A football player and a cheerleader from Methuen Pop Warner have shown they’re talented both on the field AND in the classroom!
During a recent celebration at the Northeastern Mass. Pop Warner Scholars Banquet, Valentina Maroun and Keith “KJ” Eward Ivy III were recognized.
*Valentina Maroun, a Central Catholic High School freshman, was named a Top New England Little Scholars Cheerleader. She has been with MPW since 2018, starting on the F Team at just 5 years old. This is her second year in a row being recognized as the Top New England Little Scholars Cheerleader.
*Keith Edward “KJ” Ivy III, a Marsh School eighth-grader, was named a Top New England Little Scholars Athlete. He has been in Pop Warner since he was 8 years old and came to MPW at 10 years old when his family moved to Methuen.
The Pop Warner Little Scholars program is available to all registered Pop Warner athletes in fifth grade and older. To be nominated for Little Scholars, they must meet a 96% or higher grade average. Athletes who meet that requirement will then receive an application where they have the opportunity to list their extracurricular activities and community involvement. Those applications are sent off to New England and National Pop Warner to review and determine if the athletes will be recognized as Little Scholars. Scholars are organized into three levels of recognition: 1st Team, 2nd Team and Honorable Mentions. 1st Team Scholars are eligible to receive scholarships and New England recognizes the Top Football Scholar, Top Cheerleading Scholar, and Top Overall Scholar.
“Methuen was fortunate enough to be home to TWO of those three athletes for the 2025-26 season,” notes MPW Cheer Director Jacqui Drapeau. “Valentina and Keith are both incredible role models on and off the mat and field.”
Marsh eighth-grader Keith Edward “KJ” Ivy III (here flanked by family) has been playing Pop Warner football since he was 8 years old. He was named a Top New England Little Scholar.
