Endowment status means we can provide income in perpetuity that provides critical support for student scholarships. In order to take full advantage of the scholarship, it is critical that we raise as much money for the scholarship as possible. 

Who will the scholarship be awarded to? 

SBU Rugby Alumni will be responsible for finding qualified high school rugby players with financial need looking to attend SBU.  This is a needs based scholarship, we want to find high school rugby players who normally would not have the opportunity to attend St. Bonaventure University due to financial need. The amount we award is based on how much we can raise but it will be renewable to the same student for 4 years (read below for more details).  As the scholarship grows, we will have more flexibility to the amount we award and the number of students we award it to. 

How much will we be able to award? 

We will award 5% of the market value of what ever we raise, which is typical of all endowed scholarships at SBU.  This scholarship is entitled to the same privileges as any other endowed scholarship the university sponsors.  Bottom line, the more money we raise the more we can award and the more students we can award it to.  Remember, we are awarding the scholarship based on financial need so these will probably be students who already qualify for some sort of financial aid package or grant.  While 5% may not seem like a lot to some of you, it could mean a lot to the students who qualify and the more we raise, the more meaningful the award. Take the following scenarios: 

 Who is responsible for finding qualified high school rugby players for the scholarship?

We (SBU Rugby Alumni) are.  This is our opportunity to find quality student athletes to come to the university and play rugby for the club.  We are in control of whom the University screens for the scholarship.  While the University’s financial aid office and the Peraza Family will make the final decision on who is awarded the scholarship, it is our responsibility to present them with qualified high school student athletes.

 What if I have a candidate for the scholarship, what is the application  process?

 We (SBU Rugby Alumni) will have to nominate a point person who will represent the scholarship on behalf of the rugby alumni and will be the contact person for the university to go through. The University’s contact person is Janet Glogouski, Director of Scholarships and Endowments at St. Bonaventure University.  All names of eligible high school rugby players you would like to submit for the scholarship should be sent to our designated contact person who will present them to the University.  Priority will be given to student athletes who are in the greatest need for financial assistance.  They will also have to submit a written essay describing what the “Robert David Peraza Rugby Scholarship” means to them. The normal application process will follow (qualifying admissions testing, high school GPA, etc.). 

 How much should I give and what is our goal?

 We have set a goal to reach $500,000 in the Scholarship as soon as possible.  The Scholarship currently has approximately $110,00 in it, which means we have to raise $390,000 to hit our goal.  At the $500,000 level we will be able to award a full scholarship to a deserving student for 4 years or we could split the scholarship and award it to more than one student.  To reach this goal, we are asking everyone to participate and give as much as you can afford to.

 Your generosity is appreciated and needed.  At a bare minimum, we are asking each of you to contribute at least $150.00.  We have 200+ rugby alumni members in our database and if everyone gives at least $150.00 we can make a big impact on the scholarship by raising $30,000 in a very short time.  Think about it- that is $12.50 per month (not even enough to buy a round of beers…unless you are in Allegany!) and the University can have it automatically deducted from your checking account on a monthly basis if you choose to do so!  If $12.50 per month seems like if will not have a negative impact on your quality of life…then consider giving $25, $50, $100, or $250...

 There are other ways you can donate.  Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. The impact of your gift to the scholarship may be doubled or possibly tripled. Some companies also match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses.  You can also contribute securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.).

 How do we make a tax-deductible donation to the Robert David Peraza Rugby Scholarship? 

·         By Check:  All checks should be made payable to “St. Bonaventure University” with “Robert David Peraza Rugby Scholarship” in the memo section. 

·         By Credit Card or to Donate Securities (stocks, bonds or mutual funds): Contact Janet Glogouski at (716) 375-4084 or at jglogous@sbu.edu, or send in the attached donation form.

·         Matching Gift Program: Please take a minute to visit: www.matchinggifts.com/sbu/ to see if your company participates in a “Matching Gift Program”.

·         Please see attached “SBU Rugby Scholarship Form” for other payment methods.

  Click here for pdf file with printable form

Mail Donations Form to:

Janet Glogouski
Director of Scholarships and Endowments 
P.O. Box 2500 
St. Bonaventure, NY  14778
Phone: (716) 375-4084 or (800) 664-1273

All donations to the St. Bonaventure University Rugby Alumni Scholarship are tax-deductible. St. Bonaventure University is a tax exempt, charitable organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code with the Taxpayer Identification Number of 16-0743150. An acknowledgement of your tax-deductible gift will be mailed to the address provided or on the check used.

What do we do from here?

We are asking you to nominate and vote for a Rugby Alumni Board who will ultimately represent us all and help organize and raise funds for the scholarship.  Annual Board Meetings will take place and board members will be called on to vote on important alumni issues.  All positions listed are entitled to “voting rights”.  Members can serve more than one position but will only be entitled to one vote. The undergraduate President will also be invited to participate in board meetings and will be entitled to a vote. We are asking for everyone to nominate and vote for board members dedicated to serve as:

 ·         Honorary Board of Directors:  Robert and Suzanne Peraza, Neil Peraza and Steve Comber. They will provide input regarding rugby alumni events, fundraising efforts and they will work with the University to select whom the scholarship will be awarded to (voting rights: 1 each).

·         President of SBU Rugby Alumni Association: Key contact for the University to go through and helps coordinate and organize rugby alumni events.  Update the www.bonaoldboys.com website with important alumni current events.   Coordinates and moderates meetings of the alumni board and can decide issues in case of a tie (voting rights: 1).

·         VP of SBU Rugby Alumni Association: Serves as Alumni Coordinator and promotes rugby alumni weekend every year, making decisions and assigning tasks for all aspects of the weekend- party, fund raising and game preparation. Can designate other alumni members for event planning (post game party, fund raising, social events, etc.) and alumni game preparations (selections, practice, coach, etc.). Will name the “Man of the Match” and select a coach and/or Alumni captain (voting rights: 1).

·         Board of Directors:  Contacting classmates, friends and family for donations to the scholarship and asking them to attend rugby alumni weekend in April (looking for 2- 4 representatives from the 70’s, 80‘s, 90’s and 2000’s).  Provide board oversight and represent their respective decade when voting on key issues. Networks with their respective decade and helps bring back alumni for rugby weekend (voting rights: 1 each).

·         Recruitment Coordinator(s): network with high school rugby players, local rugby unions and coaches to spread the word about the scholarship and attract quality student athletes and coaches for the undergraduate team. Promote the club and attract non-scholarship students to the University.  Market the University and club in various rugby publications. (voting rights: 1).

 We ask that each of you nominate yourself or a classmate to fill these spots and email the person’s name to: wpkelly@hotmail.com.  These nominees will represent the SBU Rugby Alumni in all aspects (scholarship, alumni weekend, fund raising…).  More than one person in the event of a tie can head positions up.  Please send in by September 3^rd. The Alumni Board will be announced on the alumni website by September 8, 2006.

Regional Recruiting Coordinators:

New England - Matt Fernandes

New York City - Bill Kelly/Phil Lazzaro

Mid-Atlantic - Paul Fordiani

Rochester - Mark Fitzgerald

Buffalo - Clarence Picard

Northeast Ohio - Bob Sims/Clarence Picard

Central Ohio - Kevin Valis

Chicago - Bruce Snyder

Colorado - Tom Ren