2025 Kamil Patel Scholarship Winners Announced
- RugbyNY
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
The Co-winners of the 2025 Kamil Patel Memorial Scholarship are Nico Rood of McQuaid Jesuit High School and Robert Felix of the Syracuse Silverbacks.
The Kamil Patel - Buffalo Rugby Memorial Scholarship is dedicated to honoring the memory of Kamil Patel. The scholarship was created in the spring of 2018 to assist high school rugby players who plan to continue their education in college while playing rugby. Scholarships of up to $2000 are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student's choice.
Kamil was a multi-sport athlete in high school. He started playing rugby with his brother Dannish and friends on the Kenmore East community-based high school team. He went on to play at the University of Buffalo and with the Buffalo Rugby Men's Club. Although Kamil was a very good athlete and an exceptional rugby player, it was not those attributes which endeared him to his coaches, teammates, family, and friends.
Kamil was the exceptional individual who thrived on bringing people together. He always had a smile. He was inclusive, positive, supportive and eager for the next adventure. Kamil's joy for life and his love for people made him an unforgettable person within our rugby community. His unbelievable ability to make those around him laugh and smile will never be forgotten. In January 2018, a week before his 30th birthday, his life was ended in a random act of violence in Miami Beach Florida.
Our hope is the memory of Kamil will be sustained in part by the awarding of this scholarship to students, who follow in his footsteps, loving rugby and taking advantage of the opportunity it provides to bring people together and help them grow. This scholarship program is administered by the Buffalo Rugby Club, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. We are proud to announce the 2025 Kamil Patel Scholarship Winners; Nico Rood and Robert Felix
"Beyond Nico the rugby player, my true admiration and respect for this young man centers around his humble approach to leadership and how great of a teammate he is. Nico is the person that makes rugby inclusive at McQuaid Jesuit High School" - McQuaid Jesuit Rugby Head Coach Mike Hodgins
"Since freshman year I have always felt like I had a second home in my rugby team both on and off the pitch. This passion I gained my freshman year has carried me to where I am today. Now I have the privilege and honor to serve as the captain of my team which is a goal I set for myself at the beginning of my junior season. Being a leader of the guys who are truly my best friends in the world is a privilege that I will never take for granted" - Nico Rood
"Robert has been playing for the Silverbacks since 8th Grade, and we have seen him grow from a quiet, unsure teenager to a confident young man. Our club has seen bigger players. We have seen faster athletes. But we are not sure we have seen a more dedicated servant to the game than Rob" - Syracuse Silverbacks coaches Patrick Scully & Peter Clark
"I have played with the CNY Rugby Silverbacks for 5 years. In that time, I have learned more about commitment, hard work, discipline, planning, teamwork, relationships, and leadership than most people could hope for in a lifetime. For me, playing rugby means I am part of a culture and community that is all about camaraderie and being there for one another both on and off the pitch" - Robert Felix
To learn more about the Kamil Patel Memorial Scholarship or to make a donation, visit https://kamilpatelscholarship.org/site/news
RugbyNY is the governing body for youth and high school rugby in the state of New York. They are a member of USA Youth & High School Rugby's Northeast region and are an officially recognized State Youth Rugby Organization (SYRO) by USA Rugby.
RugbyNY is registered with the New York State Department of State as a not-for-profit corporation and is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
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