BROCKTON, Mass. — NorthEast Electrical, A Sonepar Company, is pleased to announce the winners of its scholarship program for eligible graduating high school seniors in the New England region. This is the second year the scholarships, sponsored by NorthEast Electrical’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, have been offered.
Students were asked to submit essays on the topic of ‘Give us an example of a personal experience about how diversity, equity and inclusion has affected your life.’ Over 100 essays were received and reviewed by the committee.
“What we read in these essays was stunning – the submissions were personal, powerful and impactful,” said Frank Marandino, the President of NorthEast.
“We are pleased to contribute to these bright young adults’ education and we will continue to make DEI a driving force both as an organization and an employer of choice,” added Marandino.
Subject matter in the powerful essays ranged from an aspiring plumber’s battle with racism as well as a Bronx, N.Y. transplant who started a podcast to explore topics of race, gender, and activism through a teenage lens. Students also wrote about living with invisible disabilities, the importance of finding community groups, and how a family disability led to learning the importance of volunteerism.
“It’s truly an eye-opening experience to be on the DEI board and read these amazing excerpts from high school seniors in New England,” said Julia Gehman, DEI Committee Member.
“Choosing winners for the scholarship program this year was not an easy task, as there were so many great submissions. Seeing NorthEast invest in young adults and in the community makes me proud to work here,” added Gehman.
$1,000 Scholarship Winners: Jhonni Dixon, Sacred Heart, Greenwich, Theresa Placide, Brockton High School, Sydney Glickman, Natick High School, Abigail MacDonald, Bangor High School, Jadyn Child, Pinkerton Academy, Steven Meloni, Lasalle Academy, Emma Roberge, Mount Mansfield Union High School.
$500 Tool Grant Winners: Terrell Offutt, Greater Lowell Technical High School, Ryan DelVecchio, Salem High School.
Here are excerpts from five of the essays.
- “I’ll never forget the time when one of my co-workers constantly said that he ‘forgot my name’ and continued to call me ‘Tyrone’ when he knew my name was Terrell. There were many times they would jokingly make fun of Indian culture and other cultures that people embraced. As the only person of color in our branch at the company it really began to deteriorate my love for the job and for plumbing as a whole.”
- “Through this podcast, I sparked uncomfortable, important conversations within my school and broader community. My work not only shed light on the mental and emotional toll that predominantly white schools can have on students of color, but also provided a platform to create meaningful connections. I realized the power I have to change things for myself and others through open dialogue and awareness.”
- “My goal as an educator is to be someone who works with the student’s disabilities, not against them. That is why I am minoring in special education; to grow my understanding of different disabilities. I want to show students it is normal to ask for help. I want my students to be able to feel comfortable and confident in themselves, despite other teachers and/or peers unintentionally knocking them down.”
- “Addyson’s strength and determination inspired me to be more open and accepting in my own life. I came to recognize the need of incorporating people of diverse skills and backgrounds into all I did. I started seeking out opportunities to volunteer with organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Special Olympics was one such organization.”
- “Moving to Brockton was becoming an effective turning point in my life. I observed the diversity of the community, which was a major shock because I thought all of America consisted of a vast majority of Caucasian people. However, going to Brockton High I was exposed to a much more diverse environment; I had classmates from various countries, cultures, and racial backgrounds; I also participated in clubs that celebrated diversity, I made friends with people who have vastly different life experiences and perspectives than my own. This exposure to diversity had a profound impact on my life.”
