NEW CLASS OF GARRITY SCHOLARS

The Garrity Scholars is a competitive merit award program that recognizes the best and brightest students interested in a transformative, Catholic and STEM focused education offered at St. Mary’s Lynn. The Garrity Scholars Program includes a four-year, full tuition scholarship that is given to approximately ten students entering Grade 9.

St. Mary’s launched The Garrity Scholars program in 2018, thanks to the generosity of a special donor who wanted to honor Monsignor Paul Garrity, who was the pastor for 18 years at St. Mary’s Parish in Lynn with responsibility for St. Mary’s Marian Division and High School. With three classes of Garrity Scholars now enrolled, and applications for the fourth class underway, this program has given wonderful opportunities to students across the North Shore and beyond. The Garrity Scholars Program acknowledges excellence through focus on personal leadership qualities, and a commitment to the St. Mary’s pillars of success, all hallmarks of the life of Monsignor Garrity. The Garrity Scholarship application process also populates the Scholars Program which provides additional tutelage for accepted students as well as a significant four-year merit scholarship.

The 2021 Garrity Scholars, with their hometown and previous school are (listed left to right in photo above): • Solara Patel-Elliott, Lynn, Marblehead Charter School • Arthur Oelke, Lynn, St. Pius V School • Chance Bonfanti, Peabody, St. John the Baptist School • Ava Gigliotti, Saugus, Our Lady of the Assumption School • Riley Maguire, Nahant, St. Mary’s Marian Division • Nakabiri Kayondo, Lynn, St. Mary’s Marian Division • Georgia Allaire, Lynn, Pickering Middle School • Jared Thomas, Lynn, St. Mary’s Marian Division

As part of the application process for the Garrity Scholars program, students were asked to submit an essay on what leadership means to them. Here are some excerpts from those essays:

GEORGIA ALLAIRE “Many people have the mindset that being a leader means having power and authority over others. However, in my eyes leadership is about setting an example. Leadership is also about being a role model, mentoring, and encouraging others’ ideas. It’s about working together as a team and supporting one another.” CHANCE BONFANTI “I am not the kind of leader who gets everyone jumping around before a soccer game. No, that is simply not who I am. I am a leader who includes others to figure out a solution to an issue, rather than go rogue on my own. I truly believe that including others in solving problems allows for a person to form new relationships and strengthen the community.”

AVA GIGLIOTTI “There are a lot of qualities you need to be a leader. You need to have integrity, respect and the best outlook and intentions for all of your peers. A leader to me is someone who inspires others to be a good person and have strong moral principles. If I see someone perform a kind act for someone else, I would consider that person to be a leader as they are demonstrating compassion and it would inspire a whole new chain reaction of love, positivity and happiness. To be a good leader you really have to care about people.”

NAKABIRI KAYONDO “To be a Christ-like leader, I would help those who are in need of anything, big or small. I would also make an effort to talk to those who are shy or do not have many friends. I would try my best to stand up for those who are mistreated. While talking with the person who was responsible for the mistreatment, I would confront them in a kind way, not letting anger control me. I would also pray for those who are rude to me and to others.”

RILEY MAGUIRE “My mother taught me the importance of caring. She always cared for others and was continuously there to help someone when they needed it most. My dad’s work ethic has inspired me to constantly work hard and push myself past my limits. He told me to always work hard until the end of a game, regardless of the score. My brothers taught me to be vocal and brave. I learned that you should be the first person to take an opportunity when no one steps up. You must be vocal so others can hear you and take direction. Showing bravery sets an example for others around you by demonstrating to them that they are capable of any task. Most importantly, my aunt taught me that actions speak louder than words.”

ARTHUR OELKE "I usually tend to lead rather than follow when it comes to groups. At St. Mary’s, I would be the one in my class to help as many people as possible figure out how to do what they need to do without exactly giving them the solution. I would be diplomatic when dealing with everyone, and I would give them information in the most concise way possible."

SOLARA PATEL-ELLIOTT “The way I show my leadership is a bit more in a subtle way. For instance, an example of how I show my leadership in the classroom teaching kids. I don’t just give them the answers. There would be no benefit for them from that, I instead usually teach them step-by-step how to figure everything out. By doing this, I create a stronger relationship with them and I also learn more while teaching.”

JARED THOMAS “During my time at St. Mary’s I will demonstrate leadership to the St. Mary’s community by continuing to work hard to maintain high academic standards, demonstrate personal values in a commitment to having good attendance, form valuable friendships, be respectful to my teachers and peers, and plan to grow personally as a young man of faith to further develop my leadership qualities. Specifically, I’m a leader who works hard, is self-motivated and resilient, and compassionate to others.”