Scholarships & Awards for the Taconic High School Class of 2026
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The following awards and scholarships were presented to the 2026 graduating class at Taconic High School.
Daughters of the American Revolution 'Good Citizen' Award: Nicholas G. Martinez
Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents' Certificate of Academic Excellence Award: Brendan T. Bayles
Massachusetts Vocational Association / Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award: Brendan T. Bayles
Presidential Certificate of Merit: Hunter P. Bentz, Qing Song
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hispanic Student Excellence Award: Tahira V. Chimarro Torres, April A. Soasti, Cristian R. Villeda Berganza
Rotary Club of Pittsfield Service-Above-Self Awards: Hunter P. Bentz, Ella G. Stodden
Community & Memorial Scholarships
Aaron Barnes Career Technical Education Scholarship: Finnian G. Gillespie
Aaron T. Coty Memorial Scholarship: Hunter P. Bentz, Jillian R. Croce
Action EMS Ambulance Scholarship (Given in Memory of Dr. Portman): Caleb J. Roucoulet
Adams Community Bank Scholarships: Mason R. Manning, Victoria M. Spagnuolo
Berkshire Community College Foundation: J. Edward Dery Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Tahira V. Chimarro Torres; Grace S. Hampel Scholarship: Mariana Cardenas Orozco, Grace M. Horbah
Berkshire County Arc: Scholarship: April A. Soasti; Debra Jarck Memorial Scholarship: Grace M. Horbah
Berkshire Health Systems Kermit Gordon Scholarship: Lyrin J. DeMaranville, Natalie C. Pitcher, Tahira V. Chimarro Torres
Brodie Slonski Memorial Scholarship: Shaheem A. Shelton, Kaelen J. Thomas; on Behalf of the LaPlante Family: Edward P. Ferris
Burger King Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris, Ella G. Stodden
Capeless Elementary School / Eugene T. O'Brien Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
Charles A. Persip Post 68 American Legion: Scholarship: Olyviana M. Romano; Career Technical Scholarship: Precious G. Kpofolo
Christopher Forte Memorial Scholarships: Tahira V. Chimarro Torres, Julia D. Young
CIAO Berkshire County Soccer Hall of Fame Scholarships: Tahira V. Chimarro Torres, Frederick O. Yankey
Clarence D.J. O'Neil and Family Memorial Scholarship: Romeo A. Yankey
Daniel F. Koziol Memorial Scholarship: Catherine J. Napravnick-Valero
Dan Lansing Skilled Trades Memorial Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
Dave Zerbato Memorial Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris, Ella G. Stodden
Donald C. Dwyer / South Little League Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
Francis J. Quirico Educational Foundation Scholarships: Sean E. Assamoi, Madison A. Barber, Brendan T. Bayles, Jordan O. Cornellier, Lyrin J. DeMaranville, Savannah L. Gomes, Dylan N. Harty, Javon T. Jones, Nicholas G. Martinez, Aiden L. Medina, Collin R. Norton, Shaheem A. Shelton, April A. Soasti, Ella G. Stodden, Shelby P. Tart, Angelese M. Ward-Green
Frosthollow Fund: Scholarship: Gavin Q. O'Donnell; Technical Scholarship: Hunter P. Bentz
George E. Ballard Memorial Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
Girls Inc. of the Berkshires: Berkshire Community College Scholarship: Cicily A. Roy; Ruth P. Boraski Scholarship: Tahira V. Chimarro Torres, Michelle K. Davis, Aliyah M. DelSonno, Isabel R. Manarchik; Rotary Club of Pittsfield Scholarship: Grace M. Horbah
Gold Wings Foundation Scholarship: Madeline E. Harrington
Greylock Federal Credit Union: Community Enrichment Scholarship: Catherine J. Napravnick-Valero; Career Technical Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris; Employee Scholastic Scholarship: Ella G. Stodden
Horatio Alger Massachusetts Scholar: Hunter P. Bentz
I Found the Light Against All Odds Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
