Bay State Games Announces 2021 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

November 18, 2021

WOBURN (November 18, 2021) – The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2021 Future Leaders Scholarship Program. These student-athletes were selected from a large applicant pool after a process that included committee reviews of all applications and virtual interviews with selected applicants.

These future leaders were selected based on their achievements and involvement in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership roles. The Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1989 and has since distributed nearly $400,000 in financial aid. Each of the high school seniors will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

“While the pandemic has had a significant impact on the high school class of 2022 academically, athletically, and socially, it is extremely impressive to see the outstanding accomplishments this year’s scholarship recipients have achieved in the face of so much adversity," said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of Bay State Games. "The success these recipients have attained in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership make them truly deserving of this scholarship.”

This year’s six scholarship recipients are:

Olivia Adelabu is from North Andover and is a senior at Pingree School. At Pingree, she competes on the track & field and volleyball teams. Olivia is captain of the track & field team, the school record holder in the high jump, 4x200m, and 200m, has competed in Bay State Games Track & Field for two years, and has been a Bay State Games Ambassador. She is the founder of the Banana Splits, a club for children from divorced families, and a member of the People of Color Coalition, the Student Equity and Inclusion Committee, and the Diversity Council. Olivia is also a poll worker during presidential elections and works to encourage others to register to vote and regularly volunteers at a homeless shelter. During the pandemic, Olivia provided cooking lessons over Zoom for young children in her church. She also made over 100 masks to ship to Louisiana. Olivia was also tasked with creating short stories and art projects to help young children who were just starting school during the pandemic to learn different ways to recognize emotion when everyone is wearing a mask. Olivia plans to study neuroscience and pursue her passion for social justice while also continuing to run track in college.

Leah DeLeon is a native of Lawrence and attends Central Catholic High School, where she is captain of both the volleyball and basketball teams and competes in track & field. In 2021, Leah played for the Northeast team in the Girls Basketball Showcase. She is on the leadership team of Peer Leadership and is also a student ambassador, classroom representative, a member of the Keystone Club, and a Marist Mentor, which pairs her with a child at the local Boys & Girls Club and allows children to have a mentor that helps them throughout the week. For the last 4 years, Leah has also volunteered at a soup kitchen. Leah plans to study psychology and pursue a career in psychiatrics.

Brielle Los is a senior at Chicopee High School, where she is a three-year captain of the soccer team and has also participated on the unified track and unified basketball teams. She played in the Girls Soccer Showcase three times, helping the West team to silver medals in 2018 and 2021 and a bronze medal in 2019. In 2019, Brielle played in the 2019 Norway Cup in Oslo and her team finished 9^th out of 64 teams. At school, Brielle is president of her class, president of National Honors Society, and a member of Best Buddies. She was also secretary of National Honors Society as a junior. Brielle won the 2019 AMVETS National Americanism Essay Content. She also organized the Angela Marie Santiago Memorial, a garden at school in memory of their resource officer. After graduation, Brielle hopes to pursue a career in health care.

Yamirelis Matos is a native of Springfield, MA and attends Chicopee High School. She plays basketball and soccer at Chicopee and serves as captain of the basketball team. She is also the captain of her AAU team. Yamirelis has been named Western Mass Super Seven and All-Western Mass First Team since freshman year. Yamirelis helped the Central/West team to a silver medal in the 2021 Girls Basketball Showcase. Yamirelis is a member of both the National Honors Society and Spanish National Honors Society, as well as Best Buddies. She was chosen by teachers at her school to speak to the entire district on the first day of school when returning from hybrid learning. After graduation this spring, Yamirelis will attend Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA where she intends to play basketball and study pharmacy.

Kaleigh Murphy is a senior at Pembroke High School, where she is captain for the field hockey, ice hockey, and softball teams. Kaleigh played in the 2021 Field Hockey Showcase, where she helped the Coastal team to the silver medal. Kaleigh is also a Bay State Games Ambassador. At school, Kaleigh is a member of National Honors Society and DECA. Kaleigh is also part of the art club and has volunteered at the Pembroke Art Festival. She is an assistant coach of the Great Blizzards of Massachusetts, a hockey team for players of all ages with cognitive, mental, or developmental disabilities. After graduation, Kaleigh plans to study sport management.

Nina Tiani is a senior at Hull High School, where she is the captain of the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams. During the Fall II season in 2021, Nina also competed in indoor track & field and was named a league all-star. Nina helped the Coastal team to a bronze medal in the 2021 Girls Soccer Showcase. She is vice president of her class and served as a class representative her first three years of high school. Nina is also the treasurer of National Honors Society and a founding member of the Inclusion Project, which is a club meant to teach others how to interact with people who are neuro-divergent. Nina has also completed several community service projects. Nina is ranked #4 in her class and hopes to study business in college.

