Rotary Club honors top teacher, soaring students & a selfless businessman

A teacher who gives kids their voice, a businessman who brings out the best in young athletes and a tech-loving teen who shares her knowledge with middle schoolers … all were recently saluted when the Methuen Rotary Club presented their Celebration of Achievements awards at the Irish Cottage.

Methuen High English instructor Sarah Grant received the Methuen Teacher of the Year award.

“Miss Grant is a highly respected teacher,” said Interim Supervising Principal Anthony Curet. “She has an innate ability to foster meaningful classroom discussions. She creates and sustains a classroom environment where students feel empowered to take risks to fail, to disagree, to challenge and ultimately to grow. She always seeks innovative ways to motivate and engage all her students. She is always willing to collaborate with colleagues to share materials.

“Miss Grant is a highly respected veteran teacher of our school’s highest achieving students in Advanced Placement English literature and composition course. Her students consistently earn qualifying scores on exams,” he said.

“I love teaching English. I am lucky to be able to teach some of my favorite books and poems,” Grant said after receiving her award. “My hope is that every student who leaves my classroom at the end of the year understands the value of their voice and their power to take on the world.”

Brendon Medugno, owner of Haus of Athletes in Methuen, was presented the Service Above Self award.

Rotary Club President Erica Hadley stated, “Brendon’s vision is to help all athletes to discover their highest potential. He emphasizes his fundamentals and techniques to help unlock the best in every athlete. Whether they are just beginning or competing in the highest level. Brendon is also known for his unwavering focus and relentless work ethic; and his deep commitment as owner and master coach at Haus of Athletes. His passion lies with pushing athletes beyond their limits helping them break through boundaries to new levels of performance and resilience.”

Medugno said, “Receiving the Service Above Self award in the city I was raised in honestly means the world to me. I learned early on what pride meant and what it meant to show up. I was a lucky man; I’ve had many great mentors like the late Robert ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald. He taught me everything I needed to know about wrestling. Then there was Bill James, another great mentor who I couldn’t thank enough. They shaped me into the person I am today.

“No matter how much I grew, I knew Methuen was the place I needed to be,” he said. “I knew our youth needed a space to grow and feel safe. That’s why I started Haus of Athletes,” he said.
Yasmine Bridaa, a Methuen High School junior, was awarded Student of the Year which was presented by school counselor Martha Tatro.
“Yasmine is ranked third out of 461 students with a 4.688 GPA and, by the time she graduates, she will have taken 12 out of 19 available Advanced Placement classes. She is also a member of the National Honor Society. Yasmine started the first Coding Club at Methuen High within the first four months of her freshman year. Her Coding Club has extended into our middle schools where she serves as the adviser. She absolutely loves being challenged in the classroom. She is in our Career Tech and Web Development Program, also taking a variety of courses that align with her goals and dreams.”

Tatro continued with a letter from Yasmine that read, in part, “I recognize that in today’s world, computer science holds the potential to solve various societal issues that I am passionate about.”

Yasmine told the Rotary Club, “I am beyond grateful to receive this award and, for everyone who helped me – from my teachers and, of course, my mom who has always been with me through everything I have done.”

Receiving Rotary Club scholarships were Sophia Tellier, Jillian Clements, Benjamin Catarius, Michael Holloran and Aiden Cashman.

Tom Swerchesky, longtime owner of the Fireside Restaurant and Pub, was the keynote speaker. He gave a history of the 69-year-old landmark site which closed in January and the decision to retire to spend more time with family.