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Boston Student Awarded $10,000 Michael Casserly Scholarship

  • The Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) recently presented Andrew Cruz Mendez Troncoso, a 2025 graduate of Boston Public Schools, with the Dr. Michael Casserly Legacy Scholarship for Educational Courage and Justice. Sponsored by Curriculum Associates, the $10,000 college scholarship will be used by Troncoso to pursue a degree in finance at Bentley University in Massachusetts.Michael Casserly with Boston Public Schools Student winner of the scholarship

    The scholarship is part of the Dr. Michael Casserly Legacy Award for Educational Courage and Justice, named after the Council’s former executive director. The annual award, now in its fifth year, is presented to a person who has made outstanding contributions in urban education by taking a courageous and passionate stance on the issue of educational justice and equity.

    This year’s awardee was Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who currently serves as ranking member of the House Committee on Appropriations and its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where she oversees the nation’s investments in education, health, and employment. 

    Troncoso is a 2025 graduate of the Boston Arts Academy, the city's only public high school for the visual and performing arts, where he was a viola major and played in the school’s orchestra. Additionally, he was an active member of the school’s A.C.T.S. club, which focuses on giving back to the community through service. During his time in the club, he contributed over 200 volunteer hours through various projects, including creating care packages, assisting at shelters, and supporting military personnel with handmade items and letters.

    After graduating from college, Troncoso wants to become a financial consultant and eventually start an organization that helps low-income families learn how to budget, invest, and build wealth.

    “I am pleased to have chosen Andrew as this year’s recipient of a scholarship named in my honor,” said Casserly. “He is extremely deserving of this scholarship and is a prime example of the wonderful graduates our nation’s urban public schools produce. As he pursues his degree, I know he has a bright future ahead of him, and I thank Curriculum Associates for their generous support.”