Official website of the New England Patriots
The New England Patriots Foundation, Inc. is excited to recognize New England high school athletes for their excellence in their respective sports as well as their commitment to their academic performance. This scholarship is meant to provide $5,000 of financial assistance for individuals to pursue an education in a STEM field in their post-high school education.
Eight scholarship recipients were chosen throughout the 2025-26 Patriots season, and the winners were honored at the December 14th game. See the recipients below.
2025-26 Recipients
Sofia Minasidis – West Roxbury, MA
As a student at Snowden International High School, Sofia is a student athlete on the softball and swim team. Outside of school, she also plays basketball for the Metropolis of Boston Youth Basketball League. As a first-generation college student, Sofia has goals of attending a four-year university to study nursing or biology on a pre-med track.
Salina Tran – Chelsea, MA
As a student at Chelsea High School, Salina is an athlete on the cheer squad. Outside of school, she is an active member at the Boys & Girls Club of Boston and President of their Keystone Club. As a first-generation college student, Salina has dreams of one day becoming a pediatric nurse to help children and families through their most challenging moments.
Devyn Bowden – Brockton, MA
As a student at South Shore Charter Public School, Devyn is an athlete and captain on the volleyball, basketball and track & field teams. Outside of school she is an active member of the C5 Youth Organization and volunteers weekly at the Food Basket Project for the Homeless. Devyn has dreams of one day becoming a NICU nurse or pediatrician.
Jessica Amaya – Mattapan, MA
As a student at the Albert D. Holland High School of Technology, Jessica has explored her love of science through internships at Vertex Pharmaceutical and Boston Medical Center. Since elementary school she has participated in Circus Up, a local community circus program in Boston, which eventually led to touring with Cirque De Soleil. As a first-generation college student, Jessica plans to attend a four-year university to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences.
Laila Nyima Andrade – Dorchester, MA
As a student at Techboston Academy, Laila is an athlete on the varsity track & field team and a manager for the football team. She also is a member of the National Honors Society and an athletic page associate. As a first-generation college student, Laila plans to attend a four-year university to study psychology and hopes to one day support young children and adults in creating balance in their lives.
Cory Pleitez – Chelsea, MA
As a student at Northeast Metro Tech Regional Vocational High School, Cory is an athlete and captain on the soccer team. Outside of school, she is a youth leader at La Colaborativa and a Nelson Fellowship Intern. As a first-generation college student, she hopes to study criminal justice or psychology to one day become a counselor in a psychiatric rehabilitation hospital.
Amithi Ho – Melrose, MA
As a student at Revere High School, Amithi is an athlete on the varsity cheerleading squad. Outside of school, she is a mentee at Minds Matter Boston and an intern at Revere Youth in Action. As a first-generation college student, Amithi plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing to help others receive proper access to healthcare.
Adriana Degooyer – Somerville, MA
As a student at Somerville High School, Adriana is an athlete on the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams. Outside of school, she is a youth swim instructor at MIT and mentor at the Architecture Construction Engineering Program of America. Adriana's interest in design has fueled her dreams of pursuing a bachelor's and master's degree in architecture.
2024-25 Recipients
Jack Mogan – Boston, MA
As a student at Boston Latin Academy, Jack is a student athlete on the football and swim team. Outside of school, he has is also the captain of swim team at the Boys & Girls Club of Boston. Jack has dreams of eventually competing in the Olympics and hopes to continue his studies at UConn or the University of Tampa.
Susana Alvarez Ruiz – Jamaica Plain, MA
As a student at the John D. O'Bryant School of Math and Science, Susana is an athlete on the tennis and volleyball team. She has dreams of helping support community housing and would like to pursue an education in architecture. She hopes to one day give back to her home country Colombia.
Kyle Huang – Malden, MA
As a student at Malden High School, Kyle is the VP and founder of the robotics club and president of the computer club. He is also a student athlete on the field hockey and tennis team. As a first generation college student, he hopes to study computer science and one day become a software engineer.
Hashiranny Occeus – Hyde Park, MA
As a student at the Academy of the Pacific Rim, Hashi a member of the National Honors Society and an athlete on the dance and cheer team. She also volunteers her time at Crossroads, a local youth development program. Her future plans include studying to become a pediatrician and one day pursuing her doctorate.
Jaylan Cajuste – Roxbury, MA
As a student at New Mission High School, Jaylan is a student athlete on the football team and is an active member of the New Mission Chapter Alpha Esquire. As a first generation college student, he hopes to study business or technology.
Bianca Jazmyn Speaks – Holyoke, MA
As a student at Holyoke High School, Bianca is a student athlete on the swimming, soccer and rowing teams. She is also an active member of Girls Inc, where she helps perform community service. She hopes to continue her education by studying biology and one day becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Aimee Tatiana Quinonez Herrera – Chelsea, MA
As a student at Chelsea High School, Aimee is a member of the student council and a student athlete on the volleyball team. Outside of school she is a youth leader at a nonprofit called La Colaborativa. As a first-generation college student, she hopes to study nursing and provide comfort to Spanish speaking families who visit hospitals.
Dennis Messiah Ambrose – Cambridge, MA
As a student at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, Dennis is a member of the Black Student Union and captain of the football and rugby teams. He hopes to continue his education by studying computer science and would like to use these skills to support the web design needs of local essential services.
2023-24 Recipients
Week 1
Jamari Mathis – Dorchester, MA
As a student at Roxbury Prep High School, Jamari uses his creative talents in the Comic and Anime club. Outside of school, he participates in a program with Friends of the Children called the Adolescent Leadership Council. Jamari hopes to study Information Technology and has hopes of one day becoming a video game tester.
Week 2
Hawa Sheriff – Boston, MA
As a student at Wakefield Memorial High School, Hawa is on the student council and an athlete on the track and field team. She has hopes of studying nursing and one day opening her own private practice. With her own private practice, she hopes to educate Black and Muslim communities about mental health.
Week 3
Kylie McKenzie – West Springfield, MA
As a student at West Springfield High School, Kylie is her student body class president and captain of the varsity basketball team. She has hopes of continuing her studies past high school and wants to become either a doctor or a surgeon specifically working in the field of neonatology.
Week 4
Ahunna Okereke – Brockton, MA
As a student at Brockton High School, Ahunna is involved in the National Honors Society, marching band and plays on the varsity tennis team. She hopes to continue her studies at a university or college in New England by majoring in Biomed.
Week 5
Karla Dionisio – Hyde Park, MA
As a student at Match Charter Public High School, Karla is a captain on the softball and volleyball teams. She also helps to manage the school's basketball team. As a first-generation college student, she hopes to continue her studies at Northeastern University with a concentration in the health science field.
Week 6
Zhiqiang Li – Malden, MA
As a student at Malden High School, Zhiqiang is captain on the tennis team and helped cofound a robotics club. He is also a member of the Science National Honors Society and participates in his school's ping pong club. He hopes to study Computer Science and one day create his own startup company.
Week 7
Tochukwu Njoku – Roxbury, MA
As a student at John D O'bryant School of Science and Mathematics, Tochukwu is captain of both the volleyball and soccer teams. As a first generation college student, he hopes to study Psychology or Biology after graduating. His ultimate goal is to become an orthopedic doctor to help support other athletes and youth.