IL Worcester Red Sox

WooSox Scholars Class of 2023 Inducted on the Field at Polar Park Today

June 10, 2023 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


Four Worcester Public Schools 8th graders today were named the WooSox Scholars "Class of 2023" and will each receive a college scholarship of $10,000 from the WooSox Foundation. Their induction brings the number of WooSox Scholars to 12 since the program began in 2021.

This year's recipients, selected from more than 1,700 applicants-the entire 8th grade in Worcester Public Schools-are Marrie Brenner and Diego Segura, both of Burncoat Middle School, Anayah Ortiz of Forest Grove Middle School, and Jeremiah Mlay of University Park Campus School.

They join the WooSox Scholars Class of 2021 and Class of 2022. The inaugural class also comprises two scholars from Burncoat, Jakayla Edmonds Weekes, now a sophomore at North High School, and Kasie Vuong, now a sophomore at Doherty High School. The Class of 2021 also includes Helene Sanchez Navidad from Claremont Academy, now completing sophomore year at Nashua (NH) South High School, and Dalton Le of Sullivan Middle School. He is completing his sophomore year at South High School.

The Class of 2022 comprises Sincere Politano, also from University Park Campus School, where he is completing his freshman year; Erika Gutierrez, an alumna of Sullivan Middle School completing her freshman year at South High School; Marenity Gonzalez Giza, a graduate of Worcester East Middle School now completing her freshman year at North High School; and Farzana Darwishi, who graduated from Forest Grove before heading to Wachusett Regional High School for 9th grade.

The 8th grade faculty of Worcester Public Schools winnowed the applications to 89, from which a panel of school and WooSox Foundation officials selected 22 finalists. After interviewing each of the 22 students, the committee selected the four WooSox Scholars.

"Selecting our annual WooSox Scholars is among our most rewarding experiences," said Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, who is also president of the foundation. "We learn so much about the neighborhoods, the schools, and the living environments of our children, and they inspire us with their determination, courage, and perseverance.

"Early adolescence is challenging for any child, and these students have not had a bounty of material advantages. We seek to show them that we care about them, that we believe in them, and that their dreams of college are valid-and funded."

The students receive the funds for tuition and books at the time of matriculation to the colleges of their choice.

Before moving to Worcester, leaders of the franchise created the PawSox Scholars on November 4, 2016, and selected ten scholars through 2019 (two per year in 2016, '17, and '18, and four in 2019). Many of them are now in college.

WooSox Chairman and Principal Owner Larry Lucchino and Steinberg conceived the program in 1992 when they were with the Baltimore Orioles, and first implemented it in 1995 in San Diego, where for decades, 25 Padres Scholars received college scholarships of $5,000 each. When Lucchino and Steinberg arrived in Boston, the newly-created Red Sox Foundation established the Red Sox Scholars, providing scholarships of $10,000 each.

There are now more than 750 Padres Scholars, Red Sox Scholars, PawSox Scholars, and WooSox Scholars.

Lucchino and Steinberg established the WooSox Foundation on January 28, 2020, and announced the creation of the WooSox Scholars that day.

"We have had extraordinary cooperation from the Worcester Public Schools administrators and faculty," Steinberg said, "both under former Superintendent Maureen Binienda and now with new Superintendent Dr. Rachel Monarrez. They have been a joy to work with."

Members of the WooSox and WooSox Foundation staff gave the news in person to each child at their school last week.

"It's an amazing feeling to make such an impact on their lives, and those of their families," Steinberg said.

Check out the Worcester Red Sox Statistics



International League Stories from June 10, 2023


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