St. John School Students Inducted as Peter S. Lynch Scholars

At a Mass followed by a breakfast reception at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Newton, Séan Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston inducted the sixth class of Peter Lynch (PL) Scholars on Tuesday, October 20th. Mattea Del Peschio, Maggie Gohlmann and Juliana Vitello from St. John School, Boston were three of approximately 182 students from across the Greater Boston area that was selected for this program. Each Catholic elementary school selects their PL Scholars based upon, among other criteria, his or her grades, work ethic, and demonstrated care and concern for others in the school community and beyond. For the 2015-2016 school year, the Catholic Schools Foundation distributed over $346,264.80 to 182 PL Scholars in 57 schools.

Cardinal O’Malley was accompanied by Michael Reardon, Executive Director of the Catholic Schools Foundation, and Kathy Mears, Superintendent for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. Mike Reardon remarked, “Peter Lynch Scholars were established to honor Peter Lynch, but this is also an honor for these students.   Principals and teachers have recognized these young individuals as having great potential and we are thrilled to provide them this opportunity to reach their potential.”

Mr. Lynch, known for his successful career as a money manager at Fidelity Investments, is a longtime supporter of Boston’s Catholic Schools and serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Catholic Schools Foundation. The Peter Lynch (PL) Scholars Program was established in 2010 to honor Mr. Lynch’s involvement with the Catholic Schools Foundation/Inner-City Scholarship Fund.

Last year, the Catholic Schools Foundation distributed approximately 4,000 scholarships to students, totaling more than $7.1 million in tuition support.