The celebrated graduating seniors, 19 in all, were nestled in the seats inside the Dell Technologies Club at Fenway Park, overlooking home plate on a glorious sunny day.
Beaming, they were surrounded by parents, brothers, and sisters, grandparents, a few coaches, and administrators from their respective schools. Their support system that assisted in their development, putting them in place to take the next step and further their education.
On Monday morning, the day after the official end of high school sports for 2023-24, they were honored at the 38th Globe Foundation / Richard J. Phelps Scholar-Athlete Awards ceremony.
Seniors representing seven MIAA districts, the city of Boston, and prep schools in Eastern Massachusetts, were awarded $4,000 scholarships for their accomplishments athletically, in the classroom, and as members of the community.
“They do literally everything,” said St. John’s Prep graduate Jake Vana, giving credit to his parents, Frank and Becky. “For three sports, it’s a lot of time, money, and effort. The amount of sacrifice they’ve done for me, it’s unbelievable.
Vana, who will attend Princeton and play lacrosse, was a Phelps Scholar from District 6, and also the Globe’s Will McDonough MIAA Male Athlete of the Year.
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Peabody High stalwart Abby Bettencourt, the District 5 girls’ winner, was the MIAA Female Athlete of the Year..
Bettencourt, who will play softball at Brown, starred on the volleyball and basketball court, as well as enjoying an astounding career on the diamond, and finishing third in her class with a 4.13 GPA.
Vana won a staggering seven state championships between soccer, hockey, and lacrosse in his unprecedented high school career. He has been a Globe All-Scholastic in all three sports, and will continue his lacrosse career at Princeton.
“I have the easier part: I get to go to school with my friends every day, play all the sports in the world, I have all the equipment I need to succeed,” he said. “I’m basically living the dream. I’ve also had unbelievable coaches along the way.”
The NESPAC Male and Female Athletes of the Year were presented to Amir Lindsey (Rivers School), and Sophia Levering (Noble & Greenough).
Lindsey, an Albany basketball commit, won the Independent School League MVP on the court after pacing the Red Wings to a third straight NEPSAC Class B title. He added 15 touchdowns as an All-NEPSAC receiver playing for his father, Randdy, on the gridiron.
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Levering earned NEPSAC Player of the Year, Independent School League MVP, and Globe All-Scholastic honors as a captain of the girls’ ice hockey team that won the Large School championship. She also captained the field hockey team for the past two seasons, and the softball team this year.
“It means a lot,” said Levering, who will skate next at Yale. “It’s a testament to all of the teams that I’ve played on. I’ve had some amazing people by my side, whether that’s my teammates, my coaches who have supported me. None of this happens without them.
“It’s amazing to have my family here at the ceremony because they’re the backbone of all of this.”
The Globe started the scholar-athlete program in 1987, with Phelps coming on board in 1991. The 95-year-old Watertown native, a longtime businessman and philanthropist, emphasized the importance of education to those in attendance.
Phelps (Phillips Andover, ‘45) highlighted what he calls “the three A’s”: academics, athletics, and attitude.
“If you come away with one thing from today, I want it to be education,” he said.
Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy still treasures his years as a high school athlete in Groton, particularly on the basketball court, and battling Lunenburg for the Midland League championship.
“It’s not the end,” he said. “You’ve had tremendous success, and the fact that you’re here today is so astounding. Your parents and grandparents who are here today are so proud; it’s a really big deal. You have these memories that live on.”
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The 2023-24 Phelps Scholars
▪ District 2-3 — Sam Curtis (Oakmont Regional / Assumption); Kathryn Cahill (Uxbridge / Rhode Island).
▪ District 4 — Harper Friedholm (Lincoln-Sudbury / Cornell) and Drew Eason (Methuen / Stonehill).
▪ District 5 — Abby Bettencourt (Peabody / Brown) and Ian Born (Somerville / Swarthmore).
▪ District 6 — Jake Vana (St. John’s Prep / Princeton) and Ava Donaghue (Fontbonne / UMass Amherst).
▪ District 7 — Noah Albright (Framingham / Boston College) and Drew Hussar (Dover-Sherborn / MIT).
