Wheelock College celebrates Boston Scholar

Wheelock College celebrates Karen Morales, a Boston local and member of the Wheelock Class of 2017, along with 16 other Passion for Action Scholars at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 from 6-9 p.m. This fourth Passion for Action Leadership Award Dinner celebrates the positive social entrepreneurship of the Wheelock scholarship recipients. The Wheelock College four-year Passion for Action Scholarship is given to incoming freshmen from greater Boston who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community service and involvement.

At the celebration, the College honors Year Up and its founder Gerald Chertavian who will be awarded the 2013 Passion for Action Leadership Award for their work in closing the Opportunity Divide for thousands of young adults across the United States. The Leadership Award Dinner features a keynote address by Anuradha Koirala, the Founder and Executive Director of Maiti Nepal, recognized by CNN in 2010 as one of the TOP 10 Heroes of the world.

Scholarship recipient, Karen Morales graduated from Fenway High School, where she developed her commitment to supporting others and building community. Through her church, Morales has helped disadvantaged communities improve their access to food and basic health screenings. While a student at Fenway High School, Morales served as a student ambassador. With her time at Wheelock, she hopes to create a support program for young girls who have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused.

Wheelock College created the Passion for Action Scholarship Program in 2007 for outstanding incoming Wheelock students from Greater Boston.  The scholarship provides a $20,000 annual award toward Wheelock College tuition and is paired with a unique academic program which develops students' leadership and community service skills. The first Passion Scholars graduated from Wheelock in May 2012; there are currently 17 Passion Scholars enrolled.  Five scholarships are awarded every year to members of the incoming class.

The proceeds from the 2013 Passion for Action Leadership Award Dinner will support this unique scholarship program.