The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) yesterday announced the recipient of the annual scholarship honoring the memory of longtime employee Donna Rauseo. The 2022 Donna Rauseo Memorial Scholarship was awarded to East Boston resident Emily Depina-Londono.
“Emily’s commitment to community service has taught her invaluable lessons,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland. “Whether handing out food to local families or tutoring children, she has made a meaningful impact in her community. We are excited to award her this scholarship and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
The Donna Rauseo Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a female student who resides in East Boston. Rauseo was a graduate of East Boston High School. For more than 20 years, she served as the executive assistant to Thomas J. Kinton, Jr. when he was Aviation Director of Logan Airport as well as CEO and Executive Director for Massport.
Depina-Londono graduated from Boston Latin Academy and will soon attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She volunteers her time as a Student Ambassador at Boston Latin Academy participating in events like Cops for Kids with Cancer, Back to School Night and Summer Orientation. She has also volunteered at My Brother’s Table and as a tutor at the Umana School in East Boston.
To be considered for the Donna Rauseo Memorial Scholarship, students are required to have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and must submit an essay of 1,000 words describing their career interests or how their community service has affected their outlook on life. In her essay, Emily wrote, “One thing I have learned is that volunteering can teach you many different skills and things about people. When my sister and I volunteered at My Brother’s table, a soup kitchen, I learned about the lives of individuals who benefited from the organization. I distributed and packaged meals to the people of Lynn who were experiencing homelessness. I left the event feeling grateful for everything I had.”
Applications are judged by a committee made up of Massport employees and a representative of the Rauseo family. Students interested in applying for the 2023 scholarship should visit www.massport.com/scholarships for eligibility requirements.