▪ District 8 — Ty Kelley (Bourne / Framingham State) and Margaret O’Connell (Durfee / Seton Hall).
▪ District 9 — DC Brown (Plymouth North / WPI) and Veronica Fleming (Hull / Harvard).
▪ City of Boston — Marquis Francois (O’Bryant / Howard) and Bamara Davis (Henderson School / Boston University).
▪ Preps — Joseph Carrara (Phillips Andover / UMass Amherst) and Keira Ley (Groton School / Harvard).
Boston Globe / Will McDonough Athletes of the Year
2023-24
Boys’ winner: Jake Vana, St. John’s Prep
Girls’ winner: Abby Bettencourt, Peabody
2022-23
Boys’ winner: Owen McHugh, Milton
Girls’ winner: Rose MacLean, Andover
2021-22
Boys’ winner: Josh Robertson, Marblehead
Girls’ winner: Kendall Blomquist, Westwood
2020-21:
Boys’ winner: Brendan Fennell, Melrose
Girls’ winner: Paige Gillette, Andover
2019-20:
Boys’ winner: Duncan Moreland, Beverly
Girls’ winner: Sydney Scales, Walpole
2018-19
Boys’ winner: Jake McElroy, North Andover
Girls’ winner: Audra Tosone, Walpole
2017-18
Boys’ winner: Sal Frelick, Lexington
Girls’ winner: Elle Hansen, Cohasset
2016-17
Boys’ winner: Patrick Flynn, Hanover
Girls’ winner: Angela Alibrandi, Westford Academy
2015-16
Boys’ winner: Jeff Trainor, Billerica
Girls’ winner: Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Cambridge Rindge & Latin
2014-15
Boys’ winner: Brooks Tyrrell, Marblehead
Girls’ winner: Leah Cardarelli, Acton-Boxboro
2013-14
Boys’ winner: Michael Panepinto, Needham
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Girls’ winner: Maggie Layo, Sandwich
2012-13
Boys’ winner: Andre Rolim, Somerville
Girls’ winner: Hannah Murphy, Duxbury
2011-12
Boys’ winner: Casey DeAndrade, East Bridgewater
Girls’ winner: Kara Charette, Fairhaven
2010-11
Boys’ winner: Shayne Collins, Mansfield
Girls’ winner: Andrea Keklak, Lincoln-Sudbury
2009-10
Boys’ winner: Conor Ressel, Gloucester
Girls’ winner: Molly Breen, Millis
2008-09
Boys’ winner: Sean Ryan, Norton
Girls’ winner: Kirsten Kasper, North Andover
2007-08
Boys’ winner: Tim Rich, Chelmsford
Girls winner: Melanie Baskind, Framingham
2006-07
Boys’ winner: James Hamilton, Harwich
Girls’ winner: Denise Beliveau, Framingham
2005-06
Boys’ winner: Chris Nixon, Duxbury
Girls’ winner: Lauren Mahoney, Archbishop Williams
2004-05
Boys’ winner: Chris Barnicle, Newton North
Girls’ winner: Ashley Waters, Amesbury
2003-04
Boys’ winner: Jason Blydell, Swampscott
Girls’ winner: Katie Brooks, Winchester
2002-03
The Globe Athlete of the Year Award was changed to the Boston Globe/Will McDonough Award following the death of the longtime Globe columnist in January of 2003.
