EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Merrimack Valley

Students create scholarship in memory of classmate

By J.J. Huggins
Staff writer
Published: March 17, 2008

METHUEN — Seven Methuen High School girls say they wouldn't all be friends if Lauren Licciardi had never entered their lives.

Lauren died two years ago today after a hard-fought battle with leukemia. She was just 15 years old.

"She's kind of, like, the one who brought us all together," said Maggie Conlon, a 17-year-old junior.

Lauren's friends remember her as a vivacious, fun-loving teen. The pals used to have sleep-overs, pig out, watch scary movies and visit haunted houses around Halloween.

"When it got closer to her not being able to leave a lot, her house was the party house," recalled Erin Wholley, a 17-year-old junior.

The group remained close after Lauren's death, and now they have created a college scholarship to honor their friend. They spent the last year and a half creating the scholarship. They raised $750 to be given to a graduating senior who resembles Lauren. That means the recipient will be an outstanding student who is involved in athletics and extracurricular activities. Applicants also have to write a one-page essay about friendship.

Lauren herself was a student athlete. She danced, played basketball and soccer, and swam.

A scholarship committee consisting of adults will select the winner. The girls will be on the committee after they graduate, they said.

The committee will choose this year's recipient sometime in May, said biology teacher Jason Lapointe, who is serving as the girls' adviser. The winner can use the money for any college-related expenses, he said.

The girls raised the money by having a bake sale and collecting donations from parents and teachers. They plan to award the scholarship every year, starting this year. They hope to get the community's help to obtain more donations, so they can increase the dollar amount of the scholarship.

The girls spend so much time together, their group has a name — "KELMAMEA" — which stands for the girls' first names: Kaileigh, Erin, Lauren, Maggie, Abbey, Meaghan, Erica and Ashley.

"We're always together. Everything revolves around each other," said Ashley Tontodonato, 18, a senior. "There's no separating us now."

Their parents had sterling silver bracelets made for them at the end of 2006, with "KELMAMEA" engraved on a heart.

Lauren would laugh if she could see her friends creating a scholarship in her memory, said 16-year-old junior Kaileigh Hintlian.

"I think she'd be a little embarrassed," said Hintlian, saying Lauren never liked to be the center of attention. "I think she'd be proud of us for being friends and being who we've grown up to be."

Medical workers diagnosed Lauren with Ewing's Sarcoma when she was in the sixth grade. She beat that illness, but began her fight with leukemia in the eighth grade, her friends said. She was in the ninth grade when she died.

Lapointe teaches freshman biology and had Lauren as a student, as well as all the other girls. High school officials crafted Lauren's schedule knowing she was ill, and they made sure her friends were in her classes.

"They were very accommodating to make sure if Lauren was going to be out, her friends could bring her work to her," Lapointe said.

Lapointe got to know all the girls as a result.

"Lauren kind of brought these girls into my life," he said. "You couldn't meet a nicer group of kids."

The group has already raised the money for this year's scholarship, but they are seeking funds for next year and beyond.

 

Want to contribute to the Lauren M. Licciardi Memorial Scholarship?

Checks made payable to The Lauren Licciardi Scholarship Fund can be mailed to:

Lauren Licciardi Scholarship Fund

TD Banknorth, N.A.

547 Broadway

Methuen, MA 01844

 

Meet Lauren's friends

Kaileigh Hintlian, 16, junior

Erin Wholley, 17, junior

Maggie Conlon, 17, junior

Abbey Carbonneau, 16, junior

Meaghan Arsenault, 17, junior

Erica Comeau, 17, senior

Ashley Tontodonato, 18, senior

Photos