MetroWest Chamber Awards $14,000 in Scholarships

The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce awarded $14,000 in scholarship money to 14 graduating seniors from throughout the MetroWest region.

Students and their families were feted at a reception sponsored by Staples, Inc. last month.

The MetroWest Chamber Education Foundation Scholarships were established to assist public or private high school seniors who reside in the MetroWest area and wish to continue their education beyond high school, whether in college, vocational or technical schools.

Each student received a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to help achieve their educational goals. 

Partially funded by the Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament and the Taste of MetroWest, five students received monies to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers. 

Winners included Matthew Stacy, Delson DaSilva Faria and Jessica Ryabin from Natick, MacKenzie Fairbanks from Hopkinton and Andrew Abraham from Ashland.

Additionally, the Education Foundation awarded nine, Arcadius, Emma and
Robert Lemieux Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. Molly Dee and Sophia Zabarsky were the recipients from Natick, while Deborah Ferreira, Felicia DeDomenico and Susan Forde represented Framingham. Kaitlin Quinn and Sarah Lundberg of Ashland and Sara Johnson and Samantha Lee from Hopkinton also received the scholarship.

In addition to the scholarship money, the students were honored with citations
from Senators Karen Spilka and Richard Ross and Representatives Carolyn
Dykema, Chris Walsh, David Linsky, Tom Conroy and Tom Sannicandro, who made the presentations on behalf of the delegation.

Chris Kostiw, from Rockland Bank and Trust and Chair of the Golf and Educational Foundation Scholarship Committees said “It was difficult to choose from among so many qualified and worthy candidates.  The students receiving the Lemieux and STEM Scholarships today are truly our leaders of tomorrow.  We congratulate them on their strong academic record and exemplary community service and look forward to watching them pursue their chosen academic goals.” 

Selection committee members also included Lemonia Mironidis from TD Bank, Bill McGinley from Whitney Place Assisted Living and Chamber President Bonnie Biocchi.