SHATTER GLASS CEILINGS, SHATTER STEREOTYPES
Empowering young women to chase their educational dreams
Supporting the Next Generation of Female Leaders
2026 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Gala
We are excited to expand our reach, take the next step as a foundation and continue to empower young women as we host the 2026 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Gala on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Since 2018, we have donated more than $110,000 in academic grants to women pursuing careers in fields typically dominated by men. We are proud of that fact, and ready to raise the bar by raising $100,000 this year to further support our efforts.
Join your hosts Bailey & Jake Bailey, along with Tom Leyden, as we celebrate eight years of success and philanthropy with our annual Women's Empowerment Scholarship Gala. We're hosting the 2026 Gala at Caveau, one of Boston's hottest night spots, so join tons of your friends for delicious food, live entertainment from KISS 108's Mikey V and giveaways.
Each admission ticket includes access to two complimentary drinks, with heavy strolling appetizers available to our guests throughout the night. Join us on the red carpet for photos, participate in our Empowerment Raffle and bid on some of our special auction items.
All proceeds from the Women's Empowerment Scholarship Gala will benefit The Women's Empowerment Scholarship, founded by Bailey Bailey. As part of our celebration, we will be honoring the 2025 recipients of financial grants from The Women's Empowerment Scholarship.
Enter To Win Celtics Tickets
Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see the Celtics play the Nets on Friday, February 27, 2026 in our ARCH Orthodontics Women's Empowerment Scholarship Celtics Raffle. Number of entries is dependent on level of donation:
DONATION - # OF ENTRIES
$5 to $24 - 5 entries
$25-$49 - 15 entries
$50-$99 - 35 entries
$100-$149 - 70 entries
$150-$249 - 125 entries
$250-$499 - 275 entries
$500-$999 - 550 entries
$1000-$1,499 - 1100 entries
$1500 - 2200 entries
Your donation will be acknowledged via email by The Women's Empowerment Scholarship with a confirmation of how many entries you have received in the raffle.
The raffle will close at 12pm on Wednesday, February 25 and the winners will be chosen and contacted by e-mail.
Click Here for Complete Terms and Conditions
PHOTO BY: Celtics Staff Photographer
Sixth Annual Kick Off The Holidays Party - December 7, 2024
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
The Sixth Annual Kick Off The Holidays Party, held at Mariel Underground in Boston on Saturday, December 7, 2024, was a success. Thanks to your support of our mission, we have awarded more than $110,000 in academic grants, so that was reason enough to celebrate. We were so excited to honor our Scholarship Recipients of 2024 and build a foundation for our contiuned growth in 2025.
About Us
Our Mission
As a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, The Women's Empowerment Scholarship serves to empower females by encouraging and enabling them to pursue higher education. Our foundation provides educational grants to women throughout New England while paying special attention to women entering into one of many male-dominated career paths, including, but not limited to, science, technology, engineering, finance, and law. In aiding women financially, the Women's Empowerment Scholarship team aims to propel their careers and allow them to shatter any and all glass ceilings and stereotypes.
Get To Know Our Founder - Bailey Medeiros
Bailey is the President and Founder of The Women's Empowerment Scholarship. After graduating as Salutatorian from Monson High School in 2015, Bailey went on to study Finance, Communication, and Legal Studies at Bryant University. In 2019, she finished 9th in her class with Summa Cum Laude honors. In 2022, Bailey obtained her Juris Doctor at Boston University School of Law. Bailey was Miss Massachusetts Teen USA in 2014, placing in the Top 15 at the national Miss Teen USA competition. Additionally, she was an NFL Cheerleader for the New England Patriots from 2016-2018, representing the Patriots at Super Bowl LI in Houston, Texas and Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Currently, Bailey owns and operates her own estate planning law firm, Bailey Legacy Law. Learn more about Bailey by visiting the "My Story" tab.
2025-26 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipients
Joanna Papadakis
Joanna Papadakis
Joanna Papadakis is an MD candidate at Harvard Medical School and holds a B.S. from Cornell University. While at Cornell, she participated in maternal postpartum mental health and global child health research and served as a Cornell Tradition Fellow and Patient Advocate, which sparked her interest in pursuing a career in medicine in the service of others. To this end, she received a Davis Projects for Peace grant to further her work in women’s empowerment and maternal refugee health after college and was awarded the Robinson Appel Humanitarian Grant for her work as a founding member of Preemie-to-Premed, a nonprofit supporting Child Life Programs during pandemic-related funding restrictions in Boston.
