LYNN — The Rotary Club of Lynn awarded $1,500 scholarships to four graduating seniors Tuesday evening. The scholarships awarded are named in honor of Thomas P. Maloney and Robert A. Hastings.

The scholarship provides annual financial assistance to senior high school students who live in Lynn and have been accepted to an accredited higher education institution or accredited vocational training program.

Initial funding for the scholarships was provided by Hastings and Maloney, two former Rotarians.
Each year, additional funds are provided through fundraising.

Robert A. Hastings was a member of a founding family of The Daily Item.

During his career at The Item, Hastings served as a reporter, news and political editor, and editorial page editor. He was employed with The Item until 1984.

Hastings also operated a public relations firm. He died in 2008.

Raymond Bastarache, chair of the Rotary Club’s Scholarship Committee, said this year, there were 46 scholarship applications across all five high schools in Lynn.

The only requirement to apply for the scholarships is to be a high school senior living in Lynn.

“We’re one of the few places that don’t require the FAFSA, because we know in the city of Lynn there are many students who may be here illegally, or maybe their parents, thus they would not be eligible for financial aid (or) federal money, and we don’t want to put any kind of unnecessary anxiety on anybody or make them hesitant to apply because they might be identifying themselves or their family as being here legally,” Bastarache said.

Each student is required to submit a personal essay to the Scholarship Committee, which is comprised of Bastarache, Rotary Club President Marnie Moore, and Rotarian Jean-Marie Minton.

From Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, a scholarship was awarded to “Lynn Tech’s version of a Renaissance man,” Bastarache said.

Alan Long has a GPA of 4.39 and currently ranks 4th in his class of 257 students.

He is Vice President of his school’s National Honor Society Chapter, a member of Skills USA, a cellist in the Lynn Public School Band, a LaVida Scholar, and is OSHA certified.

Long also serves as a youth representative for the Neighbor to Neighbor advocacy group.

In his essay, Long wrote about “how his family has dealt with food insecurity issues off and on, and had to rely on EBT cards just to get by. He became a very passionate advocate of people dealing with food insecurity and has tried to raise awareness by speaking out in public,” Bastarache said.

After graduating, Long will attend Babson College in Wellesley.

Moroniqua Pierresin, a student at Lynn Classical High School, also received a scholarship from the Rotary Club.

Pierresin is graduating with a 4.1 GPA and is an active member of the All-City Orchestra, Spanish Club, Science Club, and Student Government. She also runs for the indoor track team.

Pierresin also has a fellowship with the Lynn Community Health Center.

In her essay, Pierresin discussed a time when she and her sister were on their own, living in their aunt’s apartment while looking for a permanent place to live. Her aunt was in a nursing home while recovering from a stroke.

In her essay, she also discussed living life without her mom by her side.

Moore told the crowd that once Pierresin’s aunt returned to her apartment, she “learned how to be a home health aide. Her work suffered a little bit during this time. She wrote to us, but everything revolved around my arm, and the time that I spent with her was sacred, and I answered that call to be with her and help her.”

Pierresin will attend the University of Massachusetts Lowell post-graduation.

The Rotary Club recognized Jaslin Taing of KIPP Academy for her strong academic performance and involvement.

Moore said when reviewing Taing’s application, “We knew that we found somebody very special.”

Taing is President of her school’s National Honor Society Chapter, Vice President of the Asian Student Union, student manager of the boys’ volleyball and basketball teams, and plays for the girls’ volleyball team.

Taing also has a fellowship with the Lynn Community Health Center.

Moore said Taing’s parents were refugees from Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot. The two shared stories about this with their daughter.

After her school administration removed an autobiography of Loung Ung, a Cambodian-American activist, from its curriculum, Taing advocated for the book’s return to the classroom. Taing’s voice was heard, and the book was returned to the curriculum.

After graduation, Taing will attend Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

From St. Mary’s School, Thomas Weber was the final recipient of this year’s scholarship of $1,500.

Weber is a two-sport athlete and mentors the North Shore Rovers soccer program for children with physical or mental disabilities.

Weber is also a member of Rachel’s Challenge, which helps create a positive school environment through acts of kindness.

A member of St. Mary’s National Honor Society, Weber has a GPA of 4.93 and was this year’s class valedictorian.

Minton said in Weber’s essay, ” Tom shared a story about the joy he receives from mentoring in the Rovers program. He particularly mentioned an eight-year-old autistic boy, also named Thomas.”

She added that he wrote, “his faith has played a large part in keeping him grounded, helped him to overcome these challenges, and helped him to be grateful for all of his blessings.”

Weber will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.