On Tuesday May 21st, Boston Partners welcomed volunteers, teachers, school administrators, and Board members to the historic Hampshire House for AMP!, our annual Academic Mentor Party. AMP! is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our dedicated volunteers, for their service to Boston’s public school students. AMP! also provides our academic mentors with a comfortable setting to mingle with their fellow volunteers and school colleagues, exchange stories and share their experiences. Awards were presented in the following 7 categories:
Volunteer of the Year Heather Brack
- Isabel G. Besecker Award: Hannah Waldron, Power Lunch Volunteer at the Russell School (award accepted by her colleague, Venice Monagan)
- Pamela L. Trefler School Partner Award: John Eliot School, award accepted by Principal Traci Walker-Griffith
- Joyna Bozzotto Award: Wendell Williams, Math Rules! Volunteer at the Marshall School
- Betsy A. Nelson Educator of the Year Award: Molly Jacobs,
2nd Grade Teacher at the Hennigan School - Family Engagement Award: Audrey Smith, Site Coordinator and Volunteer in Math Rules! and Power Lunch at the Blackstone School
- Nicholas Lopardo Corporate Partner Award: Ropes & Gray LLP, Power Lunch Partner at the Russell and Blackstone Schools, award accepted by Power Lunch Volunteer Venice Monagan
- John C. Rennie Volunteer of the Year Award: Heather Brack, Power Lunch Volunteer at the Blackstone School
Guests enjoyed a lovely evening of live music, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and good conversation set in an elegant building overlooking the Boston Public Garden. One guest described his experience as “stimulating” saying, “It was very moving to refocus on the general purpose of making a child feel relevant and valued while hopefully helping lead them to a joy of learning for growth and enlightenment.”
Horace Besecker, husband of Boston Partner’s first Executive Director, Isabel Besecker, presents Venice Monagan with the Isabel G. Besecker Award, which she accepted on behalf of Hannah Waldron
Principal Traci Walker-Griffith accepts the award on behalf of the John Eliot School from Pamela Civins, Executive Director, and Christopher Horan, Boston Partners in Education Board Member
Wendell Williams, recipient of the Joyna Bozzotto Award, enjoys time with his guests
“We all owe the children coming behind us. We have a responsibility to demonstrate to these children what’s possible for them in life.” -Wendell Williams
Educator of the Year Molly Jacobs shares a laugh with guests while receiving her award
Molly Jacobs and Placement Coordinator Eunice Brady work together to make good student/mentor matches
Site Coordinator Audrey Smith accepts the Family Engagement award
Thanks to all who attended this year’s event – we look forward to seeing you next year!