DANVERS — Nine area students were awarded scholarships totaling $47,500 at Wednesday evening’s Hope Begins Here Award reception at Danversport hosted by Peabody-based organization North Boston Cancer Association, including Lynnfield seniors Bridget Murray and Adriana DiCorato.
Presented with the Hope Begins Here Award was Stephen Tyler, founder and president of the North Shore-based non-profit To Show We Care, which has hosted nights of free dining and entertainment for thousands of cancer patients since its founding in 2013.
Four of the students, DiCorato, Reese Lizotte, Alice Moody, and Murray, were awarded privately funded scholarships, while the other five, Ian Brown, Giuliana Nazzaro, Elliot Lyman, Luke Sulzinsky, and Kyle Kingston, were awarded BNCA-sponsored scholarships.
BNCA started its scholarship program to help students either pursue a career in cancer prevention and treatment or whose lives have been transformed by a battle with cancer.
According to BNCA Board of Directors Vice President Kevin S. McCarthy, Esq., this is the largest amount of money that has been given away during the annual reception.
“It is people like you from our community for whom the Boston North Cancer Association dedicates itself,” McCarthy told the audience. “It is your continued support that makes all of our programs possible. Without you, we would be unable to continue to fund our scholarships and grant programs in the pursuit of cancer research, education, prevention and care to our neighbors here, north of Boston.”
Helping the organization to reach over $2.5 million to fund cancer-related medical resources, support services, and educational programs includes Mass General Brigham Cancer Center, Beth Israel Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, and Solimine Funeral Services.
After highlighting some of the programs BNCA gave grants to in 2024, such as the Ironstone Farms Equine-Assisted Experiences, the YMCA of Metro North, and Sail Beyond Cancer North Shore, McCarthy presented the students with their scholarships, sharing their stories with audience members in the process.
DiCorato received the $1,000 Lightshed Photography Honorary Scholarship, an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior and sponsored by Kendra and Dan St. John of Lightshed Photography.
Murray was the recipient of the $5,000 Teri Hall Memorial Scholarship, which she plans to use towards funding her pre-med education at Framingham State University.
“I’m now going to college with having to pay less money, which has been difficult because I haven’t been able to get an actual job for the past four years because of my shoulder, and I’m paying for college by myself,” she said.
In college, Murray plans to study physical therapy, a career she was inspired to pursue after needing it herself and seeing how much it helped her father after his battle with cancer.
Kingston, a UMass Chan Medical School class of 2027 student, was awarded the F. John Bargoot Scholarship, a $15,000 award given to a medical student with an interest in entering the field of cancer treatment and prevention.
“I’m personally funding my medical education, which is a huge undertaking. This scholarship, it’s huge. It’s almost half of my tuition for a year, and that is a loan I don’t have to take out.” Kingston said. “I believe that kids deserve to live long, healthy lives, and I hope to do my part in that. It’s organizations like these and the people who volunteer and just show up for cancer patients and their families that make that possible.”
Closing out the reception was the Hope Begins Here Award presentation, which honors an outstanding leader and advocate for cancer treatment, prevention, or care in communities north of Boston.
Introducing Tyler was North Shore Music Theatre General Manager Karen Nascembeni, who remarked on the joy and sense of community he has brought to local cancer patients.
“Nothing is better than seeing everyone talking and laughing at the pre-show ceremony and afterward watching them get lost in the magic of the show,” Tyler said after receiving his award. “I want to thank the Boston North Cancer Association for supporting To Show We Care, and other North Shore organizations that enable us all to continue to make a difference in the lives of people.”
