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For South Philadelphians, the corners say as much about the residents as horoscopes, marital status or religions.
In fact, the question, “where you from?”, only has two possible answers in South Philly: An intersection or a parish.
For Nick Spadaccini, the answer was a quick, “17th and Pollock.”
But hanging on a certain inner-city intersection is becoming more and more difficult these days. Come May, after graduating from Penn State, he’ll be heading off to the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School, which is based in Rhode Island.
“The thing I miss most when I’m away at school is hanging out with my boys on the corner,” Spadaccini, a nuclear engineering major, said. “Those late nights spent talking and laughing on the street, or catching a ballgame at the [former] Vet are some of my fondest memories of growing up downtown. And some of the most hilarious episodes took place on Sydenham Street – a little too colorful to mention here – but stories that never get old for my friends and me.”
These days, the young scholar is making the most of a different kind of opportunity — a Vendemmia Foundation scholarship that has helped to offset some of the costs at Penn State.
“I am a four-year recipient of the Vendemmia Foundation scholarship, which has covered the cost of all of my books and supplies each year,” Spadaccini said. “It’s been a great help – books are so expensive.”
Sunday, at the nonprofit’s 16th annual festival, another group of promising teens will receive financial awards to help advance their educational pursuits. The event, which raises funds to support the scholarship program, takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. at Stephen Girard Park, 2101 Shunk St.
Spadaccini is in the process of becoming a Vendemmia success story as he’ll be heading to North Carolina to attend the Navy’s elite nuclear power school immediately following his stint at Officer Candidate School.
So, it may be awhile before Spadaccini returns to the quaint St. Richard parish to wax about the Phillies with his pals from the corner.
Visit vendemmiafoundation.org.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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