Pictured (from left to right): Scholarship Committee Chairman Brent Berc, recipientsBriana D’Amelio, Kelsey McColgan, Janel Grace Williams, Zeyu Zheng, Payton Coutlis, along with City Councilor Tito Jackson and Boston Public School’s Norman Townsend. (Not pictured: recipient Derlin Tejeda)
Earlier this month, the University Club of Boston announced the recipients of its “Future Leaders of Boston” scholarship awards. For the first time since the Scholarship Fund’s inception, six students will receive scholarships to attend college. The winners, all graduates of Boston Public High Schools include: Payton Coutlis of Boston Latin Academy, Briana D’Amelio of East Boston High School, Kelsey McColgan of Boston Collegiate Charter School, Derlin Tejeda of Boston International High School, Janel Grace Williams of Match High School and Zeyu Zheng of the John D. O’Bryant High School. The students received scholarship amounts ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, spread out over four years of college to help defray college tuition and related costs. The recipients will be entering college this September. Ms. Coutlis will be attending Harvard University, Ms. D’Amelio will be attending Suffolk University, Ms. McColgan will be attending University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Mr. Tejeda will be attending Fisher College, Ms. Williams will be attending Wellesley College and Mr. Zheng will be attending Boston University.
“This year our applicants were perhaps our strongest ever and our recipients will be attending some of the finest academic institutions in the country. Given the generosity of our Club’s membership, the University Club of Boston Scholarship Fund will enable students to fulfill their dreams of higher education by helping to meet the difference in their college costs that are not covered by financial aid, loans and contributions from their families,” commented Brent Berc, University Club of Boston Board Member and Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Mr. Berc will be stepping down as Chair at the end of this month, turning the reigns over to Susan M. Passoni, a four year member of the Committee.
This year’s scholarship recipients were honored at a June 10 award ceremony at The University Club attended by Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, Chair of the Council’s Education Committee; Norman Townsend, Boston Public Schools Director of High School Support and Educational Services; Catherine Chiu, Boston Public Schools Direct of Guidance; as well as this year’s award recipients and their families, past recipients and University Club members.
Since its inception in 1977, The University Club “Future Leaders of Boston” scholarship program has awarded over $700,000 to Boston Public Schools students, helping them to attend college and realize their dreams. Past scholarship recipients include graduates of Boston College, Boston University, Wellesley College, University of Massachusetts (Boston & Amherst), Harvard College and Smith College.