Each year, the Knights of Columbus Award honors a high school senior who has exhibited outstanding commitment to living the message of the Gospel in the parish and community, and lived as a young disciple of Jesus Christ through service and leadership.
On behalf of the Bishop Ruocco Knights of Columbus, Knight James Barrows awarded the three winners of the Annual KOC Scholarship last weekend at St. Margaret of Scotland Church. Join us in congratulating…
Molly Sneeringer of St. Margaret [pictured 2nd from right]
Molly is a 17 year old senior at Chelmsford High School. She will be attending Assumption University in Worcester, MA to pursue a degree in Education. She has worked with students with disabilities in CHS Disability Sports Program.
Matthew Harland of St. Margaret [pictured far right]
Matthew is an 18 year old senior at Lowell Catholic. He will be attending St. Anselm College in Goffstown, NH to pursue a degree in Education. Matt was chosen to be a representative of Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools. He helped organize and run a project called Salvation Sandwiches, where many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were donated to Lazarus House in Lawrence.
Ryan Clark of St. Mary [pictured 2nd from left]
Ryan is a 17 year old senior at Chelmsford High School. He will be attending Western New England College in Springfield, MA to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Ryan started a food drive for the Table of Plenty and raised $1,800 in cash and gift card donations. He also arranged a toy collection on behalf of Toys for Tots, where he raised $2,000.
Sarah Pontbriant, [pictured left] is a member of St. John Parish. She has been actively involved in parish life throughout her middle and high-school years, spending much of that time as a CORE Coordinator for our children’s summer bible camp (VBF), and a 4-time participant in our summer mission trip, Catholic Heart Work Camp, where her both her smile and energy are contagious. Sarah will be studying Elementary Education at UMass Lowell this coming fall.
Alexandra LoCoco [pictured right] is a member of St. Mary Parish. Alexandra was born deaf but that didn't hold her back! She helped get American Sign Language instituted as a World Language in the curriculum at Chelmsford High School, was Senior Class Secretary and Captain of the Girls Varsity Soccer Team. She has volunteered on the Minuteman Early Intervention and Boston Children's Hospital Student panels as well as at St. Mary Parish events and the TOPSoccer Program. Alexandra will be studying Psychology and Deaf Studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester this coming fall.
Congratulations to Delaney Schiefen, winner of the 2020 Knights of Columbus Annual Scholarship! Delaney, daughter of St. John parishioners Deirdre and Steve Schiefen, is not only a face, but a voice many will recognize. In additional to serving on the PPC for the past two years as a representative of our youth, she has also been a member in our Music Ministry since she was in the 2nd grade. As she has grown, so has her talent and involvement, having served in our Christmas and Triduum celebrations, as well being a regularly scheduled cantor at the St. John 8:30 am Mass for the past four years. And her involvement in music, fueled by her love of it, does not end there! As a freshman at Chelmsford High, Delaney was a founding member of The Crescendos, an A Capella group, in which she was co-president during her senior year. They competed in the International Championship of High School A Capella for three years, being Northeast Semi-Finalists in 2019. Additionally, she has also performed in numerous CHS musicals as well as with the Concert Choir, being a Soprano section leader this past year. This coming fall, Delaney will be attending the University of Connecticut where she will be enrolled in a 5-year accelerated Masters Program in Music Education; anyone surprised? She has hope of someday being a Music Therapist. Join us in again congratulating her and wishing her well in all her future endeavors.
This year, join us in congratulating the recipients of this year’s award.
Nathan Houde of St. John the Evangelist
Nathan is a 2019 graduate of Lowell Catholic, will enter his freshman year at Southern New Hampshire University this month. During the presentation, our Knights praised Nathan for his dedication to our Catholic faith his service to our St. John’s Community, and his positive example for others as part of our Parish Youth Group Program throughout his school years.
Grace Sullivan of St. Mary
Grace has taken the task of living out her Catholic faith in our collaborative and in our community to heart. She has been a yearly participan in Steubenville East, has volunteered as a catechist in the younger grades for the past two years, volunteers with several community service organizations at her high school, and looks for opportunities to discuss her faith with family and friends. Next year, Grace will attend Emmanuel College whree she hopes to continue to grow as a disciple.
This year, join us in congratulating Peter Cassels, the recipients of this year’s award. Peter has served St. John's over the years as an Altar Server from 2nd through 10th grade, at which point he became a Lector at our weekend Masses. He participated in our Faith Formation Program from First Communion through Confirmation. He was a active member of our Youth Group and has participated in the Catholic Heart Work Camp summer mission trips. Peter has also served the wider communty through his Boy Scout activities, and has earned the prestigious honor of Eagle Scout. Congratulations and blessings to Peter as he moves on to studies at the UMass Amherst.