Awards Will Help Two Local Students Attend College
EAST BOSTON – The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) last week announced the recipients of the annual scholarships honoring the memory of longtime employees Deborah Hadden Gray and Donna Rauseo. The 2026 scholarships were awarded to East Boston residents Anh Nguyen and Lela Lahyani.
“We’re excited to award two Massport Memorial Scholarships to outstanding students from East Boston,” said Massport CEO Rich Davey. “Anh and Lela have demonstrated strong academic excellence and dedication to their community through volunteer work. We wish them continued success in the years ahead.”
Anh Nguyen: 2026 Deborah Hadden Gray Memorial Scholarship Recipient
The Deborah Hadden Gray Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a high school student who is a resident of the City of Boston, Chelsea, Revere or Winthrop. Hadden Gray worked for Massport for 20 years and served as Port Director from 2012-2015. She had a tremendous impact on Massport’s Maritime mission and was a strong advocate for the working port, and the jobs and businesses it supported, while carefully balancing the priorities of the South Boston community.
Anh is a graduate of East Boston High School and will be attending Boston University. She has been involved in the East Boston community through her volunteer work with Boston Public Schools STEM Scholars and the SeaPerch program at the Eliot K-8 Innovation School.
Lela Lahyani: 2026 Donna Rauseo Memorial Scholarship Recipient
The Donna Rauseo Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a student who resides in East Boston. Rauseo was a graduate of East Boston High School and for more than 20 years was the executive assistant to Thomas J. Kinton, Jr. when he served as Aviation Director of Logan Airport and later as CEO and Executive Director for Massport.
Lela is a graduate of Boston Latin School and will be attending Boston University in the fall. During her time in high school, she volunteered with NOAH (Neighborhood of Affordable Housing) and NeighborHealth, both in East Boston.
Massport Memorial Scholarship applications are judged by a committee made up of Massport employees and a representative of the late employee’s family. Students interested in applying for the 2027 internship can learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process by visiting the Massport scholarship page at Massport.com.