'Iron Mike' Polidoro Memorial Scholarship: Caleb J. Roucoulet
Jake Hescott 'Win the Day' Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
John D. Codey Jr. Memorial Scholarships (Given by the Monday Morning Quarterback Club): Edward P. Ferris, Jahmier A. Berry-Irvis, Joy M. Davis
John J. Kowalczyk Memorial Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris, Ella G. Stodden
Joseph R. Renzi Memorial Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris, Grace M. Horbah, Precious G. Kpofolo, Aiden L. Medina, Henry P. Rapkowicz
Kevin Harrington Memorial: Wrestling Scholarship: Malakai J. Lytle; Softball Scholarship: Madison A. Barber, Ella G. Stodden
Larry Michalenko Memorial Scholarship: Evette F. Baidoo, Edward P. Ferris, Finnian G. Gillespie, Jazmyn L. Wilson
Lawrence Bayles Memorial Scholarship by Kathy Hall: Brendan T. Bayles
LSA Higher Education Scholarship: Matthew T. Perrea
Leslie T. Sutherland Memorial Scholarship: Gabriela G. Orellana-Alfaro
Lisa Jacobs Memorial Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
Marcia & Shane Cassavant Memorial Scholarship: Brooklyn R. Shaw
Margaret Barry 'Women in Math/Science' Memorial Scholarship: Qing Song
Michael J. Bresett Memorial Scholarship: Frederick O. Yankey
Michael Salata Memorial Scholarship: Jahmier A. Berry-Irvis
Morningside Community School PTO Scholarship: Milo R. Erwin, Savannah L. Gomes
Patrick C. Torra, Sr. Memorial Carpentry Scholarship: Sharleen N. Barahona, Edward P. Ferris
Peanut Scholarships: Edward P. Ferris, Madeline E. Harrington, Grace M. Horbah, Devin B. Reynolds, Shelby P. Tart
Pittsfield Adams Elks Local 272 Scholarships: Nicholas G. Martinez
Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Conrad R. Bernier Memorial Scholarship: Romeo A. Yankey
Pittsfield Educational Administrators Association Scholarship: Alivia S. Gingras
Pittsfield Soccer Club Scholarships: Tahira V. Chimarro Torres, Ethan B. O'Donnell
Red Pine Scholarship: Yash H. Patel
Richard Edgar Molari Jr. Memorial Scholarships: Sophie R. Aubin, Quentin G. Christopher
Ricky Stracuzzi Memorial Scholarship: Quentin G. Christopher
Robert G. Ahern Toyota Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
Robert P. Dascani Memorial Scholarship: River A. Avanzato
Rotary Club of Pittsfield: Dr. John Reynolds Scholarship: Jordan O. Cornellier; Sheryl Baron Memorial Scholarship: Logan K. Williams; Lyons Family Scholarship: Mason R. Manning; Nash Family Scholarship: Brendan T. Bayles; Scholarships: Tahira V. Chimarro Torres, Precious G. Kpofolo, Shelby P. Tart
Stearns Elementary School PTO Scholarships: Madeline E. Harrington
Steven LaRochelle Memorial Scholarship: Cicily A. Roy
St. John's Lodge 10 Memorial Scholarships: Olyviana M. Romano
Tee Off for Youth Sports Classic: Boys Baseball Scholarship: Quentin G. Christopher; Girls Softball Scholarship: Madeline E. Harrington; Culinary Scholarship: Logan K. Williams
Thomas F. Tobin Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Precious G. Kpofolo
Thomas J. Curtis Memorial Scholarship: Gianna M. Aiello
Tim Connolly Memorial Scholarship: Brendan T. Bayles
UEP Scholarship: Edward P. Ferris
UNICO: Baseball Hall of Fame: Quentin G. Christopher; Softball Hall of Fame: Madeline E. Harrington; James DiSimoni Memorial Scholarship: Lyrin J. DeMaranville; Gloria Powers Scholarship: Ella G. Stodden; Honorable Rudolph Sacco Scholarship: Aliyah M. DelSonno; Honorable Sheriff Thomas Bowler Vocational Scholarship: Mason R. Manning; John Pignatelli Vocational Scholarship: Nicholas G. Martinez
Vera Bianchi-Barbarotta Sportsman Scholarship: Madeline E. Harrington
VFW Voice of Democracy Award: Isabel R. Manarchik; Scholarship: Matthew T. Perrea
