‘What you achieved . . . is no small thing’: Globe Foundation/Richard J. Phelps Scholar-Athletes honored
Celebrating its 40th year, the Globe Foundation/Richard J. Phelps Scholar-Athlete Awards recognized 22 graduating seniors for excellence in academics and athletics Tuesday at Fenway Park, with an addition: They were joined by the Will McDonough writing contest winners for the first time.
The Scholar-Athlete program honors 18 seniors from seven MIAA districts, the city of Boston, and Eastern Massachusetts prep schools, with each recipient awarded a $4,000 scholarship toward their college tuition.
In addition, four standouts were named Athletes of the Year for their multi-season achievements. Brody Bumila (Bishop Feehan) and Abby Hennessy (Westford) were recognized in the Will McDonough/MIAA division, and Ty Curry (St. Sebastian’s) and Molly Vana (Governor’s) won in the Richard J. Phelps/NEPSAC division.
“I’m just going to take away the memories of my friends the most. At the end of the day, that’s what I think this was about,” said Bumila, who led Feehan to the Division 1 basketball title and an appearance in the Division 1 baseball championship.
“Even though I was excelling really well . . . it still means everything, just those memories I have with my friends in the dugout, on the court, or just in the locker room after the games.”
The Globe launched the scholar-athlete program in 1987, and Phelps — a Watertown native, Phillips Andover graduate (class of ‘46), and longtime businessman and philanthropist — has supported it since 1991. The foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 500 students since its inception.
Eight decades after he starred on the mound at Andover and went on to play for Yale’s baseball team, Phelps, 97 and in attendance, reflected on the relationships and memories he formed as an athlete — more so than any win or loss.
“Hopefully, the one overriding memory of all these contests will be the friendships that you’ve made on the athletic fields,” said Phelps, who was flying back to his home in California after the event. “Those will be, I’m sure, the greatest memories of your athletic career.”
Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy noted the event is one of his favorite days each year. He shared memories of his late basketball coach at Groton High, John Fahey, who passed away in March at 87, and encouraged the students to celebrate each step in their athletic journey.
“What you achieved to get here is no small thing,” said Shaughnessy. “Thank you, to your parents, your coaches, your teachers.”
Bumila, a Texas baseball commit, struck out 108 batters and allowed just seven runs in 46 innings this spring after averaging 41 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 blocks during Feehan’s run to the Division 1 boys’ basketball title. Hennessy’s dominance on the track and the trails culminated in a 41-second win in the Division 1 Meet of Champions and 14-second win at Brooks Northeast Regionals, and she graduates as the Massachusetts girls’ record holder in the indoor mile, outdoor mile, and outdoor 2-mile. She will run at Washington.
“All the memories I’ve had with all my teammates and my coaches, and just having them all push me to be my best, and just training with my best friends has really been such a blessing for these past four years,” said Hennessy.
Curry, who will play lacrosse at Notre Dame, won the NEPSAC boys’ honors after starring on St. Sebastian’s ice hockey team, which captured the Independent School League title, and the boys’ lacrosse team, for which he tallied 94 points last season and earned All-American honors.
Vana was the NEPSAC girls’ honoree. She scored a program-record 64 goals for the Governor’s soccer team, shined in indoor track, and won ISL MVP in lacrosse. She will play lacrosse and soccer at Harvard.
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The event also featured a ceremony for the four New England high school journalists who won the Will McDonough Writing Contest, which the Globe took over managing this year from The Sports Museum.
The award is named after longtime Globe sports columnist Will McDonough, who died in 2003. Will’s son, Sean McDonough, and daughter, Erin McDonough, attended the event Tuesday.
“He would love this contest . . . he loved competition, particularly loved sports,” said Sean McDonough. “So, the writing contest has been a great way to honor his legacy for many years now.”
The 2025-26 Phelps Scholars
▪ District 2-3 —Alessandra Burnett, Hudson (Syracuse); Drew O’Connell, Shrewsbury (Boston College).
▪ District 4 — Sarah Fortier, Concord-Carlisle (Middlebury); Anwar Mamdouh, Methuen (Harvard).
▪ District 5 — Amelia Crowe, Pentucket (Babson); Cal Weidman, Masconomet (Bentley).
▪ District 6 —Nicholas Fusco, St. Mary’s (Purdue); Elle Orlando, Notre Dame-Hingham (Bentley).
▪ District 7 — Ronan Sullivan, Dover-Sherborn (Wake Forest); Clara Thibault, Brookline (Colby).
