Drury High Scholarships & Awards 2016

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The following awards and scholarships were presented at class night, June 8, to graduating seniors of the Drury High School Class of 2016.

Valedictorian: Olivia Carlson
Salutatorian: Michael Mazzu

Dr. Richard Ziter Science/Pre-med Scholarship: Olivia Carlson

Dr. Richard Ziter Music Scholarship: Elliott Eastman and Michael Mazzu

Bernadino Ocampo Memorial Scholarship: Gabriella Martinez, Nicholas Boulger and Jennafer Maselli

Bolt Excellence in Language Award: Olivia Carlson

Shayley Estes Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Carlson, Nicholas Bator, Jenievieve Gavazzi and Nicholas Boulger

Jocelyn E. Leclair Memorial Scholarship: Matthew Stewart and Destiny Gallagher

Tori Rumbolt Athletic Scholarship: Molly Moulton

Leo Ethier Memorial Scholarship: Jillian Tietgens and Olivia Carlson

Anita Lentine Memorial Scholarship: Madison Tarsa

Crew of '02 MBL Scholarship: Celene Koperek

Crew of '02 CMD Scholarship: Skye Sweeney

Richard 'Buckwheat' Lefave Award: Emily Andreatta and Madison Tarsa

Coach Herb Johnson Scholarship: Olivia Carlson and Katlyn Toomey

Anna Yan Ji Scholarship: Sara Pontier

Paula Jean Raymond Award: Hanna Schrade and Madison Tarsa

American Legion Commander's Award: Hanna Schrade and Madison Tarsa

State Street T Neighborhood Kids Scholarship: Hanna Schrade and Madison Tarsa

American Legion School Awards: Vanessa Thomas and Xander Wilkins

SPC. Michael R. Demarsico II Memorial Scholarship: Nicholas Bator and Mayan Zungy

Peter Mancuso Memorial Scholarship: Madison Tarsa

Dr. Arthur L. Mazzu Memorial Scholarship: Michael Mazzu

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 125 Anne and Anthony Sacco Scholarship: Madison Tarsa

Michael J. Bresette Scholarship: Tyler Shaw and Chris Lamberton

Friends of Michael J. Bresette Scholarship: Zachary LaRoque

Mountainone Bank Scholarship: Elizabeth Billetz

North Adams Police Union Scholarship: Amanda Michaels

Achievement Awards

Visual arts: Cat Poirot and Isabella Massari
English: Sara Pontier
Foreign Language: Kayla Vivori
Mathematics: Jenevieve Gavazzi
Music: Elliott Eastman
Physical Education: Nicholas Boulger
Science: Olivia Carlson
Vocational Sciences: Nicholas Palmer and Michael LaForest
History: Kody Crosier
Technology Education: David Kelly and Nicholas Boulger
Media Arts: Destiny Gallagher and Jacob Keplinger
Drury Stage Company: Nicholas Burchard
High Honor Early Graduation Award: Corey Girard
DAR Good Citizen Certificate: Olivia Carlson

Music Awards

Senior Band Scholarships: Sarah Czarnecki, Brady Marko, Sara Pontier, Emily Andreatta, Tyler Shaw and Skye Sweeney
Paul Hartery Band Award: Chris Andrews
Betty Von Mosch Memorial Scholarship: Amanda Michaels
Sceva E. Whitney Memorial Scholarship: Jacob Keplinger
John Philip Sousa Award: Elliott Eastman
Berkshire Symphony Award: Elliott Eastman
Bandfront Scholarships: Jenevieve Gavazzi, Hanna Schrade and Destiny Gallagher
Pauline Young Outstanding Senior Vocal Award: Cat Poirot and Alyssa Richardson
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Michael Mazzu and Elliott Eastman
Marching Award: Skye Sweeney

Danny Alcombright Memorial Scholarship: Celene Koperek

Frank N. Costa Public Service Scholarship: Nicholas Burchard

Stephen J. Drotter Memorial Scholarship: Molly Moulton

Byron E. & Rose L. Crum Scholarship: Beth Billetz and Jennafer Maselli

Lafayette/ Greylock Lodge of Masons: Alyssa Richardson

Richard Brower Memorial Scholarship: Amanda Michaels

Helen Hickey George Scholarship: Jillian Tietgens

Father Nelson Ziter Scholarship: Jennafer Maselli

Ted Ziter Sports Scholarship: Nicholas Boulger

David Morton Memorial Scholarship: Molly Moulton

Salem State Alumni Scholarship Fund: Abigail Kline

'Bud' Saulnier Memorial Scholarship: Amanda Michaels

Clarksburg Parent Teacher Group: Nicholas Boulger

Gordon B. Neville Memorial Scholarship: Matthew Stewart

Richard C. Lussier Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Tatianna Raymond

Dora A. Radlo Memorial Scholarship: Teyha Christopher

Stephen Sears Memorial Scholarship: Corey Girard

Richard C. Milanesi Scholarship Fund: Gabriella Martinez

Arnold Ross Witto Memorial Scholarship: Jillian Tietgens and Olivia Carlson

Diane Niles Scholarship: Jocelyn Dupee

Waterman Scholarship: Nicholas Burchard

Blue Vista Motor Lodge Brings Hospitality & View to Guests

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:47AM / Monday, April 21, 2025

Among the upgrades at the renovated lodge is a sauna to refresh after a day of skiing and hiking. 

FLORIDA, Mass. — The Blue Vista Motor Lodge is still bringing hospitality to the town of Florida — even 100 years, many owners, names, and renovations later.

 

"When we were working on renovation plans, we found a postcard online from 1923 from the Whitcomb Summit Motor Lodge so that's kind of exciting that for over 100 years, people have been coming here and I think you can see why," owner Stella Downie said.

 

It all started with a small shack on Whitcomb Summit offering souvenirs and drinks that opened up with the highway in 1914. With growing popularity along the scenic byway, small cottages were built for motorists to stay on the Mohawk Trail's highest point.  

Unfortunately, in 1938, the store and a restaurant burned and the cottages started to get run down. In the 1960s, the cottages were replaced with the current building, named Whitcomb Summit Lodge. 

 

There were attempts to rejuvenate the summit for tourism over the preceding decades that fell by the wayside — from campgrounds and timeshares to fine dining and condominiums.

 

Downie purchased the building in December 2021, renovated the lodge in 2022 with a soft opening that fall, and officially opened in early 2023.

 

"We really wanted to clean it up and make it a beautiful place again for people to come and visit and really highlight the views," she said.

 

When Downie took over the property, she said it needed fixes and moving around. She took down all of the bordering dilapidated buildings that had long been abandoned, including the shuttered restaurant, to enhance the grounds.