2021 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient
Holly Sprow
Holly feels most empowered when she is working towards and achieving her own goals, while helping others at the same time! She dreams of a multi-faceted career as a clinical surgeon, educator, researcher, and advocate.
She is a rising third year medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine, serving as the Executive Officer of the Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative - a group researching head and neck conditions globally and advocating for healthcare access/policy reform. Holly has conducted copious amounts of research at various medical institutions around the world, including the Washington University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Radiology, the Zealand University Hospital Department of Neuropsychiatry in Denmark, and the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program.
Holly is a current member of the Massachusetts Medical Society Medical Student General Council and the Committee on Occupational and Environmental Health. She previously served as the Chief Gap Year Student and Doctor Assistant at Kuchnir Dermatology. She is a recipient of the 2021 Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting Medical Student Award and the 2021 Suffolk District Medical Society Scholarship. She volunteers her time with the Phoenix Project, TEEEN Obesity Program, and Co-leads the Orientation in Mindfulness for Patients and Student Support (COMPASS) Program.
Congratulations, Holly! We are so proud to award you $1,500 to keep achieving your goals!
2021 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient
Amber Paquette
Amber is a dedicated social justice advocate on a quest to provide legal services geared towards protecting and empowering underserved populations, including other women. Through high school, she balanced stellar academics with serving as captain of the soccer team, basketball, lacrosse, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, traveling abroad, participating in the Entrepreneurship program, and working as a page in the Rhode Island State House. Amber had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on the House floor, as well as develop business acumen working with the Finance Committee.
Amber earned a gold medal in the Business Service Operations Research division and qualified for nationals at the RI DECA competition, where she previously won a silver medal in the Independent Business Plan category. She is a 2021 Class Council delegate, National Honor Society Delegate, RI Treasurer’s Award for Young Leaders recipient, “Bad to the Bone Marrow” competition team winner, and Varsity Lacrosse Rookie of the Year recipient. In her spare time, she volunteers with the Elisha Project and Advanced Teachings of Modern Sciences (ATOMS), educating elementary students on STEM. Amber is also a talented and passionate artist, specializing in painting, drawing, sketching and mixed media artwork.
In the fall, Amber is matriculating into Nova Southeastern University’s Dual Law Program, earning a Bachelor’s degree and JD in six years. She hopes this path will allow her to empower and inspire women who have yet to find their voice.
Congratulations, Amber! We are thrilled to award you $1,250 for the 2021-22 school year!
2021 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient
Leah Valente
Leah is determined to leave a legacy of empowerment by reducing inefficiencies in our nation’s healthcare system and creating more effective breast cancer treatments. She is especially interested in data science and optimization, hoping that enhanced optimization will lead to holistic improvements in patient care. Her passion for STEM led her to manage a team of four girls developing an app for the Technovation Competition, producing a fully functioning app, business plan, financial analysis, and presentation.
Leah graduated at the top of her class at East Greenwich High School, while performing just as incredibly on the varsity soccer, lacrosse, and swim teams. She is a member of the National Honor Society, book club, and computer science club, and is a Technovation STEM Competition Semi-Finalist and Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient. She was named Patrol Leader of her Girl Scout Troop, American Legion GIrls State RI Delegate and Treasurer, and attended the US Naval Academy Summer Leadership Seminar. As an involved member of her community, Leah volunteered with the NHS Peer Helpers, her church youth group, Girl Scout Troop 285 and Swim Across America.
Now, Leah is taking her talents to Cornell University to study Operations Research and Information Engineering. She hopes this path will allow her to heal and empower future generations of women through data-based healthcare solutions.
Congratulations, Leah! We are so proud to award you $1,250 to achieve this goal!
2021 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient
Kelly Arruda
Kelly is the embodiment of an independent and empowered woman. She worked and paid her way through school as a young woman, determined to reach her educational goals, ultimately earning a Bachelor’s in Visual Design from UMass, where she received numerous accolades and awards. She then turned to UCLA, where she works in governance and project management, a role that allows her natural diplomacy and advocacy skills to shine.
