Our Work

The Catholic Schools Foundation is proud to celebrate the extraordinary success of the Class of 2026 LCA Continuum Scholarship cohort at Central Catholic High School.

This first cohort of LCA Continuum Scholars represents the promise and power of Catholic education. These 12 students began their journey at Lawrence Catholic Academy and continued on to Central Catholic High School through the support of CSF Scholarships and generous donors who believed in their potential. Today, they are seniors preparing for bright futures in college, trade school, service, leadership, athletics, engineering, business, the arts, and beyond.

The Class of 2026 cohort includes Adriana Gomez, Aiden Mejia, Christopher Segura, Damien Alvarez, Darold Canals, Ellian De La Cruz, Janarius Nanje, Jarred Nanje, Jayden Vasquez, Kimberly Santos, Lyannis Reyes, and Randy Blanco Garcia. All students live in the greater Lawrence area. Their families represent hardworking communities, with parents serving as bus drivers, home health aides, housekeepers, administrative assistants, school lunch aides, and more. These families have made sacrifices, held fast to faith, and supported their children’s dreams every step of the way.

Through their own words, the students make clear just how much this scholarship has meant. They describe Central Catholic as a place where they have grown academically, discovered new passions, built friendships, strengthened their faith, and prepared for life after high school. One student shared that the scholarship helped him “live up to my potential.” Another wrote that Central Catholic “changed my life for the better.” Another reflected that the opportunity helped him grow “as a person and a leader.”

Their achievements are already visible. Members of this cohort have been accepted to and received scholarship and financial aid offers from colleges and universities including Rivier University, Providence College, Stonehill College, Bentley University, Merrimack College, UMass Lowell, Wentworth, Johnson & Wales University, MCPHS, Bryant University, and others. Their next steps reflect a wide range of dreams: civil engineering, business, athletics, the arts, health sciences, public communication, and skilled trades.

The success of this cohort is not only measured in college acceptances or scholarship dollars. It is measured in confidence gained, talents discovered, faith deepened, and futures expanded. It is seen in the student who found purpose through football, the future civil engineer who wants to build bridges and skyscrapers, the dancer and artist who found ways to express herself, the student who discovered leadership, and the young people who now see college and career success as fully within reach.

The LCA Continuum Scholarship is doing exactly what it was designed to do: creating a pathway for students to continue their Catholic education, remain rooted in a supportive community, and pursue opportunities that may not otherwise have been possible.

The program began in FY21 in response to a clear need. At the time, only 32% of Lawrence Catholic Academy students were matriculating to Catholic high schools, and families identified financial barriers as the primary reason. With an additional $100,000 gift, CSF, Lawrence Catholic Academy, and Central Catholic High School launched a pilot to increase access and make Catholic high school a more attainable option for families.

Since then, the impact has been significant. The percentage of LCA students matriculating to Catholic high school has increased from 37% to 85%. LCA enrollment has grown by 56% since FY20, in part because families now see a clear and supported path from elementary school to Catholic high school. The pilot has also helped increase the number of LCA students attending Central Catholic High School fourfold since 2021.

What makes the program especially effective is the partnership behind it. Additional scholarship dollars are recommended by Lawrence Catholic Academy in partnership with Central Catholic High School, allowing the schools closest to the students and families to help identify where the awards will have the greatest impact. Central Catholic has been an exceptional partner, providing additional resources, investment, and support to help students thrive once they arrive on campus.

Today, CSF invests more than $400,000 annually in this scholarship program. In addition to the Class of 2026 cohort, 52 additional scholarship recipients are enrolled at Central Catholic High School in the Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029. Next year, the program anticipates welcoming 12 new scholars in the Class of 2030, continuing the pathway that began with this first remarkable group of students.

To the donors who made this journey possible, the message from the Class of 2026 is simple and powerful: thank you. Your generosity has changed lives. Because of your support, these students are not only preparing to graduate from Central Catholic High School; they are preparing to carry their gifts, faith, and leadership into the world.

The Catholic Schools Foundation is honored to celebrate the Class of 2026 LCA Continuum Scholars and looks forward to seeing all they will accomplish next.

Fuel the Future

The extraordinary success of the Class of 2026 is living proof that your generosity changes lives. By removing financial barriers, you create a direct pathway for hardworking families to access the life-changing power of a Catholic high school education. With 52 scholars currently enrolled and a new cohort entering in the fall, your support is needed now more than ever to keep this momentum alive. 

Your gift today builds bridges, unlocks potential, and expands futures for students in the greater Lawrence area.

DONATE TO THE CONTINUUM SCHOLARSHIP FUND