By Adam Swift
The City Council honored the recipients of the 2024 Revere Community Scholarships with certificates of achievement at its Monday night meeting.
Sirena Ross, Karla Leal Robles, and Zaraius Bilimoria were this year’s scholarship winners.
“The Revere Community Scholarship is given out each year to three deserving students,” said Mayor Patrick Keefe. “The community scholarship is funded through a payment when you get your tax bill, or sometimes your water bill.”
Residents have the option to donate money to the scholarship on those bills, and Keefe noted that there have been some generous donations over the years to keep the scholarship program funded.
“Each year, the scholarship recipients go through a rigorous selection process through the school department and the mayor’s office,” said Keefe. “It’s not just an academic scholarship, it is also based on community service. Each year, we see that these recipients attend some of the greatest universities in the country, and sometimes the entire universe.”
Each of the students received a $2,500 scholarship towards their college tuition.
Ross and Robles were unable to attend Monday night’s council meeting due to commitments to other pre-graduation events, but Bilimoria was on hand to accept his certificate and thank the city council.
Bilimoria will be attending the Olin College of Engineering in the fall, where he plans on studying computer and electrical engineering.
The mayor noted that he worked with Bilimoria’s father in the past, and that the family has produced many wonderful students in the Revere schools, including a sister who is still attending Revere High School.
“Zaraius is a special and unique individual, and he’s going to do a great things in the city of Revere,” said Keefe.
Keefe also noted that mayoral aide Rose Burns will be overseeing the Revere Community Scholarship program in the coming year.