For more information on the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, click here.

For a list of past recipients and the colleges and universities they've attended, click here .

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Bay State Games Announces 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

November 18, 2025

The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Program. These student-athletes were selected from a large applicant pool after a process that included committee reviews of all applications and virtual interviews with selected applicants. These future leaders were selected based on their achievements and involvement in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership roles. The Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1989 and has since distributed nearly $400,000 in financial aid. Each of these high school seniors will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their first year of college. “Bay State Games is proud to continue the Future Leaders Scholarship program which since 1989 has provided over $400,000 in aid to support the continuing education of outstanding young leaders." said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “These well deserving student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, on the field and in the community, representing a variety of schools, sports and regions across Massachusetts” This year’s six scholarship recipients are Elyse Bissada, Brooke Blahut, Abigail Howie, Olivia Laaper, Sabina Mackechnie, Molly McIntyre. Elyse Bissada is a senior at Dover-Sherborn High School, where she is a four-year varsity field hockey and track & field athlete, as well as the team captain for both sports. In 2025, Elyse was a member of the Bay State Games Southeast field hockey team where she won a gold medal. Elyse is the founder of the Veterinary Medicine Club at her school and in her free time volunteers at local farms and Animal Rescue Leagues across the state. Elyse has committed to play field hockey and study biology at Hamilton College, where she plans to pursue veterinary medicine and ultimately establish an affordable low-cost clinic that serves her community. Brooke Blahut is a senior at North Quincy High School where she is a 4-year varsity member of the soccer team, and captain of the varsity ice hockey team. Brooke is also a well accomplished figure skater. She began skating at age 2 at Winterland Skating School and is now a U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist. Brooke has participated in Bay State Games annually since 2016, medaled 6 times, and is a 4-year Bay State Games High School Ambassador. Brooke is also the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Ambassador for NQHS. Brooke is Vice President of her class, a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society and academically ranks in the top 5% of her class with a 4.6 GPA. Brooke is a two-time team leader and participant in the FBI Teen Leadership Academy and plans to pursue her master’s in forensic science and criminology and become an FBI Special Agent. Abigail Howie is a senior at Wilmington High School, where she is on the varsity soccer team and is captain of the Winter and Spring Track teams. Abigail serves as President of Student Council and the Wildcat Service Council, where she founded the “Bridging Generations” community initiative. She is a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, and Best Buddies. Abigail coaches a Wilmington fourth-grade team and is a USSF-certified soccer referee. She has most recently created an Alzheimer's Awareness community service project for her senior year. She hopes to continue her athletic career in college while studying sports management and marketing. Olivia Laaper resides in Stow and is a senior at Fusion Academy in Burlington. Laaper has been a captain of multiple high school sports teams including Track & Field and Swimming. Olivia is captain of her archery team at Riverside Archers and has won multiple medals in archery at Bay State Games and state competitions. Beyond athletics, Olivia has gained hands-on experience in emergency medicine as a high school intern with Pro EMS and plans to take her EMT certification this fall. She gives back to her community by lifeguarding and coaching youth swimming at Goldfish Swim School, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and at local food banks. In college, Olivia plans to pursue a degree in nursing with a minor in emergency medicine and psychology. Sabina Mackechnie is a senior at East Longmeadow High School where she is a three sport athlete and captain in Soccer, Basketball and Lacrosse. She has earned all-league and second-team All-Western Mass honors in soccer and lacrosse. Sabina has been a By State Games Ambassador for two years and is a member of her school's Athletic Leadership Council and Pink Ribbon Club. Sabina participates in canned food drives and fundraisers for her school sports teams. Sabina will continue her lacrosse career at Springfield College while pursuing a degree in Education. Molly McIntyre is a senior at Norton High School where she is a three-sport captain in cross country, basketball, and outdoor track, earning multiple TVL All-Star honors, and MVP awards. Molly serves in key leadership roles on Student Council, DECA, Best Buddies, and five National Honor Societies. She volunteers at local youth sports programs, community events, and the MSG Gregory Trent Foundation. Molly works part-time at a donut shop and local ice cream store. She plans on attending Stonehill College where she will compete in track and study Finance and Marketing. For more information on the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, click here. For a list of past recipients and the colleges and universities they've attended, click here . About the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the Commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized for hosting high quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs, including the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, and the High School Ambassador Program.