Red Sox Scholars Class of 2012 to be introduced at Fenway Park today
Red Sox Scholars Program Presented by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Celebrating its 10th Year; New Inductees to Receive College Scholarships & Mentoring From the Red Sox Foundation
The Boston Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation will introduce the Red Sox Scholars Class of 2012 during a special pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park today, Sunday, June 10. Now in its 10th year, the Red Sox Scholars Program is presented by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the Official Hospital of the Boston Red Sox, and sponsor of the program since its inception.
In addition to the 10 new Scholars selected this year, today’s pre-game ceremony will also celebrate Scholars who have been in the program since 5th grade and graduating high school this spring. The Red Sox Scholars program, which provides scholarships and mentoring for academically talented and financially challenged middle school student from Boston Public Schools, is the educational cornerstone of the Red Sox Foundation, the team charity of the Boston Red Sox.
There are currently 220 Red Sox Scholars in the Foundation-funded program, included this year’s new class. The students range from 7th graders to rising juniors in college. This year’s class of Scholars are currently in 7th grade and were selected based on academic performance and financial need. The Red Sox Foundation commits to funding up to $10,000 in college scholarships for each new Scholar, along with access to mentoring from Red Sox Foundation staff members, tutoring and other after school and summer enrichment activities and assistance with college application process when the students are in their final years of high school.
“We are excited to honor the new class of Red Sox Scholars and a milestone year as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of this important program,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. “We have enjoyed getting to know many of these children starting when they were middle school students as they have grown to young adulthood. We could not have achieved such success without the continued generosity of our partners at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and commitment from both Mayor Menino and Boston School Superintendant Carol Johnson.”
In a special pre-game ceremony slated to begin at approximately 1 p.m. today, each Scholar will be escorted onto the field by a Red Sox player and a health professional from BIDMC. Each year, BIDMC provides volunteers to serve as “Medical Champions” for the newest class of Scholars. These generous health care professionals and medical administrative personnel help introduce the youngsters to possible health professions and serve as hosts of a “Shadow Day” at BIDMC during the Scholars’ 8th grade year.
“What an honor for us to have been part of the Red Sox Scholars Program since it began,” said BIDMC President and CEO KevinTabb, MD. “It brings real value to these talented students, and an important part of that value is exposing them to the breadth of opportunity in the world of health care. Working on this program alongside the Red Sox organization is a reflection of our mutual and enduring commitment to community that makes us truly proud.”
Red Sox Scholars will be celebrated in a variety of ways throughout today’s game, with Scholars reading the game day lineup, singing the National Anthem with professional musician Will Dailey, and recognized during the Child-Hood Hero’s program in the 4th inning.
The Red Sox Scholars program was inaugurated in 2003. Applications to the scholarship program are open to academically talented and economically disadvantaged 7th grade Boston Public School students. In addition to BIDMC, the Red Sox Scholars program is generously supported by grants from The Highland Street Foundation, The Sunshine Lady Foundation, Target, the Peter Lynch Foundation and the Klarman Family Foundation as well as fundraising events conducted by the Red Sox Foundation.
Most of the earlier classes of Red Sox Scholars are now in or entering college. The next five classes will enter eighth through twelfth grades in the fall. Scholars from each class will participate in Sunday’s pre-game ceremony to help welcome this year’s new class of Red Sox Scholars to the program. In 2010, the Red Sox Scholars program was recognized by Major League Baseball with the first-ever “MLB Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence.”