SCHOLARSHIPS: Seniors awarded $45K from Methuen Scholarship Foundation

The Methuen Scholarship Foundation proudly presented the $45,000 in scholarships to the following students:

The Texas Roadhouse Scholarship: Zain Ansara, Arthur Casarano, Carter DeLano.

The Bada Bing Scholarship: Joseph Casarano, Drew Eason, Ana Letourneau.

The Frank H. Cann Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Alexandra Tardugno, Mackenzie Yirrell, Cameron Moreira.

The Granite City Electric Scholarship: Hailey Boumel, Allyssa Cassidy, Jack Flynn.

The Pest End Scholarship: Ibrahim Afzal, Logan Healy, Drew Lachance.

LCW CPAs, Inc. Scholarship: Gabrielle Morgan, Gabriela Olivieri, Isabela Waniek. 

The Patricia D. Perry/Class of 1952 Memorial Scholarship: Calysa Alba, Anthony Danella, Kaitlyn Jajuga.

Perrault Chiropractic Offices Scholarship: Yoy Parra, Samantha Pfeil, Brooke Soucy.

The David Paul Carelli Memorial Scholarship: Abigail LaRochelle, Alina Tran.

Broadway Tire and Auto Scholarship: Patrick Morris, Kiara Rios, Kaitlyn Dibble.

Jobart/New England Outdoor Sheds and Gazebos: Madison Armstrong, Ava Duffy, Emily Jimenez.

John Hancock Lodge AF & AM Scholarship: Ayva Aziz, Nicholas Caron, Laghdaryus Freda.

777 LLC Scholarship: Joshua Boumel, Maribelle Spiridon, Jaylen Marsh.

The Jersey Mike’s Scholarship: Ashley Bowden, Sophia Galant, Derrik Kane.

The Launch Scholarship: Gia Moretto, Casey Patterson, Efstratia Tikellis.

The Norma Ventre Scholarship: Sadie Putnam, Mahsa Naeem, Riley Lyons.

The Methuen Exchange Club Scholarship: Cole Leveille, Lillian Byrne, Nykole Monroy.

The Methuen High School Staff Scholarships: Alexis Anthony, Arianna Baez, Jatsiri Contreras, Caleb Finch, Lily Finocchiaro, Jyahaira Moore, Rebecca MacLeod.

The Community Supporters Scholarship: Sokratis Bousios, Angeliris Cabrera, Jiaralis Castro, Andy Cruz-Diaz, Mikayla Denaro, Myali Dominguez, Abigail Lee, Julissa Medina, Isabella Monsanto, Givenson Osirus, Kaylee Smith, Nasir Litchmore, Marissa Mahoney, Sadie Mazzeo-Ghirarda, Taylor Mcdermott, Joseph McDonald Jr.

Exchange Club Scholars

The Methuen Exchange Club gave out $7,500 in scholarships to college-bound Methuen students during an event at the Irish Cottage. Shown are (from left) Methuen High School grad Brian LaTouch, who earned the Gregory F. Debrocke Memorial Scholarship and is enlisting in the U.S. Air Force; MHS grad Abigail LaRochelle, who earned the Youth Achievement Scholarship and is headed to Augusta University; Julia Malowitz, a Central Catholic grad who earned the Ashley E. St. Onge Scholarship and will attend Wentworth Institute of Technology; and MHS grad Drew Eason who earned the Austin M. Willette Scholarship and is headed to Stonehill College. Greater Lawrence Technical School grad Eric Foster, who was unable to attend the event, earned the Arthur F. Hutton Memorial Scholarship. Foster will attend Southern New Hampshire University to study construction management. ML photo by Melissa Fili

BELLINO SCHOLARS FOR FUTURE TRADESMEN

This year, the John Bellino Charitable Foundation awarded seven $500 scholarships to high school graduating students from Methuen. Students planning to pursue careers in the construction/building trades such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping or carpentry were eligible to receive scholarships. John Bellino was an electrician who lived in Methuen. After his retirement, John worked as a substitute teacher at Greater Lawrence Technical School. Following his passing at age 57, his wife Kris and son Nick established the foundation. Pictured at the Greater Lawrence Technical School ceremony are (from left) Diane White, Nicholas Bellino, Michael Frati (electrical), William Pittman (electrical), Thomas Creamer (HVAC), Derian Calderon (electrical), Morgan Fraser (carpentry), Luis Sanchez Mejia (plumbing) and Kris Bellino. Yoy Parra (electrical) (not pictured) from Methuen High School was also awarded a $500 scholarship. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all funds raised are used for scholarships. For more information or if you wish to donate to the foundation contact Kris Bellino, 10 Sierra Court, Methuen, MA 01844. Courtesy photo

GROWING YEARS’ DEIDRE DIDIO SCHOLARSHIP

This is Growing Years’ 24th year giving the Deidre DiDio Scholarship to two Methuen students who will study early childhood education while in college. Shown are (from left) Growing Years’ Nancy Forzese, scholarship winner Rachel Giamassi, Growing Years’ Tom Forzese and scholarship winner Abby Lee. Giamassi and Lee attended Growing Years as youngsters, now work part-time and will study Early Childhood education in college. Courtesy photo

TOP NOTCH SCHOLARS’ HONOREES

Four Methuen residents received scholarships through Top Notch Scholars, a nonprofit organization in Lawrence which provides leadership development for youngsters in the Merrimack Valley.

Isaac Gillespie and Ann Letourneau, graduating seniors at Methuen High, were each awarded $1,000 academic scholarships. Gillespie attends United Aviation Academy and Letourneau is at Salem State University.

Wilton Ortega and Gianna Rodriguez received the ACRES scholarship, an acronym for the Andres Castaneda Real Estate Scholarship, which is named after the late real estate agent who passed away in 2022. The ACRES scholarship includes a real estate pre-licensing course, exam fees, brokerage and career guidance mentorship, and business attire.

Ortega, 21, graduated from Methuen High in 2021 and studies finance and accounting at University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
Rodriguez, 23, is a 2019 graduate of Greater Lawrence Technical School and studied business management at University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

OUELLETTE EARNS BATEMAN SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to Methuen resident Kensley Ouellette, a member of Central Catholic’s Class of 2028, who received the William F. “Billy” Bateman ’61 Scholarship, which was established at Central by Mr. Bateman’s family, friends and classmates. Billy, a member of CCHS’ Athletic Hall of Fame, was a true gentleman, a man of great faith and a teacher at the A.B. Bruce School in Lawrence for 35 years. Shown with a photo of Billy from his Central Catholic basketball-playing days are (from left) Al Belavitch ’61, Kensley Ouellette ’28, Billy’s son Kevin ’90, Billy’s wife Barbara and Billy’s son Shaun ’87. Courtesy photo

VFW essay scholarships

Methuen VFW Post 8349 held 2 essay contests and awarded five scholarships. The theme for the grammar school contest was “What Memorial Day Means to Me” and there were 34 entries, all from the Marsh School. Three winners from sixth, seventh and eighth grades each received $200. The high school essay prompt was “Why I Should Serve” and two Methuen High students received $1,000 each. The winners were recently celebrated at the VFW. Shown are (from left) VFW Post Quartermaster David O’Neil, Marsh sixth-grader Eva Bistany, Marsh seventh-grader Nicholas Ruffini, Marsh eighth-grader Micah Coren, VFW Post President Guy Curtis, Methuen High seniors Ashley Bowden and Brian LaTouch, School Committee member Dan Shibilia and VFW Post Adjutant Ed Dionne. ML photo by Nancy Reardon