Sixty-One SHS Seniors Honored with John and Abigail Adams Scholarship
Scholarship honors seniors demonstrating outstanding MCAS scores
SALEM (Jan. 21, 2026) – Sixty-one members of the Salem High School Class of 2026 were honored Wednesday morning with the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship in a ceremony and breakfast held at the SHS M. Ruth Norton Auditorium.
The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is presented to SHS seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement through Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems (MCAS) test scores in high school. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must:
- Score in the ‘advanced’ category on one of three high school state assessment tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, or Science/Technology/Engineering (Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, or Technology/Engineering).
- Score in the ‘proficient’ or ‘advanced’ category on the remaining two high school state assessment tests.
- Have a combined MCAS score on these assessments that ranks within the top 25% in their school district.
The scholarship is a merit-based program which provides college tuition credits for up to eight semesters of undergraduate studies at a Massachusetts state college or university.
The 61 seniors, many joined by their families, included:
| Mariam Aleksanyan | Hadassah Hunt | Raymond Nguyen |
| Daniel Alley | August Hunter | Anthony Nolasco |
| Aaron Bibb | Guywintz Jules | Elizabeth O’Connell |
| Casey Benson | Aaron Kerins | Isabella Ortiz Cruz |
| Kira Bester | Nathaniel Lane | Jamiel Pepin |
| Connor Buckley | Alyssa Lebrun | Johan Polanco |
| Clarice Catbagan | Lucas Lopez | Carlos Polanco Ramirez |
| Tenley Cederholm | Gianna Lougee | Mason Potorski |
| Shea Christel | Olivia Loux | Nancy Reed |
| Em Clark | Elizabeth Mahady | Gavin Ryan |
| Alexia Coleman | Carly Mannino | Mia Silva |
| Javion Cruz | Mallory McCarthy | Wyn Stevick |
| Elizabeth Diaz | Eden McClain | Sindi Sula |
| Brynn Doyle | Emily Mercier | Carl Sverker |
| Tanajah Encarnacion Cespedes | Makoma Moreno | Karly Swiniarski |
| Madeleine Finamore | Sam Mulligan | Darren Taku |
| Lucas Fox | Joe Mulsman | Annalise Thornett |
| Camryn Franklin | Gemma Murphy | William Towne |
| Anson Froeschl | Donald Masella | Theodore Winsor |
| Mary Gillis | Lily Navins | Brooks Workman |
| Rylan Workman |
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
