STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Wilmington’s Bolanos, Garrity, Gorham, & Petrone Receive Wilmington Sons Of Italy Scholarships

Below is a press release from the Wilmington Sons of Italy:

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Sons of Italy Lodge #2183, held their scholarship banquet on May 25, 2023 and had the pleasure of presenting three undergradate scholarships and one graduate scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year.  An Italian buffet was catered by Kitty’s Restaurant and was well attended by their members and invited guests.

Allison Bolanos, a graduate of Wilmington High School, received the Laura Caira Memorial Award.  She was on high honor roll for four years and received the Assumption Book Award and is graduating in the top 10% of her class.  She served as Vice-Presidnt and President of the Jr. WOW Executive Board and Vice-President of the Best Buddies Executive Board.  Allison is an avid dancer and has been a member of the competition team at Legacy Studies School of Dance.  She is the organizer and teacher of the adaptive dance class and is the dance captain and student choreographer for the Lamplighters Drama Guild.  She has volunteered for Beyond Tops, Special Olympics, Tiny Tots, and the Festival of Trees just to name a few.  Allison will be attending college this fall majoring in Special Education.

Lucas Gorham, a graduate of Wilmington High School and received the Bob and Peg Dicey Award.  During his four years at Wilmington High School, he was on the JV and Varsity Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams and Football Team.  He has gone to State Relays twice, as well as a Coaches Invitational Meet.  Lucas participated in Deca State Finals in the Franchise Business Plan category and finished as one of the top ten finalists.  Being active in Boy Scouts of America since the first grade, he recently received his Eagle Scout with the installation of three benches at the senior housing development on Deming Way in Wilmington.  Lucas will be attending Roger Williams University majoring in Engineering.

Nathan Petrone a graduate of Shawheen Valley Technical High School in Automotive Technology.  He is an honor roll student and is completing his co-op at Stoneham Ford.  During the summer he works full-time for Garrick Lawn Service.  In his spare time he enjoys playing hockey on a men’s league.  Nathan plans to attend Nashua Community College in the fall for an Associate’s degree in Automotive Technology.  Nathan was presented with the Father Francis Mackin Memorial Award.

Emma Garrity has recently graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bryant University and she was a member of the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society.  She competed in track and field all four years and was a team captain.  Her accomplishments included Female Athlete of the Year and received the Bryant’s Female Career Athletic Award.   She was an active member of the Wilmington Sons of Italy Junior Lodge and is currently a member of the Wilmington Sons of Italy Senior Lodge.  She will be pursuing her Graduate degree in Psychology this fall.  Emma was awarded the Stanley Radomski graduate scholarship.

The award ceremony ended with our undergraduate recipients being installed into the Wilmington Sons of Italy Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge by State Deputy Betty Sandquist and President John Romano.   The Wilmington Sons of Italy would like to congratulate the graduating seniors of 2023.  We wish them a successful and bright future!