Grants totaling $35,000 go to area graduates from 21 communities and 30 public and vocational high schools

Dana M. Neshe, president of the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation, has announced that Beverly Reynolds of Hopkinton and Ryan Mullens of Holliston are among 30 students from public and vocational high schools in the area to receive $1,000 scholarship grants from the foundation.

Mullens, who graduated from Holliston High School, will attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Reynolds, a graduate of Hopkinton High, will attend Colorado College.

Each of the 30 schools nominated a scholarship recipient based on criteria that included academic merit, financial need, community service, and personal improvement. The Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation was established in 2000 through an endowment provided by Middlesex Savings Bank to ensure funding of scholarships and worthy non-profits in any economic climate. Nearly $300,000 has been distributed to date through the scholarship program.

The Foundation also announced that Wesley Charles Palmer of Concord is recipient of the sixth annual A. James Lavoie Scholarship, a $5,000 award named in honor of Mr. Lavoie, former president of Middlesex Savings Bank, who was deeply committed to the support of education. Palmer, a graduate of Concord-Carlisle High School, will attend Boston University and major in film production.  .

Palmer was selected for the award by an independent committee for his essay that described his passion and focus in the area of filmmaking. He recounted how he had become interested in film and storytelling as a young child, and how he had nurtured his passion for visual media throughout his high school years. He has produced 15 short films and is principal and chief creative officer of a web design company, Modernist Media.  He also is an Eagle Scout and was captain of Concord-Carlisle’s indoor and outdoor track teams, competing in the shot put and javelin.

“We’re pleased to award this year’s A. James Lavoie Scholarship to Wesley Charles Palmer,” said Neshe.

“His personal and academic achievements demonstrate remarkable leadership and perseverance. He has also shown a deep appreciation for the potential that new forms of media can have for making a positive impact on the community. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation 2012 Scholarship Award Recipients

Sixth Annual A. James Lavoie $5,000 Scholarship:

Wesley Palmer, Concord-Carlisle High School, Concord. MA, to attend Boston University        

$1000 Scholarship Award Recipients:

High School, Student, Residence, College

Acton-Boxborough Regional, Christopher Caro, Acton, UNH

Algonquin Regional, Carly Koumoutseas, Southborough, James Madison

Ashland, Tara Minucci, Ashland, Quinnipiac Univ

Assabet Valley Regional Vocational, Nathan Costello, Maynard, UMass-Amherst

Bedford,Robert Hartwell, Bedford, West Virginia 

Bellingham, Victoria Cote, Bellingham, UMass-Lowell

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocationa, Krista O'Neil, Milford, UMass-Amherst

Concord-Carlisle, Marianne Staknis, Concord, Smith College

Framingham, Shamira Nambafu, Framingham, Fitchburg State

Framingham High-Resiliency for Life, Vandella Hill, Framingham, Plymouth State

Franklin, Sabryna Baxter Zedower, Franklin, Westfield State

Groton-Dunstable Regional, Raaid Arshad, Groton, Boston University 

Holliston, Ryan Mullens, Holliston, UMass-Amherst

Hopkinton, Beverly Reynolds, Hopkinton, Colorado College

Joseph P. Keefe Technical, Amanda Leach, Framingham, Westfield State

Lincoln-Sudbury, Charlotte Marcoux, Lincol, TBD

Littleton, Anthony Greco, Littleton, Calvin College

Maynard, Karina Patino, Maynard, Brandeis

Medfield, Chris Landfield, Medfield, Stonehill College

Medway, Rachel Yates, Medway, Elon University

Milford Brandon Wright Milford UMass-Lowell

Millis Jessica Pozniak Millis Univ. of Dayton

Minuteman Regional Anthony Carreon Needham UMass-Lowell

Nashoba Valley Technical Emma Hayes Littleton Framingham State

Natick Kevin Ngan Natick Tufts University

Needham Deidre Clifford Needham Stonehill College

Tri-County Regional Vocational Christina DeGaetano Franklin Bryant University

Wayland Natalie Barone Wayland Salve Regina

Wellesley Steven Povich Wellesley Dartmouth College

Westford Academy Elizabeth Wright-Fairbanks Westford     Middlebury College