▪ District 8 —Avery Antunes, Durfee (Bridgewater State); Josh Vieira, Fairhaven (Springfield College).
▪ District 9 — Bret Amorosino, Norwell (Babson); Lauren Sutliffe, Duxbury (Northeastern)
▪ Boston — Aissatou Bangura, O’Bryant (Howard); Donté Jordan Allen Robinson, Tech Boston (Xavier University of Louisiana).
▪ Preps — Summer Lynn Warren, Brooks (Smith); Tristan Yepdo, Brooks (Lehigh).
Will McDonough Athletes of the Year
2025-26
Boys’ winner: Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan
Girls’ winner: Abby Hennessy, Westford Academy
2024-25
Boys’ winner: Sid Tildsley, Shawsheen Tech
Girls’ winner: Kerri Finneran, Central Catholic
2023-24
Boys’ winner: Jake Vana, St. John’s Prep
Girls’ winner: Abby Bettencourt, Peabody
2022-23
Boys’ winner: Owen McHugh, Milton
Girls’ winner: Rose MacLean, Andover
2021-22
Boys’ winner: Josh Robertson, Marblehead
Girls’ winner: Kendall Blomquist, Westwood
2020-21:
Boys’ winner: Brendan Fennell, Melrose
Girls’ winner: Paige Gillette, Andover
2019-20:
Boys’ winner: Duncan Moreland, Beverly
Girls’ winner: Sydney Scales, Walpole
2018-19
Boys’ winner: Jake McElroy, North Andover
Girls’ winner: Audra Tosone, Walpole
2017-18
Boys’ winner: Sal Frelick, Lexington
Girls’ winner: Elle Hansen, Cohasset
2016-17
Boys’ winner: Patrick Flynn, Hanover
Girls’ winner: Angela Alibrandi, Westford Academy
2015-16
Boys’ winner: Jeff Trainor, Billerica
Girls’ winner: Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Cambridge Rindge & Latin
2014-15
Boys’ winner: Brooks Tyrrell, Marblehead
Girls’ winner: Leah Cardarelli, Acton-Boxboro
2013-14
Boys’ winner: Michael Panepinto, Needham
Girls’ winner: Maggie Layo, Sandwich
2012-13
Boys’ winner: Andre Rolim, Somerville
Girls’ winner: Hannah Murphy, Duxbury
2011-12
Boys’ winner: Casey DeAndrade, East Bridgewater
Girls’ winner: Kara Charette, Fairhaven
2010-11
Boys’ winner: Shayne Collins, Mansfield
Girls’ winner: Andrea Keklak, Lincoln-Sudbury
2009-10
Boys’ winner: Conor Ressel, Gloucester
Girls’ winner: Molly Breen, Millis
2008-09
Boys’ winner: Sean Ryan, Norton
Girls’ winner: Kirsten Kasper, North Andover
2007-08
Boys’ winner: Tim Rich, Chelmsford
Girls winner: Melanie Baskind, Framingham
2006-07
Boys’ winner: James Hamilton, Harwich
Girls’ winner: Denise Beliveau, Framingham
2005-06
Boys’ winner: Chris Nixon, Duxbury
Girls’ winner: Lauren Mahoney, Archbishop Williams
2004-05
Boys’ winner: Chris Barnicle, Newton North
Girls’ winner: Ashley Waters, Amesbury
2003-04
Boys’ winner: Jason Blydell, Swampscott
Girls’ winner: Katie Brooks, Winchester
2002-03
The Globe Athlete of the Year Award was changed to the Boston Globe/Will McDonough Award following the death of the longtime Globe columnist in January of 2003.
