2 Peabody High Seniors Earn Cara E. Murtagh Memorial Scholarship

PEABODY, MA — Two Peabody Veterans Memorial High School seniors were honored as recipients of this year's Cara E. Murtagh Memorial Scholarship honoring the former teacher and superintendent's dedication and commitment to education and her love for the school children of Peabody.

Ava DeCicco and Clara Oliveria were named co-recipients of the scholarship this year because of their persistence and commitment to pursuing a career in education.

The scholarship is awarded to a Peabody senior who is interested in the field of education, possesses a strong work ethic, demonstrates excellent preparation and organizational skills, is engaged with the community, has achieved good academic standing, and is initiative-taking.

"Education is an extremely personal profession that is based on the meaningful connections and relationships you form within your school's community," DeCicco said. "Ms. Murtagh was an exceptional example of an involved educator. I aspire to be as active and involved in my school's community as she was."

"Education is more than a pathway to opportunity — it is a transformative force that shapes our understanding of the world and ourselves," Oliveria added. "It is the foundation upon which we build our futures and a powerful tool that can uplift communities. For me, education has been a beacon of light, guiding me through personal growth and opening doors to a world of possibilities."

Peabody Education Foundation President David Gravel said that both students "clearly demonstrate their resolve to better the lives of future generations in their daily work" and have attributes necessary to make tremendous teachers.

"They both possess a passion for teaching and working with children," he said, "which fully embodies the life of Cara Murtagh."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)