New Hampshire Red Sox Scholarship Recipients to be Introduced at Fenway Park Sunday

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox will introduce the 35 recipients of the New Hampshire Red Sox Scholarship program during a pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park before the Red Sox-Oakland Athletics game on Sunday, May 27. The program awards students from 35 public high schools across New Hampshire with $1,000 scholarships towards their college education.

This year’s scholarship program, which was introduced in 2010 by New Hampshire Governor John Lynch and Red Sox Principle Owner John W. Henry and his wife Linda Pizzuti Henry, has been expanded from 10 qualifying New Hampshire public schools in its inaugural year, to 35 in 2012. One student from each of the 35 high schools is chosen for the award based on academic performance, financial aid eligibility, and most importantly, demonstrated community service.

“New Hampshire is a treasured part in Red Sox Nation,” said Red Sox Foundation Board Member Linda Pizzuti Henry “We are thrilled to honor these Granite State college-bound students who have not only demonstrated their excellence in the classroom, but embody the values of Red Sox Nation through their commitment to community service. Helping others is at the core of the Red Sox Foundation’s mission and by honoring these students as role models, we hope we can inspire others to join in service in their communities too.” 

This year’s New Hampshire Red Sox Scholarship Award recipients include:

1. Kristine Adams, Prospect Mountain High School
2. Faith Anderson, Monadnock High School
3. Kelsey Babcock, Exeter High School
4. Melissa Broughton, Winnisquam Regional High School
5. Crystal Card, Keene High School
6. Jacqueline Cone, Salem High School
7. Christopher Cormier, Manchester West High School
8. Lindsey Desrochers, White Mountains High School
9. Menuka Dhakal, Laconia High School
10. Kelsey Enright, Lononderry Senior High School
11. Callie Ficek, Pinkerton Academy
12. Christa Fisher, Nashua High School South
13. Hallie Geldermann, Newfound Regional High School
14. Kirsten Gibbens, Bow High School
15. McKenzie Haney, Merrimack Valley High School
16. Lanie Marie Homet, Portsmouth High School
17. Jaleesa Houle, Manchester Memorial High School
18. Hayden Juris, Inter Lakes High School
19. Kenneally Kennedy, Fall Mountain High School
20. Kyle Klose, Concord High School
21. Maddie Lynch, Goffstown High School
22. Chelsea McGrail, Nashua High School North
23. Megan McLaughlin, Sanborn Regional High School
24. Shannon McQueen, Gilford High School
25. Marissa Menakaya, Manchester Central High School
26. Shannon O’Neil, Berlin High School
27. Danielle Pelletier, Dover High School
28. Matthew Pettinato, Stevens High School
29. Lydia Phoenix, Spaulding High School
30. Brian Pickowicz, Franklin High School
31. Tiana Robinson, Kennett High School
32. Kristina Velasquez, Merrimack High School
33. Juliann Westbrook, Winnacunnet High School
34. Molly Whitaker, Leganon High School
35. Kaylen Wray, Conval High School

In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the 35 New Hampshire scholarship recipients, the Red Sox will also celebrate the Granite State during Sunday’s game, which has been designated New Hampshire Day at Fenway Park. Residents from the Webster House in Manchester, NH, a non-profit group home for children taken into the care of the state because their parents cannot properly take care of them, are invited to the game and will meet with a player before the game. The Red Sox Foundation has worked with the Webster House since 2003 when John Henry first visited the group home. Each year on New Hampshire Day, the Red Sox invite children from the Webster House to Fenway Park to meet players and enjoy the game. The pre-game ceremonies, including the National Anthem, the Ceremonial First Pitch, and video board features will also highlight the state of New Hampshire.  

About the Red Sox Foundation

The official team charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Red Sox Foundation harnesses the power of Red Sox Nation to support select programs serving at risk children and families across New England. The Foundation’s efforts are primarily focused on our cornerstone programs including the Red Sox Scholars Program, which provides tutoring, mentoring, enrichment programs and a college scholarship to academically talented but economically disadvantaged Boston public school students and the Red Sox Foundation's RBI and Rookie League youth baseball program serving more than 2,000 inner city teens each summer. The team charity also supports the new Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with combat stress disorders and traumatic brain injury, The Dimock Center in Roxbury and The Jimmy Fund in support of Dana Farber Cancer Institute. 

A 501c3 nonprofit, the Red Sox Foundation raises most of its funds through special events and charitable donations. Founded and initially funded by Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino and their partners, the Red Sox Foundation has won numerous awards for the impact of its innovative programs. Last year, the Red Sox Scholars program was recognized by Major League Baseball with the first-ever “MLB Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence.” In 2009, the Red Sox Foundation was also honored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Sports Philanthropy Project with the Patterson Award as the nation’s “Best Team Charity in Sports.” The Executive Director of the Red Sox Foundation is the team’s Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Meg Vaillancourt. For more information about the Red Sox Foundation, please visit www.redsoxfoundation.org.