Ju-Woo Nho
Joanna Papadakis
Ju-Woo Nho is a first-year medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She has always been passionate about the intersection between medicine and research, profoundly influenced by the guidance of exceptional women mentors whose work breaks barriers in science. She aspires to become a surgeon-scientist and leader who empowers women in healthcare and helps build inclusive pathways for future generations. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys playing basketball and baking for friends and family.
Sasha Marino
Sasha Marino is a freshman at Assumption University and resident of Westwood. She is enrolled in the Pre-Law and Honors programs, in addition to being a center on the hockey team. Sasha is happy to be making a difference in her community at school by being a part of the Campus Activity Board along with taking a community service-centered Spanish class, with a project focused on teaching/providing literature to Spanish-speaking foster kids in Worcester.
Grace Grammatico
Amelia Vander May
Grace Grammatico is a first-year student at Yale University, where she studies Political Science and History. An aspiring future lawyer, she plans to attend law school following graduation. At Yale, Grace is an active member of the Undergraduate Moot Court Team and Student Association for Small Claims Assistance. She also participates in Yale Model Congress and rides with the Yale Equestrian Team. She is proud to be a recipient of the Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, which will continue to support her goals.
Amelia Vander May
Amelia Vander May
Amelia Vander May
Amelia attends Tufts University, where she plans to double major in Political Science and Civic Studies. She is passionate about activism and social change, and is currently working as the social media manager for Indivisible Somerville as well as a producer for TEDxTufts. After college, Amelia hopes to make a lasting impact on her community by founding her own nonprofit dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities, protecting the rights of women and children, and developing policies that create a more equitable society.
Yiru Wang
Amelia Vander May
Amelia Vander May
Yiru Wang is a Psychology and Statistics major at Mount Holyoke College, where she combines research and advocacy to improve educational and mental health equity. She leads an IRB-approved project using expressive writing to reduce math anxiety, and she founded the “Speak Out” campaign against gender-based violence. Yiru plans to pursue a PhD in psychology to develop evidence-based interventions that reduce the disproportionate psychological burdens created by structural and environmental inequities.
Molly Szado
Molly Szado is a first-year Honors student at Bryant University majoring in Psychology with a strong interest in Human Resources and business leadership. She recently completed a 4.0 semester and earned President’s List distinction. Molly also proudly supports LinkUnite, an organization whose mission closely aligns with the Women's Empowerment Scholarship. She works towards spreading this movement across campus in any way possible.
Jasmine Huang
Jasmine Huang is from Braintree. She graduated in three years from Bridgewater State with a B.S. in Aviation Science, concentrating in Aviation Management, graduating summa cum laude. She earned her Private Pilot License at Alpha One Flight and continued professional flight training, earning an Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), CFI–Instrument, and Commercial Multi-Engine rating. She is currently continuing advanced flight training and her long-term goal is to earn her Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and fly as a medevac pilot for Boston MedFlight.
Mia Sinno Smith
Mia Smith is a first year student at Brown University. She intends to major in neuroscience because she’s fascinated by the intersections between biology, chemistry, math, and computer science. She aspires to later pursue a career as a researcher because she is thrilled by new discoveries. Mia is also passionate about her activities outside of the classroom, which include biological research, acting, playwriting, sailing, surfing, and swimming. She is currently serving on an international neuroscience journal review team, an active member of her college’s AI Safety Team, and a volunteer author for a nonprofit publishing children’s books.
Madisyn Koza
Madisyn Koza is an undergraduate student at Brown University. She graduated from Greater Lowell Technical High School, where she completed the Information Technology Services program, earning over 30 technical certifications, completing multiple internships, and winning the Congressional App Challenge.
Sarahluna Sassine
From Westwood, Sarahluna Sassine is a first-year student at Harvard College, tentatively interested in integrative biology or biomedical engineering, with a minor in government. At Harvard, Sarahluna is looking to expand her community impact by becoming a member of the College’s UNICEF chapter and helping educate greater-Boston elementary schools through the Institute of Politics’ Civics Program. In a future career serving public health, Sarahluna plans to advocate for women’s representation in medicine, where constant ostracization pushes women away from getting accurate treatment where research was based on men.
