My name is Liam Johnston and I am entering my Senior year at Nauset High School on Cape Cod. I am applying for this scholarship because I share Carla’s passion for helping others – whether cleaning up my community or assisting special needs through sports programs, these activities give me a true sense of purpose. Sports have been at the center of my life for as long as I can recall. There has always been something magical about team sports for me – the sting of a loss, the elation of a win, and the comradery that was bonded through respect and commitment to the team. When first learning about a local Special Olympics chapter, I felt compelled to volunteer my time and share this passion with those that have special needs… this was one of the best decisions of my life. The smiles that are generated when teaching someone how to shoot a basketball or kick a soccer ball fills my heart. Aside from showing these athletes the technical aspects, I genuinely enjoy bonding with them the same way I do with my own teammates – and I can tell that they too have a level of respect and commitment that comes naturally when working toward a common goal (running a play, scoring a goal, etc). Outside of Special Olympics, I have also volunteered my time toward Housing Assistance Big Fix events here on Cape Cod. My Dad and I have been doing this annually for 6 years (minus a COVID break). It has been incredibly rewarding to repair Disabled Veteran homes, or even just a simple yard cleanup for an elderly couple. My favorite part of this volunteer process is getting to meet the recipient – they are always so appreciative of HAC and their volunteers that usually there are tears involved! I started working at the age of 10 selling newspapers at the encouragement of my parents and have been employed and saving money for college ever since – so I understand the value of hard work… and being able to put that hard work into something that generates tears of gratitude is so incredibly rewarding that it is hard to explain in an essay. The most important thing I’ve learned about these experiences would be that giving back to the community is just as important as earning a living or going to school – primarily because we cannot thrive as a society unless everyone comes along for the ride. Our community is only as strong as the weakest link, so everyone that is able needs to assist those who are not able – whether through volunteering or donating. This in turn produces a thriving community, one we can all be proud of and even more eager to continually improve! I plan on continuing to volunteer through college, regardless of where I end up going. Once I choose a destination, I will be looking up similar programs to my experience and sign up for those local programs. At a minimum, I will donate some time at a food pantry or a local Big Brother/Big Sister club. At the end of the day, I will be seeking out those smiles and tears of gratitude because I’ll know our community will be better for it. Sincerely, Liam Johnston

My name is Liam Johnston and I am a Junior at Nauset High School on Cape Cod. I am applying for this scholarship because I share Mr. McLam’s passion for learning through team sports – I play 3 sports but there is a special place in my heart for Lacrosse… as it was for Mr. McLam. Sports have been at the center of my life for as long as I can recall. My father is an avid sports fan and played basketball most of his life. There has always been something magical about team sports for me – the sting of a loss, the elation of a win, and the comradery that was bonded through respect and commitment to the team. I have been blessed to have coaches that instilled discipline from age 6 (first year of lacrosse) and has set the path for me to have purpose and direction in life. Teamwork has allowed me to embody my own sense of discipline for fear of letting my teammates down – it has made me a better lacrosse player and an even better teammate. As I write this essay, we are inching closer to our stated goal of a state championship in Division II here in MA. While we are talented, we would not have made it this far without the commitment of doing things together outside of practice – such as fishing and team dinners – and everyone shares the same ambition to be our very best. Outside of sports, I am working to earn a paycheck. I started working at the age of 10 selling newspapers at the encouragement of my parents. I would stand at the exit of the transfer station and sell Cape Cod Times. I remember being so excited to count the tips! Then I would dream up where/when I could sell more to reach some arbitrary goal, only to achieve it and start the cycle again. The same discipline learned with team sports has been my guiding principle in all jobs I’ve held since - cleaning and organizing at Osterville Fish Market, stocking shelves and managing inventory at Fancy’s Market, and being a top-rated caddie at both Wianno and Oyster Harbors golf clubs. As a result, I have become independent and can pay for my short-term needs as well as save for the future. As I’ve grown and matured, I’m discovering that the same hard work ethic and discipline can pay dividends at school as well. I wasn’t as passionate about school as I was about sports and making money, and my grades reflected this until I realized that I have it within me to work hard and improve my grades. This growth mindset adopted in high school has drastically improved my grades each year and I’m equally determined to get into a good college. In conclusion, this scholarship will help me continue my quest to apply my work ethic – learned through lacrosse and employment – through college and set the stage for a meaningful life… much like Mr. McLam did for his career. Sincerely, Liam Johnston

My name is Liam Johnston and I am a Junior at Nauset High School on Cape Cod. I am applying for this scholarship because I share in Mr. Thomson’s belief that hard work allows one to achieve their goals. I started working at the age of 10 selling newspapers at the encouragement of my parents. I would stand at the exit of the transfer station and sell Cape Cod Times. I remember being so excited to count the tips! Then I would dream up where/when I could sell more to reach some arbitrary goal, only to achieve it and start the cycle again. This helped instill a sense of “hard work pays off” early on and has been my guiding principle in all jobs I’ve held since - cleaning and organizing at Osterville Fish Market, stocking shelves and managing inventory at Fancy’s Market, and being a top-rated caddie at both Wianno and Oyster Harbors golf clubs. As a result, I have become independent and can pay for my short-term needs as well as save for the future. As I’ve grown and matured, I’m discovering that the same hard work ethic can pay dividends at school as well. I wasn’t as passionate about school as I was about making money, and my grades reflected this until I realized that I have it within me to work hard and improve my grades. This growth mindset adopted in high school has drastically improved my grades each year and I’m equally determined to get into a good college. In conclusion, this scholarship will help me continue my quest to apply a strong work ethic in college and set the stage for a meaningful life – much like Mr. Thomson did for his career. Sincerely, Liam Johnston