🥇2nd Annual Parkway Real Estate High School Scholarship – Winner Announcement!

It’s that energizing time of year – school is getting out, the sun is shining bright, and the upcoming summer break generally means relaxation ahead. However, some took on the challenge of one more task at the chance to win some scholarship money towards their education. After sorting through the entries, I was presented with the winning essay and am thrilled to introduce you to the recipient of our 2nd Annual High School Scholarship contest!

As I have mentioned in the past, quality education is critical. By high school, in our area of Boston, it can be hard to find public options that fit the individual or family. Therefore, many choose a non-public route. There are various reasons why families choose this option – size, location, religious reasons, and more. In many cases, this can mean sacrificing financially – extra years on cars, limited family vacations, less dining out, and even delayed real estate decisions. Our scholarship looks to ease this where possible.

Before we dive into the winning entry, and the winner himself, I’d like to remind everyone of the task put forth this year – “What is your favorite song, book, poem or movie? Why?” The entries were suggested to be within 250-350 words from students with a GPA of at least 3.0 and living in our “Parkway Area” of the city. They would also need to detail any leadership roles or extracurriculars they were involved in, though this had no bearing on selection.

For his essay, our winner chose to detail his interest in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14. “The Beauty of the Moonlight Sonata” was expertly crafted in just 266 words. It took the reader through the journey of the song using different emotions and visual cues, making it impossible to miss the author’s appreciation and passion for it. Further, the song has motivated him to compose his own music – truly grabbing hold of inspiration and running with it.

When coming up with this year’s activity I wondered what the medium and genre breakdown would be. As one may guess, most were music and most were mainstream songs (with movies a close second) though we did have at least one entry for each category. I did not personally make the winner determination, though I did read through all of the entries with names blacked out for fun. This individual stood out in choosing something entirely different and breaking it down deeply and thoughtfully. Additionally, in doing so, it encouraged action. As humans, when we find something that inspires us to “do” we truly should grab hold. I wholeheartedly applaud this individual for grasping this concept at such a young age.

We ask about leadership roles and extracurricular activities in our scholarship because it is important to not only be well-educated but also be well-rounded. Our recipient most recently served on his school’s Student Council, crafting social standards for the class and planning events. He is a Boy Scout and acts as a Patrol Leader on camping trips where his responsibilities include planning and organizing meals, along with their cooking and cleanup. Impressively, he was selected by his school administration to write and deliver a speech to the entire 8th-grade class and their parents at their recent Moving Up (to High School) ceremony where he also received the Francis Xavier Spirit Award.

Beyond instruments, our winner loves sports – both organized and for fun with friends. His involvement with the scouts is extensive and includes summer camp and adventure trips. He also participates in many clubs at school such as Spirit Hawk and International Culture Club. Lastly, he gains valuable work experience while earning extra money as an umpire for Parkway Little League.

In closing, I was delighted to learn I also knew the winner and his family personally. Beyond the black and white of what was written in the essay and entered as required by the application, they have a love for our community and are the kindest of people. At the end of the day, this matters just as much – if not more. And, with that, I enthusiastically announce Evan Nolan as the recipient of our 2nd Annual Parkway Real Estate High School Scholarship! Congrats, Evan! A

As a side note, congrats to all of those who entered our contest. The entries were all impressive, and it is clear we have bright, talented and involved students in the Parkway Area! It was a joy to read through these and I’m already looking forward to next year.

~ Danielle M. O’Brien, Broker/ Owner