Boys’ winner: Matt Antonelli, St. John’s Prep
Girls’ winner: Rachel Smith, Somerset
2001-02
Boys’ winner: Jim Unis, Gloucester
Girls’ winner: Brittany Cheney, Abington
2000-01
Boys’ winner: Robert Whitaker, Brockton
Girls’ winner: Lisa Tisbert, Andover
1999-2000
Boys’ winner: Dante Balestracci, New Bedford
Girls’ winner: Katie Collins, Reading; and Tracy Prihoda, Needham
1998-99
Boys’ winner: Kevin Truelson, Archbishop Williams
Girls’ winner: Hillary Dunn, Medfield
1997-98
Boys’ winner: Abdirizak Mohamud, Boston English
Girls’ winner: Jenna Stacer, Holliston
1996-97
Boys’ winner: Jonathon Riley, Brookline
Girls’ winner: Emily Desjardins, Bishop Fenwick
1995-96
Boys’ winner: James Perry, Malden Catholic
Girls’ winner: Rebecca Sangster, Falmouth
1994-95
Boys’ winner: Peter Woodfork, Swampscott
Girls’ winner: Nicki Castonguay, Somerset
1993-94
Boys’ winner: Anthony Palmer, Winthrop
Girls’ winner: Katie Kiladis, Framingham
1992-93
Boys’ winner: Brett Budzinski, Ipswich
Girls’ winner: Sarah Dacey, Framingham
1991-92
Boys’ winner: Chris Blades, Marian
Girls’ winner: Kelly Amonte, Thayer Academy
1990-91
Boys’ winner: Andy Downin, Duxbury
Girls’ winner: Leanne Burke, Randolph
1989-90
Boys’ winner: Bill Counihan, Dedham
Girls’ winner: Lisa Moore, Wellesley
1988-89
Boys’ winner: Dan O’Connell, Triton
Girls’ winner: Sarah Behn, Foxboro
1987-88
Boys’ winner: Carmine Cappuccio, Malden
Girls’ winner: Kendall Daly, Masconomet
Dick Phelps NEPSAC Athletes of the Year
2025-26
Boys’ winner: Ty Curry, St. Sebastian’s
Girls’ winner: Molly Vana, Governor’s Academy
2024-25
Boys’ winner: Noah Rahim, Roxbury Latin
Girls’ winner: Emily Mara, Phillips Andover
2023-24
Boys’ winner: Amir Lindsey, Rivers
Girls’ winner: Sophia Levering, Noble & Greenough
2022-23
Boys’ winner: Rogan Cardinal, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Molly Driscoll, Brooks
2021-22
Boys’ winner: James Donahue, Belmont Hill
Girls’ winner: Myra Bhathena, Phillips Andover
2020-21
* Seasons cancelled because of COVID.
2019-20
Boys’ winner: Kalel Mullings, Milton Academy
Girls’ winner: Catherine Barry, Tabor Academy
2018-19
Boys’ winner: Jake Spaulding, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Lily Farden, Nobles
2017-18
Boys’ winner: Joey Luchetti, Lawrence Academy
Girls’ winner: Cassidy Kearney, Thayer Academy
2016-17
Boys’ winner: Jeff Costello, Buckingham, Browne & Nichols
Girls’ winner: Amaya Finklea, Nobles
2015-16
Boys’ winner: Griffin Beal, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Courtney Cashman, Governor’s Academy
2014-15
Boys’ winner: Cole O’Connor, BB&N
Girls’ winner: Sophia Sgroi, Newton Country Day
2013-14
Boys’ winner: Charlie Mitchell, Waring
Girls’ winner: Lauren Dillon, Nobles
2012-13
Boys’ winner: Brian O’Malley, St. Sebastian’s
Girls’ Winner: Maeve McMahon, Groton School
2011-12
Boys’ winner: Brian Hart, Phillips Exeter
Girls’ winner: Bryanna Bourbeau, Tilton
2010-11
Boys’ winner: Brendan Oliver, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Alex Carpenter, Governor’s Academy
2009-10
Boys’ winner: Derek Papagianopoulos, BB&N
Girls’ winner: Beverly Leon, Milton Academy
2008-09
Boys’ winner: David Lawson, Middlesex
Girls winner: Casey Griffin, Nobles
2007-08
Boys’ winner: Chris Dwyer, Salisbury School
Girls’ winner: Sarah Plumb, Nobles
2006-07
Boys’ winner: Corey Gatewood, Belmont Hill
Girls’ winner: Bray Ketchum, Greenwich Academy
2005-06
Boys’ winner: James Williams, Roxbury Latin
Girls’ winner: Micaela Long, Pomfret
2004-05
Boys’ winner: Brian Morrissey, Governor Dummer
Girls’ winner: Sarah Parsons, Nobles
2003-04
Boys’ winner: Charlie Davies, Brooks School
Girls’ winner: Devon Shapiro, Middlesex School
2002-03
Boys’ winner: Dan Shribman, Deerfield Academy
Girls’ winner: Kaylan Tildsley, Brooks School
2001-02
Boys’ winner: Jason Haley, Landmark
Girls’ winner: Louisa Butler, Phillips Andover
2000-01
Boys’ winner: Andrew Cleary, Belmont Hill
Girls’ winner: Meredith Hudson, Phillips Andover
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