Haley Gilland
Haley Gilland, from Ridgefield, Connecticut, is a first-year student-athlete at Williams College, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience. She is also a member of the women’s lacrosse team. Athletically, Haley has competed at the highest levels. She represented Italy at the 2024 U20 Women’s World Lacrosse Championships as a starting defender. Driven by her passion for pediatric medicine and neuroscience research, Haley aspires to pursue an MD/PhD and a career advancing patient care and scientific discovery.
Sophie Baldwin
Sophie Baldwin
Sophie Baldwin is a freshman at Brown University, studying Health & Human Biology in the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME). She also enjoys exploring classes in Psychology and Anthropology alongside the natural sciences. At Brown, she is a member of the Women's Club Soccer Team, Community Health Advocacy Program, and Brown-RISD Arab Society. In the future, she aspires to become an anesthesiologist and give back to the community.
Previous Scholarship Recipients
2024
Celebrated in December, 2024 at Mariel Underground
2023
Celebrated in December, 2023 at Mariel Underground
2022
Celebrated in December, 2022 at Mariel Underground
2020 & 2021
Celebrated in December, 2021 at Davio's Seaport
2019
2019
Celebrated in December, 2019 at Davio's Back Bay
Welcome To The Family, Sarahluna and Sasha
Westwood High School Graduates Earn Women's Empowerment Scholarships
It is with great pleasure we announce Sarahluna Sassine and Sasha Marino, 2025 graduates of Westwood High School, have been named recipients of $1,000 academic grants, made possible by The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship and The Rotary Club of Westwood. Sarahluna and Sasha were honored and learned the news during Westwood High School’s Senior Class Night ceremony on May 30, 2025.
This year, The Rotary Club of Westwood made a $2,000 donation to The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, and the WES Board of Directors made the commitment to award that money to a single recipient who resides in Westwood, or a combination of multiple recipients who reside in Westwood.
After careful consideration of the applications that were submitted by Westwood residents, Bailey Bailey, founder and president of The Women’s Empowerment Scholarship, determined Sarahluna and Sasha had set themselves apart from the field. We are happy to offer these grants as Sarahluna pursues her degree at Harvard College and Sasha pursues her degree at Assumption University.
Sarahluna, who plans to major in integrative biology while minoring in government, was involved in many extra-curricular activities and clubs during her time at Westwood High School, including the Legislative Council and the French Honor Society. She was also co-author of the Westwood High School yearbook and competed on the Track & Field team. Sarahluna received multiple National Art and Writing Awards, a Massachusetts Student Achievement Award, the George Eastman Young Leaders Award, and a Bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
In her essay to the review board, Sarahluna noted, “The medical field has struggled with adapting to recognize women’s needs in healthcare. Many doctors continue to shrug off female symptoms that lead to life-changing diagnoses like endometriosis, because they think women are being dramatic. In a future career serving public health, I would look to prioritize women in research studies, advocating for often-overlooked symptoms in order to bring justice to diagnoses, and increase the quality of life for thousands of women, which could push them toward historically male-dominated fields without fear of ostracization for their health.”
Sasha is a gifted student and athlete who has succeeded in the classroom, on the ice and on the diamond. Splitting time during her junior and senior years between Westwood High School and the North American Hockey Academy, Sasha earned a scholarship to play hockey at Assumption and will follow a pre-law track while competing on the ice. Sasha’s positive nature and unending drive has endeared her to teammates, coaches, teachers and parents.
In her essay, Sasha wrote, “As a future criminal prosecutor, positivity isn’t quite listed in the job description, however, with positivity comes many other traits. Competitiveness, confidence and consistency all flourish under a positive attitude. My goal is to inspire other young women to keep their heads held high, stay positive, and persevere through anything, because if I can become a Division 1 athlete and an impressive lawyer, then other young women can follow their dreams, too.”
Thank you to The Rotary Club of Westwood for its support and congratulations to Sarahluna and Sasha, our 2025 Westwood recipients of Women’s Empowerment Scholarships.
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