2025 Henry J. Sherlock Scholarships awarded.
CIRI provides six students with $5K grants toward college studies.
Marking the 14th year of its scholarship program, CIRI has awarded $5,000 to each of six students to apply to their college studies. Since its inception in 2011, the program has awarded a total of 73 scholarships.
This year’s awards were presented at the CIRI Annual Spring Dinner Meeting on May 28 at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick. The scholarships were renamed in 2014 in honor of Henry Sherlock, executive director of CIRI for 37 years and a lifelong advocate for the pursuit of higher education.
Attending the CIRI Spring Dinner to receive their awards were Jack Neeser, Leen Attia, Amanda Gunnison and Ava Kennedy.
Any senior high school student graduating in 2025 who is the child or grandchild of a present employee of a CIRI member company — and will be enrolling in a two-year or four-year accredited college or university — was eligible to apply for consideration. The winning 2025 graduates who received this year’s scholarship grants are:
Leen Attia • A graduate of Al-Noor Academy in Mansfield, Leen resides in Randolph, MA. She is embarking on a four-year BS program at MIT, a combined major encompassing both computer science and engineering. Leen hopes to become a software engineer, using her skills to create AI-powered assistive technology. Leen’s mother, Sana Ali, is employed by J.F. White Contracting.
Amanda Gunnison • A graduate of Middleboro High School who resides in Middleboro, MA, Amanda is beginning a four-year BS program in Nursing at Emmanuel College. She plans to become a registered nurse and work at a Boston hospital. Amanda’s father, Alan Gunnison, is employed by BETA Group.
Ava Kennedy • A graduate of Weymouth High School, Ava resides in Weymouth, MA. She is beginning a four-year BS program in biomedical engineering at the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science. Ava also plans to further her education by pursuing a Master’s degree in either biomedical, biochemistry & molecular biology, and/or biopharmaceuticals. Her father, Brian Kennedy, is employed by Nucor Rebar Fabrication Northeast.
Marina Lewandowski • A Stonington High School graduate who resides in Stonington, CT, Marina is beginning a four-year program in international studies at Boston College. She hopes to work in international relations, either through business or law. Marina’s father, Robert Lewandowski, is employed by Manafort Brothers.
Misha Lewandowski • A Stonington High School graduate who resides in Stonington, CT, Misha is beginning a four-year program in psychology at Providence College with a minor in marketing. By forming an understanding of varied aspects of behavior — biological, developmental, sociocultural and individual — she hopes to apply this knowledge in a business-oriented career. Misha’s father, Robert Lewandowski, is employed by Manafort Brothers.
Jack Neeser • A graduate of Canton High School who resides in Canton, MA, Jack is beginning a four-year program in finance at Providence College — while intending to minor in economics at the college’s school of business. He envisions himself working as a data analyst in the healthcare industry to make medical treatment more accessible and affordable. Jack’s father, Jonathan Neeser, is employed by J.H. Lynch & Sons.
