Canton Siblings Awarded Educational Scholarships

Residents of Orchard Cove in Canton, a Hebrew SeniorLife senior living community that offers the full continuum of care, have awarded scholarships to Canton residents Michael Mazzola and Jennifer Mazzola who both work in the culinary department as servers. Michael attends Dartmouth University and Jennifer is a student at Vanderbilt University.

The Scholarship Funds were created by the residents of NewBridge (another Hebrew Seniorlife living community in Dedham) and Orchard Cove to benefit their employees, many of whom have close relationships with residents. These programs are entirely resident-run and -funded, and all eligible employees are able to apply. Orchard Cove and Newbridge have separate resident committees that raise the scholarship funds and review applications.

This year 21 employees from NewBridge and 14 employees from Orchard Cove were selected for awards. The recipients will attend 25 different institutions and pursue a wide variety of courses of study. They come from more than 20 local area cities and towns, and many recipients have also received scholarships for several consecutive years. The comprehensive list of Orchard Cove Scholarship winners is as follows:

Jamisha Tara Pierre-Framingham State University

Maimouna Sakho-Labouré' College of Healthcare

Maria Nunes-Massasoit CC Brockton

Michael Mazzola-Dartmouth University

Jennifer Mazzola-Vanderbilt University

Philocia Romain-Roxbury Community College

Phyjery Misador-Massasoit CC Brockton

Zachary Howland-UMASS Amherst

Sulphide Saint Marc-Quincy College

Sophie Saint Marc-UMASS Boston

Stephanie Williams-Strayer University

Stoughton-Savannah Morales

Labouré College of Healthcare

Harley Sousa-Stonehill College

Tyanna Johnson-UMASS Boston

"Education took me out of a New York Lower East Side tenement. The young adults at NewBridge deserve to have the same shot at life that many of us had through a good education. They will give back to our society, and they are the future of America,” said Jack Sobel, a NewBridge resident who supports the fund.

Orchard Cove resident Nancy Connery added, “It is easy to feel helpless these days by the many overwhelming issues we all face. Volunteering and supporting the staff here--many who are from other countries-- to continue their education feels like we are making a difference. This year three of the scholarship recipients came to the U.S. because of the earthquake in Haiti and suddenly had to make a life here. They applied for scholarships to take classes at local community colleges. Hearing how they are overcoming struggles on Awards Night when their Orchard Cove Mentors introduced them was powerful and inspiring. I often call Scholarship Awards Night the ‘most feel good evening of the year.’ It certainly was this year!”

Efforts are already underway to plan for scholarship awards in 2023.

“We are extremely thankful to our residents who initiated this scholarship program for up-and-coming employees,” said Orchard Cove Executive Director Aline Russotto. “For many of these staff members, the scholarships make the difference in being able to afford higher education. We so look forward to seeing how these employees make their marks at Orchard Cove and NewBridge and beyond.”

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Based in Boston, the nonprofit organization has provided communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers since 1903. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org and our blog, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.