The club presented our 2026 college scholarships to three local graduating seniors at its June 2 meeting at Starboard Galley. This year, we increased our scholarships to $2,000. This year’s scholarship recipients are:

• London Harris of Newburyport High will be attending San Diego State to major in psychology
• Ava Connolly of Triton Regional will be attending the University of Rhode Island to major in nursing
• Dhruv Patel of Pentucket Regional will be attending Bentley University to major in business and finance

The first two are ACE scholarships for overcoming challenges. London Harris dealt with alopecia throughout her school years. Ava Connolly’s mother suffered a stroke when she was seven, the family home was destroyed in a fire when she was a freshman and she suffered torn meniscuses in both knees to end her gymnastics career. The third is a scholarship for community
service presented in memory of Anthony J. Fusco, past Greater Newburyport and New England District Exchange Club president, who also served as a West Newbury volunteer fireman.

We wish London, Ava, Dhruv much success as they start this new chapter in their lives!