Salem Awards 10 College Scholarships To Graduating Seniors

SALEM, MA — Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the city of Salem Scholarship and Education Committee have announced 10 scholarships for graduating Salem seniors heading to college this fall.

Each scholarship is valued at $500 this year and was funded through donations to the City of Salem Scholarship and Education Funds.

The 2026 scholarship recipients are Mariam Aleksanyan of Salem High School, who plans to attend Boston College; Holden Czahor of Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, who plans to attend University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Oscar Fernandez of Salem High School, who plans to attend Husson University; Rebecca Hurley of Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, who plans to attend University of Vermont; Taleiysa Jones of Salem High School, who plans to attend the University of Massachusetts, Lowell; Isabella Ortiz Cruz of Salem High School, who plans to attend Framingham State University; Jamiel Pepen of Salem High School, who plans to attend Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Olympia Roszko of Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, who plans to attend University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Sarah Silva of Salem Academy Charter School, who plans to attend University of Massachusetts at Amherst; and one student who wished to remain anonymous.

"Congratulations to the 2026 scholarship recipients and thank you to all the students who applied for consideration," said Committee Chair Yamilis Cruz. "The pool of applicants this year was highly competitive, showcasing the quality, potential, and accomplishments of Salem's youth.

"The Scholarship and Education Committee is deeply grateful to the many Salem residents who have donated to the fund, making these scholarships possible. I encourage all community members and businesses to consider donating to the Scholarship Fund or the Education Fund to continue supporting these vital efforts."

Donations can be made here.

"Congratulations to the ten Salem students who were awarded a scholarship this year," Pangallo said. "I am grateful to the members of the Scholarship and Education Committee who volunteer their time and energy throughout the year to make this important city program possible. Thanks also to the many donors who fund these scholarships.

"In Salem, we support our students in their academic careers, and we approach education as a community mission. The work of the Scholarship and Education Committee is a furtherance of that important effort."

The Scholarship and Education Funds were established in 1987 and are largely funded through small donations by Salem taxpayers on their tax bills.

Donations to both funds are entirely tax-deductible, with 100% of all contributions going directly to scholarship and grant recipients.

The Scholarship Fund provides financial aid to Salem students pursuing higher education, while the Education Fund supports local educational needs through grants distributed on a rolling basis throughout the year.