Massachusetts Elks Career Technical Education Scholarships: Sean E. Assamoi, Sophie R. Aubin, Madison A. Barber, Brendan T. Bayles, Catherine J. Napravnick-Valero, Matthew T. Perrea, Natalie C. Pitcher, Olyviana M. Romano, Brooklyn R. Shaw, Shaheem A. Shelton, Dylan N. Harty, Abigail I. Henriott, Joshua A. Holcomb, Vee Johnston, Hunter P. Bentz, Mason R. Manning, Jaeshaun A. Brown, Joy M. Davis, Nicholas G. Martinez, April A. Soasti, Emma R. Moon, Qing Song, Michelle K. Davis, Ella G. Stodden, Matilda O. DelSignore, Collin R. Norton, Shelby P. Tart, Yaraliz I. Auqui, Shaun R. Knysh, Alexis A. Phelps, Edward P. Ferris, Ethan B. O'Donnell, Kaelen J. Thomas, Samuel R. Avanzato Scott, Isabella R. Lampro, Jillian R. Croce, Parker S. Lang, Devin B. Reynolds, Caleb J. Roucoulet, Finnian G. Gillespie, Gavin Q. O'Donnell, Angelese M. Ward-Green, Savannah L. Gomes, Gabriela G. Orellana-Alfaro, Kingston S. DeJesus, Isaiah M. Lee, Cicily A. Roy, Chantel E. Evans, Emanuel X. Lemieux Robinson, Abbigael S. Soto, Alivia S. Gingras, Aidan J. Lyman, Chloe M. Stansen, Aiden E. Hall, Lexi G. Murphy-Malloy, Nyla R. Stevens, Joshua A. Holcomb, Gabriela G. Orellana-Alfaro, Logan K. Williams, Tahira V. Chimarro-Torres, Joy M. Davis, Edward P. Ferris, Dominic A. Horalek, Braden D. Pease
Massachusetts Elks Scholarships: Sean E. Assamoi, Mia G. Ives, Matthew T. Perrea, Madison A. Barber, Quinn J. Ives, Brendan T. Bayles, Javon T. Jones, Hunter P. Bentz, Jaeshaun A. Brown, Quentin G. Christopher, Joy M. Davis, Lyrin J. DeMaranville, Edward P. Ferris, Madeline E. Harrington, Precious G. Kpofolo, Mason R. Manning, Nicholas G. Martinez, Collin R. Norton, Ethan B. O'Donnell, Gavin Q. O'Donnell, Yash H. Patel, Shaheem A. Shelton, April A. Soasti, Victoria M. Spagnuolo, Ella G. Stodden, Shelby P. Tart, Angelese M. Ward-Green, Jazmyn L. Wilson, Romeo A. Yankey
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Recipients: Sean E. Assamoi, Sophie R. Aubin, Madison A. Barber, Brendan T. Bayles, Hunter P. Bentz, Jaeshaun A. Brown, Joy M. Davis, Michelle K. Davis, Yaraliz I. Auqui, Edward P. Ferris, Samuel R. Avanzato Scott, Jillian R. Croce, Finnian G. Gillespie, Gavin Q. O'Donnell, Savannah L. Gomes, Kingston S. DeJesus, Chantel E. Evans, Alivia S. Gingras, Aiden E. Hall, Joshua A. Holcomb, Tahira V. Chimarro-Torres, Dominic A. Horalek, Braden D. Pease, Matthew T. Perrea, Nicholas G. Martinez, April A. Soasti, Emma R. Moon, Qing Song, Ella G. Stodden, Collin R. Norton, Shelby P. Tart, Shaun R. Knysh, Alexis A. Phelps, Ethan B. O'Donnell, Kaelen J. Thomas, Isabella R. Lampro, Parker S. Lang, Devin B. Reynolds, Caleb J. Roucoulet, Angelese M. Ward-Green, Gabriela G. Orellana-Alfaro, Isaiah M. Lee, Cicily A. Roy, Emanuel X. Lemieux Robinson, Abbigael S. Soto, Aidan J. Lyman, Chloe M. Stansen, Lexi G. Murphy-Malloy, Nyla R. Stevens, Logan K. Williams
Collegiate Matriculation & Institutional Scholarships
Bentley University: Javon T. Jones
Berry College: Olyviana M. Romano
Fairfield University: Ethan B. O'Donnell
Fitchburg State University: Matthew T. Perrera
Howard University: Precious G. Kpofolo
Keene State College: Brianna L. Lopez
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: Evette F. Baidoo, Victoria M. Spagnuolo, Jazmyn L. Wilson
Morgan State University: Joy M. Davis
Northeastern University: Romeo A. Yankey
Providence College: Madison A. Barber
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Nicholas G. Martinez
Springfield College: Edward P. Ferris, Shelby P. Tart
Syracuse University: Brendan T. Bayles
University of Massachusetts: Amherst: Hunter P. Bentz, Savannah L. Gomes, Madeline E. Harrington, April A. Soasti; Boston: Quentin G. Christopher, Lyrin J. DeMaranville, Adriana L. Ramos, Angelese M. Ward-Green; Lowell: Sean E. Assamoi, Yash H. Patel
University of Rhode Island: Collin R. Norton
University of Tampa: Ella G. Stodden
Vassar College: Gavin Q. O'Donnell
Westfield State University: Aliyah M. DelSonno
Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Shaheem A. Shelton
Tags: scholarships, graduation 2026, Taconic High,