Boys’ winner: Matt Antonelli, St. John’s Prep
Girls’ winner: Rachel Smith, Somerset
2001-02
Boys’ winner: Jim Unis, Gloucester
Girls’ winner: Brittany Cheney, Abington
2000-01
Boys’ winner: Robert Whitaker, Brockton
Girls’ winner: Lisa Tisbert, Andover
1999-2000
Boys’ winner: Dante Balestracci, New Bedford
Girls’ winner: Katie Collins, Reading; and Tracy Prihoda, Needham
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1998-99
Boys’ winner: Kevin Truelson, Archbishop Williams
Girls’ winner: Hillary Dunn, Medfield
1997-98
Boys’ winner: Abdirizak Mohamud, Boston English
Girls’ winner: Jenna Stacer, Holliston
1996-97
Boys’ winner: Jonathon Riley, Brookline
Girls’ winner: Emily Desjardins, Bishop Fenwick
1995-96
Boys’ winner: James Perry, Malden Catholic
Girls’ winner: Rebecca Sangster, Falmouth
1994-95
Boys’ winner: Peter Woodfork, Swampscott
Girls’ winner: Nicki Castonguay, Somerset
1993-94
Boys’ winner: Anthony Palmer, Winthrop
Girls’ winner: Katie Kiladis, Framingham
1992-93
Boys’ winner: Brett Budzinski, Ipswich
Girls’ winner: Sarah Dacey, Framingham
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1991-92
Boys’ winner: Chris Blades, Marian
Girls’ winner: Kelly Amonte, Thayer Academy
1990-91
Boys’ winner: Andy Downin, Duxbury
Girls’ winner: Leanne Burke, Randolph
1989-90
Boys’ winner: Bill Counihan, Dedham
Girls’ winner: Lisa Moore, Wellesley
1988-89
Boys’ winner: Dan O’Connell, Triton
Girls’ winner: Sarah Behn, Foxboro
1987-88
Boys’ winner: Carmine Cappuccio, Malden
Girls’ winner: Kendall Daly, Masconomet
Boston Globe NEPSAC Athletes of the Year
2023-24
Boys’ winner: Amir Lindsey, Rivers
Girls’ winner: Sophia Levering, Noble & Greenough
2022-23
Boys’ winner: Rogan Cardinal, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Molly Driscoll, Brooks
2021-22
Boys’ winner: James Donahue, Belmont Hill
Girls’ winner: Myra Bhathena, Phillips Andover
2020-21
* Seasons cancelled because of COVID.
2019-20
Boys’ winner: Kalel Mullings, Milton Academy
Girls’ winner: Catherine Barry, Tabor Academy
2018-19
Boys’ winner: Jake Spaulding, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Lily Farden, Nobles
2017-18
Boys’ winner: Joey Luchetti, Lawrence Academy
Girls’ winner: Cassidy Kearney, Thayer Academy
2016-17
Boys’ winner: Jeff Costello, Buckingham, Browne & Nichols
Girls’ winner: Amaya Finklea, Nobles
2015-16
Boys’ winner: Griffin Beal, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Courtney Cashman, Governor’s Academy
2014-15
Boys’ winner: Cole O’Connor, BB&N
Girls’ winner: Sophia Sgroi, Newton Country Day
2013-14
Boys’ winner: Charlie Mitchell, Waring
Girls’ winner: Lauren Dillon, Nobles
2012-13
Boys’ winner: Brian O’Malley, St. Sebastian’s
Girls’ Winner: Maeve McMahon, Groton School
2011-12
Boys’ winner: Brian Hart, Phillips Exeter
Girls’ winner: Bryanna Bourbeau, Tilton
2010-11
Boys’ winner: Brendan Oliver, Pingree
Girls’ winner: Alex Carpenter, Governor’s Academy
2009-10
Boys’ winner: Derek Papagianopoulos, BB&N
Girls’ winner: Beverly Leon, Milton Academy
2008-09
Boys’ winner: David Lawson, Middlesex
Girls winner: Casey Griffin, Nobles
2007-08
Boys’ winner: Chris Dwyer, Salisbury School
Girls’ winner: Sarah Plumb, Nobles
2006-07
Boys’ winner: Corey Gatewood, Belmont Hill
Girls’ winner: Bray Ketchum, Greenwich Academy
2005-06
Boys’ winner: James Williams, Roxbury Latin
Girls’ winner: Micaela Long, Pomfret
2004-05
Boys’ winner: Brian Morrissey, Governor Dummer
Girls’ winner: Sarah Parsons, Nobles
2003-04
Boys’ winner: Charlie Davies, Brooks School
Girls’ winner: Devon Shapiro, Middlesex School
2002-03
Boys’ winner: Dan Shribman, Deerfield Academy
Girls’ winner: Kaylan Tildsley, Brooks School
2001-02
Boys’ winner: Jason Haley, Landmark
Girls’ winner: Louisa Butler, Phillips Andover
2000-01
Boys’ winner: Andrew Cleary, Belmont Hill
Girls’ winner: Meredith Hudson, Phillips Andover
Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.