2 Students Receive MHSAA Scholarship

Medford High School seniors Marcus Howard and Grace Callahan are the 2015 recipients of the Medford High School Alumni Association scholarship!

Essay applicants were asked to describe, in 500 words or less, how their MHS/MVTHS experience has shaped their future plans and goals. While we had many outstanding submissions, Howard and Callahan’s essays were selected in a blind reading by MHSAA members.

Both students are each receiving $750, an amount made possible through the generosity of many donors, including a recurring $250 donation from Adam Knight and donations from everyone who participated in our annual Medford Night get-together. We have increased our scholarship every year since being able to offer $100 to one student just two years ago!

Student Essays

Question: How has your experience at MHS/MVTHS influenced your future plans and goals?

Marcus Howard (heading to UMass-Dartmouth)

Some people think of their development as a student in high school years as being mostly influenced from their major classes. While that is often true, I’d have to say that my time at Medford High School has been much more than that. One of biggest career influence and growth as student from Medford High School has come from many of the enrichment classes that I’ve taken. I’ve been so lucky to have the opportunity to take several classes which ultimately will help shape my future.

I have always wanted to pursue a career in the arts, a field in which I could express my creativity. Medford High School gave me an opportunity to grow as an artist. With the guidance of teachers like Mrs. Van Aken, Ms. Goldsberry, Mr.Dempsey, and Ms. Dunphy I have expanded my insight and ability in art and design. As a student in the media tech department, I refined my skills in photography, videography, and graphic design. One example of an opportunity I had was designing the Medford Alumni Association website logo this year. It was a great challenge and gratifying to know that I was creating a design that was going to be used in a real world application. I am also proud of the fact that in my Studio Art class this year I designed and painted a mural within the school. Because of these different experiences available to me, I have been able to build a portfolio of art work worthy of being accepted to UMass Dartmouth as an art major.

I am very thankful for the opportunities I received from Ms. Goldsberry. Working with her, I have been able to learn about design and have many chances to take photos of Medford events. This has helped me to grow as a photographer and develop a business portfolio. I have started my own Photography and design company where I have been shooting a lot of school events and senior portraits.

Medford High is full of sensational people, students, staff, and teachers. I have been enriched by knowing so many of them. I have gained friends and connections that have helped to improve in both personal and academic spheres, supported me when times were tough, and loved me during my four years here. I feel so lucky to have spent my high school years at Medford High School. I will always look back on this time with thanks, knowing that the background and support I received here will help to define my life with a positive vision of what is possible.

Grace Callahan (heading to University of New Hampshire)

As I write this I can reflect on my past four years here at Medford High School, and it’s truly scary to say it has gone by in the blink of an eye. Coming into MHS I was just a young, shy, 14 year old who had never attended a public school. I came from a smaller Catholic middle and elementary school, leaving me with a narrow sight of what the world truly is and how people really act. In the past 4 years, I have seen all walks of life, learned more about others, what they go through, and have been educated about how we all work together to achieve the goals of a great education and good health. MHS has taught me things I would have never learned or experienced at another school, making me want to make a change in the world. Not only has my time here taught me about others, but I like to think I have also grown in many ways through my experiences. A fact about me, that 4 years ago I would have never been confident enough about to share, is that I am a Type-One Diabetic. Through this community and the help of the school nurses I have found my voice with this disease- even hosting a fundraiser at a school volleyball game this past fall raising over $500 to find a cure. In my later years here, I have been lucky enough to become a mentor for an underclassman with Diabetes. With help of a couple teachers, this student and I have created a working and friendly relationship. Together we have help make strides in both her school work and health (but really if anything she has been a reminder to keep my health in tact, helping me too.) With all of this being said, MHS inevitably helped me find what I want to do with my future. Next year, I will be attending The University of New Hampshire and majoring in Health Management and Policy with a track to a 5 year masters program in Public Health. The ultimate goal one day, is to change and improve the way health care is run America and on a larger scale across the world- equal and available care for everyone. With the voice and confidence I have gained in my experience in this school and community I hope to help others find their voice and advocate for better and more safe programs in the health care world. Although my dream is far away and a lot of hard work, I know that I am passionate in this. I can almost single handedly thank Medford High School and this community for giving me a strong foundation and I know I will always be able to look back and be grateful for my roots here.

Students Marcus Howard and Grace Callahan with their parents and members of the MHSAA Board of Directors Mike Cugno, David McKillop, Neil Osborne, and Allison Goldsberry at Medford High School. Courtesy photo.

– Submitted by the Medford High School Alumni Association