08/15/2025
The Orchard Cove Scholarship Committee recently awarded approximately $47,000 in scholarships to 15 employees at the recent Scholarship Awards Night.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Damilola Ajanaku, Ife Ajanaku, Christine Appolon, Shayla Cabral, Sproul Derolus, Dharnel Jean-Pierre, Elie Laguerre, Catherine Leal, Jailsa Monteiro, Jamisha Pierre, Alyssa Powers, Sophie Saint Marc, Emily Smith, Janice Tavares, and Elise Weinstein.
“I’d like to congratulate every single one of you and tell you how proud we all are of you and your journeys in life. I could not think of a more caring community where people support others in their journey to make the world a better place,” said Orchard Cove Executive Director Aline Russotto.
Award recipients will further their education at colleges and universities throughout the New England area, including UMASS - Dartmouth, Franklin Pierce University, Northeastern University, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, and William James College.
“Our staff knows what they need to do to succeed, and our role and that of our wonderful, caring community is to help them do that,” said Scholarship Committee Chair Terry Levinson. “All of us on the Scholarship Committee were touched by their life experiences, and know you will be too.”
Three recipients were awarded scholarships in memory of Orchard Cove residents. Derolus was presented with the Zecil Gravitz Scholar Award, Laguerre received the Richard Kirsch Scholar Award, and Saint Marc earned the Lynne Robbins Scholar Award.
As shown by several recipients, employees can be awarded multiple scholarships by the Orchard Cove Scholarship Committee. Saint Marc and Pierre received their fourth scholarship award from the committee this year, while Derolus was awarded his third scholarship. Tavares, Ajanaku, Leal, and Powers all previously received scholarships as well.
In addition to Levinson, members of the Orchard Cove Scholarship Committee include Vice Chair Gail Weiss, Abby Brown, Sue Kilrain, Esther Markman, Claire Marshall, Jackie Neumann, Mel Reich, Barbara Stolov, Harry Weinberg, Charlotte Werrick, Helen Zelinsky, and Orchard Cove Culinary Director John Ralston.
“I would like to thank the generosity of our community and recognize the time and commitment of the Scholarship Committee to make all of this happen. The care that goes through this building is extraordinary,” Russotto said.
The Orchard Cove Scholarship Fund, which supports staff as they further their educational goals, was created more than 25 years ago. Since its inception, the community has awarded over 400 scholarships totaling more than $500,000.