Destination: College Celebrated This Year's Cooney Scholars with NFL Commissioner and BHS Graduate Roger Goodell
Pictured: Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner and Bronxville High School Graduate ('77)
Submitted by Destination College Board Chair, Nancy McKenna
June 26, 2025: On a gorgeous June evening before a sellout crowd, Destination: College (DC) celebrated this year’s class of Cooney Scholars with a very special guest- legendary NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Siwanoy Country Club proved a fitting venue to recognize the many who have made DC 's mission possible for over 19 years.
Commissioner Goodell pictured here with the Class of 2025 Cooney Scholars
A longtime resident of Bronxville, the Commissioner played football at Bronxville High School with Jeff Cooney, DC’s beloved former board member. Following Mr. Cooney’s untimely death in 2018, all DC scholarships were subsequently named in his honor.
Joined by members of the Cooney Family, DC celebrated the contributions of its many coaches, volunteers and generous supporters while acknowledging this year’s class of Cooney Scholars. They are 21 strong and members of 12 sports teams from all three of the high schools in Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon High School, STEAM Academy and the Denzel Washington School of the Arts). These individuals were selected based on academics, leadership, and grit.
Above is a full list of DC College Acceptances for 2025.
Pictured L-R, Commissioner Goodell, Cynthia Cooney, Chris Cooney, Jane Goodell and George Cooney
The highlight of the evening was an interview with Commissioner Goodell by DC students, including five former, current and hopeful Cooney Scholars. The session was moderated by Mary Civiello, an Emmy Award winning journalist who is a longtime DC volunteer and supporter and who currently works as a communications coach for senior executives around the world.
Pictured above L-R moderator Mary Civiello with the Commissioner and panelists. Below the panelists with the Commissioner.
Questions posed by the students ranged from how the NFL works with players to enhance financial literacy, to the impact of coming from a political family on the Commissioner’s leadership style, to what advice he had for students trying to emulate that style and his success.
Pictured above: Commissioner Goodell accepting a DC shirt from panelist Elijah Morris, who along with fellow DC alum Jaden Fearon, designed and produced the shirt
Every year, fueled by some 70 volunteers, DC works with 300 students both in high school and college. Academic assistance, mentoring and help with all aspects of college admissions, including financial aid, are key components of DC’s program. DC’s mission is to help students gain entry to the college best suited to their academic, financial and athletic needs. Board Chair Nancy McKenna expressed gratitude for the support of all in the room for helping DC achieve that mission and its goals.
If anyone would like to join the DC family as a volunteer, please reach out to Executive Director Michele Roque at