Kelly is now pursuing a Master of Science in Global Studies and International Relations with a concentration in Diplomacy at Northeastern University. She hopes to use her career to take action, both mundane and grandiose, to build a framework of systemic cultural change for future generations of women and girls.
Congratulations, Kelly! We are proud to award you $1,000 to complete this program!
2021 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient
Sydnie DeVries
Throughout high school, Sydnie was an incredibly involved member of her school and local community. After unlocking her own potential through the power of personal growth, Sydnie was unstoppable, graduating tenth in her class at Monson High School with a 4.2 GPA. Sydnie is the Vice President of the MHS Chapter of the National Honor Society and Secretary of the MHS Student Council. Both roles empower Sydnie to tap into her leadership skills, find her voice, and become someone others can rely on; a task she cherishes.
In 2019, Sydnie received the Seal of Biliteracy Award, given to a student who passes the Seal Biliteracy Test with proficiency in oral and written communication. She is a recipient of the Saint Michael’s College Book Award, awarded annually to high school juniors internationally in recognition of students’ academic success and exemplary community service involvement.
Outside the classroom, Sydnie received several leadership awards for her performance on the basketball court, including the Division 4 Western MA Tournament MVP 2020, 3x All Western MA First Team Selection, and the Super 7 Selection 2020, awarded to only seven players throughout Western MA as the best players for the upcoming season. Sydnie is a Captain of the MHS Girls Varsity Basketball Team. She is an active Special Olympics volunteer, where she empowers student athletes with disabilities, and has worked with the Street Store, a nonprofit that organizes second-hand pop-up shops for those in need.
After coaching youth soccer for three years, Sydnie was named a Role Model for the positive impact she left on numerous young athletes. Her passion for athletics has led to her pursue a Sports Management degree at Southern New Hampshire University. She hopes to continue this legacy by becoming a College Basketball Coach, with the goal of “empowering future generations of women by proving to them that gender does not define the amount of success you can reach and limit the goals you can set.”
Congratulations, Sydnie! We are thrilled to award you with a $500 scholarship!
2021 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient
Isabella Calise
Isabella feels most empowered when she is using her voice to sympathize and advocate for others and their hardships. She attended Saint Raphael Academy, where she served as freshman class secretary, class president, golf team captain, editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, school ambassador, community outreach volunteer leader, and lead prosecution attorney of the mock trial team - allowing her to hone her leadership, advocacy, and effective communication skills. Isabella is a recipient of the Harvard Book Award, AP Scholar Award, St. Pope John Paul II Excellence in Communication Award, and Outstanding Service Award.
Isabella aspires to be a litigator, a role that she hopes will take her to the United States Supreme Court. She believes serving the American people will allow her to empower females on the grandest level through a platform that inspires changes, influences policy, and preserves liberty. Isabella is attending Boston College to study political science, the first step in earning her JD. Congratulations, Isabella!
We are proud to award you $1,000 for the 2021-22 school year!
2021 Women's Empowerment Scholarship Recipient
Alexandra Bavlov
Anything the boys can do - Alexandra Bavlov can do better. Her mother’s strength and resilience inspired her to view education as the most powerful tool in shaping one’s life from a young age. During high school, she realized her passions for design and art history could translate into a meaningful career in the preservation of historical buildings, leading her to pursue a degree in civil engineering and architecture. She has never been dissuaded by the male stereotype of an engineer, and hopes to inspire other women to enter the field with her hard work.
Alexandra is a recipient of the Harvard Book Award, AP Scholar Distinction Award 2020, SAT Commended Scholar 2019, and Principal’s List honor. She was a member of the Littleton High School Varsity Tennis team, National Junior Classical League, Latin Honor Society, and Handel + Haydn Vocal Arts Program. Alexandra is also a decorated piano player, fluent Russian speaker, and an active volunteer in her community.
In the fall, Alexandra will be attending Northeastern University to earn a combined degree in civil engineering and architecture. She then plans to complete a master’s program in either concentration.
Congratulations, Alexandra! We are so happy to award you $1,500 to achieve this goal!