Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund

10/29/2026

This October brought a little bit of sunshine and a whole lot of changing leaves! We are bringing you our October service spotlight, James Poirier, a sophomore majoring in forestry with a minor in criminal justice at the University of Maine. For the past several summers, he has volunteered at Philmont Scout Ranch through the Roving Outdoor Conversation School (ROCS) program. He participates in conservation work for the forest while learning about the different forest regions. Some of the conversation projects he has participated in include forest fuel reduction, stream restoration, and trail maintenance. These projects have helped James understand the importance of forest management and how human involvement plays a role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. This volunteer opportunity has inspired James’ future career goals. This experience sparked his interest in wildfire, arson investigation, and criminal forestry investigations. Combined with his school coursework, he has a better understanding of forest management and volunteering at Philmont Scout Ranch reinforces what he is learning in the classroom and allows him to gain real world experience. James says, “What I found most rewarding was being able to help with conservation work and see firsthand how these projects help maintain and protect the environment. With the current increase in forest fires across the United States, it was beneficial for me to see how this specific region is now handling its risks after having gone through a devastating wildfire consisting of over 36,000 acres in 2018. Knowing that I helped to possibly ward off a potential catastrophic fire in the future enhances my volunteer activity."

10/15/2026

The 2027–2028 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is open! Don’t delay, complete your FAFSA today at

09/29/2026

Fall is in the air, and it has brought another service spotlight for you: Makayla Towne, a senior at Clark University! She is a Biology and Psychology double major with a minor in Health, Science, and Society, and she is on the pre-med track. In September of 2025, Makayla joined CABI CORE as a Behavioral Technician. CABI CORE is a school for children and young adults with developmental and behavioral needs. Their goal is to teach each child the necessary skills to promote independence. As a Behavioral Technician, Makayla works one-on-one with children aged five and six to help them develop communication, social, and behavioral skills. She says, “What I find most rewarding is witnessing the progress my clients make over time. Seeing a child expand their vocabulary, regulate their emotions more independently, or successfully communicate their needs is incredibly meaningful. Moments like when a child begins recognizing staff or family members by name or when they can clearly express what they want or need are especially powerful to me. Being able to support a child in developing skills that enhance their communication and ability to navigate the world has been extremely eye-opening and rewarding to me.” This experience has taught Makayla about the positive impact she can have on people’s lives. It has continued to motivate her to continue her education and pursue a career in medicine.

09/24/2026

Campus life doesn’t end at graduation! In our latest Scholar Bulletin, two scholarship alumni share their journeys into higher education careers.

09/17/2026

Last month we had the incredible opportunity to celebrate the expansion of the Gordon Hall III Family Foundation Scholarship (GH3 Scholarship). Congratulations to our 41 GH3 Scholarship awardees! Thank you to the Lynn Museum & Arts Center for hosting us.

For more information about the GH3 Scholarship and how to apply visit https://phillips-scholarship.org/the-gordon-hall-iii-family-foundation-scholarship/

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08/27/2026

As we soak in the last bit of summer, we would like you to meet our August service spotlight, Maeve O’Connor, a junior at Emmanuel College studying Nursing. During the Fall 2025 semester, Maeve was a volunteer for Mission Grammar, an elementary school in Boston, Massachusetts. As a volunteer, she worked with the K1 after-school care program for four-year-old students. Her responsibilities included facilitating learning activities that aligned with the school’s CARE motto (COMMUNITY of ACHIEVERS who RESPECT ourselves and each other) and helping the students develop social and emotional skills through positive communication and self-esteem building. Maeve also had the opportunity to work one-on-one with children experiencing behavioral challenges to help them stay included in social settings by encouraging appropriate and respectful classmate interactions. She was reminded that sometimes compassion and understanding can be more effective than enforcing rules and she knows this skill will be important when caring for patients in her future career. She says, “Being around these children during such important stages of growth made me realize how much I love supporting kids and being someone they can feel safe with. It gave me confidence in my ability to make a difference and confirmed that pediatric nursing is the path I truly want to pursue.”

07/31/2026

We are ending July on a high note by introducing you to our service spotlight, Lily Scopelliti, a junior studying Psychology at Endicott College. For the last two years, she has been a peer mentor for You’re With Us, an organization that provides inclusion opportunities for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. She meets with Kayla, a young adult with Down Syndrome, weekly to help her develop social and life skills while also having fun. Together they have attended Endicott women’s basketball games, played board games in the student union, and gotten meals at the dining hall. This relationship has taught Lily patience, empathy, and the importance of forming genuine connections with people. Lily says, “The entire experience Kayla has provided me has been incredibly rewarding; it truly is what I look forward to at the beginning of every week. I find joy in seeing her self-confidence grow as time progresses and watching her build relationships with peers on campus. I have come to recognize how impactful and fulfilling it is to fight for inclusivity and friendship. I am lucky to have this opportunity.” Getting this hands-on experience has reinforced Lily’s desire to work with individuals with developmental and physical disabilities in her future career.

07/14/2026

In this Phillips Scholar bulletin, we are proud to celebrate our 2026 graduates! Congratulations to the class of 2026!

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06/29/2026

This graduation season, we celebrate the achievements of our Phillips Scholars. Thank you for letting us be a part of your journey, we are so proud of all you’ve accomplished. Congratulations, graduates!

06/25/2026

We are halfway into sunshine season, and we are halfway through our service spotlights for the year! For June, let us tell you about Re’Sean Dupree, a junior at Boston College studying Finance and Management and Leadership. He is a community volunteer for the PULSE Program, a program run through Boston College with the goal of educating students about social injustice by working with marginalized communities and the organizations that are working towards social change. Re’Sean volunteers twice a week at a local Boys and Girls Club where he leads activities and tutors students during an afterschool program. He says, “Going into the experience, I expected that I would mainly be teaching the kids, but it has actually been the opposite. I’ve learned a lot from them, especially about patience, perspective, and the impact that simply showing up can have. Some of the most rewarding parts have been realizing how important it is to be a reliable and consistent supportive presence for the kids, and the personal growth that comes from the experience.” This experience has helped Re’Sean realize that he enjoys working with people and building interpersonal relationships. After graduation, he is hoping to take on more client facing focused roles in finance so he can work closely with individuals, families, or companies and develop a deeper understanding of their financial goals and needs.