By Cindy Zomar, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – This year’s Scholarship Award Dinner of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce (MRCC), sponsored by Hologic, was held recently at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. The MRCC, in conjunction with the Marlborough Regional Community Foundation, chooses five students each year to receive $1,000 scholarships. They choose one from each of the four high schools in Marlborough and Hudson and a fifth one is reserved for a Marlborough or Hudson student who attends a school outside the community.
“Students were asked to submit an autobiographical essay, their official transcript, and two letters of recommendation for review by the Scholarship Committee,” explained Darren McLaughlin, Scholarship Committee chair and president of the Foundation.
This year, the Assabet Valley scholarship recipient was Meghan O’Loughlin, who will be attending Framingham State University in the fall, with plans to major in early childhood education. Working with children from six weeks to 12 years old at her job at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center in Framingham is what inspired O’Loughlin.
“I knew from these amazing moments with the children and their parents that I was meant to be a teacher. Pursuing my degree in education will by my way of making a difference in the world,” wrote O’Loughlin in her essay.
From Marlborough High School, Jaelyn Kassoy was the scholarship recipient. She will major in international development and social change at UMass Lowell in the fall. Kassoy was a student ambassador to Japan when she was just 13 as part of the city’s cultural exchange program, and that sparked her interest in other cultures.
In her essay, Kassoy explained, “Four years later, I delivered school supplies to an elementary school in Belize. Through this trip, I discovered my caring side and passion for others. Deciding to put both together, I would love to travel the world to help those in need.”
From Hudson High School, Samuel Giberti will use his scholarship to attend the University of Tampa, majoring in international business and entrepreneurship.
The recipient from AMSA was Julia Kraplin. She will major in business economics at Babson College. The fifth MRCC scholarship was awarded to Andrew Goering, a Marlborough resident who attends Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester. Goering will attend Northeastern University, majoring in robotics engineering.
In addition to the MRCC awards, Hologic, Inc., a Marlborough-based global medical technology company, awards a $2,000 scholarship to a female graduating from the Marlborough area in memory of Giselle R. Rodriguez, a former Hologic, Inc. employee who passed away suddenly at only 23. Candidates must demonstrate a financial need, strong academic achievement, a commitment to her community, and persistence through adversity. This year’s recipient was Morgan Raun, valedictorian at Marlborough High School, who will attend Johns Hopkins University to major in molecular and cellular biology.
Photos/Cindy Zomar
