Christopher Mello, a native of Rye, New York demonstrated outstanding abilities as both a student and an athlete. A 1994 graduate of Rye High School, Chris served as Vice President of his senior class, was a member of the National Honor Society.

Chris was also a three-sport varsity lettered athlete in football, basketball and baseball. His accomplishments in football were particularly noteworthy. During his senior year, Chris co-captained the Rye High School football team. They went on to the New York State finals and Chris was voted the most valuable defensive player of the tournament.

After high school, Chris attended Princeton University where he majored in Psychology. Continuing his passion for athletics he developed a love for a favorite new sport, Rugby. After Princeton, Chris became a financial analyst and parlayed his talents to become a media analyst in the technology services industry.

On September 11, 2001, Chris Boarded American Airlines, Flight 11 bound to California from Boston. He was traveling with his manager, David Retik, when terrorists overtook the flight and diverted it directly into the World Trade Center where all passengers aboard lost their lives.

Shortly after the tragic event the Mello Family, with the help of friends and family, started a scholarship fund in Chris’s name. Forty-eight scholarships have been awarded to graduating scholar athletes from Harrison, NY and Rye, NY high schools since the scholarship was founded…The legacy of the Harrison-Rye annual football game began in 1929. The coveted Chris Mello Scholarship is awarded annually at ‘the game’ in October.