Catholic Medical Center (CMC) and the Diocese of Manchester’s Catholic Schools Office are pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the CMC Heart & Hands Scholarships. They are:
- Theodore Anderson-Thompson, a rising 8th grader at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Laconia, and
- Kaelyn Gagnon, a rising freshman at Trinity High School in Manchester.
The CMC Heart & Hands Scholarship is presented annually to two students in New Hampshire Catholic Schools, one in middle school and one in high school. The scholarship recognizes students who are committed to the needs of others through leadership and service.
“Communities thrive when people and organizations give their time and talent toward taking care of others,” said Catholic Medical Center President & CEO Alex Walker. “Students like Theodore and Kaelyn set an important example for their peers while, hopefully, building a foundation for a lifetime of servant leadership.”
The Heart & Hands Scholarship application asked students to submit a resume of their service work and describe a community service project or program that they would like to implement.
Theodore Anderson-Thompson has been volunteering for years to support events at his school, church, and community. From camp counseling to trash clean up (and a lot in between), Theodore likes the way service connects him to other people, especially those he hasn’t met before. His proposed service project is a yard work day dedicated to helping the elderly with a focus on elderly veterans. Theodore notes that it is sometimes difficult for the elderly to maintain their properties, especially since many, “have physical disabilities and are not as strong anymore.” He sees the project as an opportunity to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Kaelyn Gagnon, who won the middle school Heart & Hands Scholarship in 2020, continues her servant leadership as she prepares for Trinity High School. She has worked on a number of
community service projects through the Girl Scouts, Knights of Columbus, and Lioness of Merrimack. During COVID-19, she spearheaded a “Books & Baking Kits” program to earn her Girl Scouts Silver Award. She’s also a regular walker and fundraiser for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in tribute to three of her great-grandparents who suffered from the disease. Kaelyn’s proposed project would develop theme boxes that families could take out from their local library and use to spark memories in a loved one with Alzheimer’s. The kits would have contents based on common hobbies and interests and “can help create conversations between those with Alzheimer’s and their families.”
CMC has a long-standing commitment to caring for the community, serving more than 180,000 patients each year under one mission: to carry out Christ’s healing ministry by offering health, healing and hope to every individual who seeks our care.
Similarly, Catholic schools promote service as an essential component of their curriculum. Many Catholic schools engage students of all ages in service programs. Catholic school students learn that community is at the heart of who we are: there are no strangers, only brothers and sisters in the Lord. Therefore, students have a responsibility to respond to the needs of others because we are all part of God's family.
Learn more about CMC’s
community involvement.
For additional information about the scholarships:
CMC Heart & Hands Scholarships