Month: March 2025

Congratulations to the Manchester School District 16 student athletes from the Class of 2025 who are preparing to compete at the collegiate level next year! 

• Gianna Arzilli – Central – Soccer – Saint Michael’s College
• Eeman Barton – Central – Softball – RPI College
• Collin Beaulieu – Memorial – Football – Springfield College
• Tevin Edmuns – West – Basketball – Colby Sawyer College
• Keshawn Foster – West – Football – Husson University
• Wyatt Fougere – Central – Football – Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Gavin Harris – Central – Football – Bridgewater State University
• Eshaya Lauder – West – Track & Field – UMass Dartmouth
• Marissa Levesque – Memorial – Clay Target Shooting – Jacksonville University
• Grey McDonald – Memorial – Field Hockey – Colby Sawyer College
• Pierre Mendez – Central – Baseball – Great Bay Community College
• Mohammed Olanrewaju – Memorial – Football – New England College
• Nono Omol – West – Football – Plymouth State University
• Logan Paradis – West – Football – Husson University
• Jaeden Rodriguez – West – Baseball – Great Bay Community College
• Sean Venator – Central – Track & Field – Bridgewater State University
  

A little more about each student athlete: 

Congratulations to Central Student Athlete Gianna Arzilli on her commitment to play Soccer at Saint Michael’s College. 

During her time at Central, Gianna was a Captain and a 4 year varsity starter and MVP.

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Congratulations to Central Student Athlete Eeman Barton on her commitment to play Softball at RPI College. 

During her time at Central, Eeman was the Varsity Softball Team Captain and D1 Softball All-State Honorable Mention.

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Congratulations to Memorial Student Athlete Collin Beaulieu on his commitment to play Football at Springfield College. 

During his time at Memorial, Collin was a 3 sport athlete competing in Football, Basketball, and Lacrosse. Collin was a two-time captain for the Football and LAcrosse teams. He earned All-Conference First Team (SR-Football) and All-State Honorable Mention (JR-Lacrosse) honors during his career. 

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Congratulations to West Student Athlete Tevin Edmuns on his commitment to play Basketball at Colby Sawyer College. 

During his time at West, Tevin was a Captain, First Team All-State and named 3 times to the All-Defensive Team. 

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Congratulations to West Student Athlete Keshawn Foster on his commitment to play Football at Husson University. 

During his time at West, Keshawn was a 2 time Captain, and a 1st Team All-Conference Player his Senior year, and a 2nd Team All-Conference his junior year. 

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Congratulations to Central Student Athlete Wyatt Fougere on his commitment to play Football at Worcester Polytech. 

During his time at Central, Wyatt won the Little Green Award and qualified for the meet of champions, New Englands and the New Balance Nations as a member of the 4×200 Relay Team. 

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Congratulations to Central Student Athlete Gavin Harris on his commitment to play Football at Bridgewater State University.

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Congratulations to West Student Athlete Eshaya Lauder on her commitment to compete in Track & Field at UMass Dartmouth. 

During her time at West, She was a 4 year member of the Girls’ Soccer and Track & Field teams. She was a 3x Captain of the Girls Track Team, 2x Indoor Long Jump Champion, NH Division 2 Indoor Long Jump Record Holder, West High School Indoor Long Jump Record Holder, 2x Outdoor Long Jump Champion, 4x All-State Track Selection, and a 2x New England High School Indoor Track & Field Championship participant. She also represented West on the National Stage at the New Balance National Indoor and Adidas Indoor Track Nationals.

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Congratulations to Memorial Student Athlete Marissa Levesque on her commitment to compete in Clay Target Shooting at Jacksonville University. 

During her time at Memorial, Marissa was a Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior year NH All-State Champion and Co-Captain for her club team.

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Congratulations to Memorial Student Athlete Grey McDonald on her commitment to play Field Hockey at Colby Sawyer College. 

Grey was a multisport athlete competing in Field Hockey, Swimming, and Lacrosse. During her time at Memorial, Grace was 2 time Captain, 2 time All-State Honorable Mention, and All-State Second Team in her Senior year. 

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Congratulations to Central Student Athlete Pierre Mendez on his commitment to play Baseball at Great Bay Community College. 

During his time at Central, Pierre was a Captain of the Baseball team. 

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Congratulations to Memorial Student Athlete Mohammed Olanrewaju on his commitment to play Football at New England College.

During his time at Memorial, Mohammed was a 2 sport athlete competing in Football and Track & Field. Mohammed was a Football team Captain his Senior Year. He earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors his Senior year.

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Congratulations to West Student Athlete Nono Omol on his commitment to play Football at Plymouth State University. 

During his time at West, Nono was a Captain and received 1st Team All-State Honors. 

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Congratulations to West Student Athlete Logan Paradis on his commitment to play Football at Husson University.

During his time at West, Logan was a 2-time Captain and a 1st Team All-Conference Player his Senior Year.

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Congratulations to West Student Athlete Jaeden Rodriguez on his commitment to play Baseball at Great Bay Community College.

During his time at West, Jaeden was a Captain of the Baseball team.

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Congratulations to Central student-athlete Sean Venator on his commitment to compete in Track & Field at Bridgewater State.

During his time at Central, Sean was a member of the 2024 4×200 Indoor Relay Team that placed 4th at the NHIAA Division 1 Championships and the 2024 Outdoor team that placed 1st in Division 1. He was also a member of the 2025 4×200 Indoor Relay Team, which placed 1st at the NHIAA Division 1 Championships and competed at the New Balance Nationals, placing 38th and setting the New Hampshire All-Time Record. Sean was named All-State for the 2025 Indoor Season. He set the school record in the Triple Jump, placed 6th in the 2025 Indoor Season, and 8th for the 2024 Outdoor season in the Triple Jump. He also placed 6th in the Long Jump and 300M Dash at the NHIAA Division 1 Indoor Championships in 2025.

Over the past several years, Manchester Proud has made significant strides in strengthening our schools, fostering community connections, and creating opportunities for students and families. As we closed out 2024, we celebrated the impact of our efforts—from career-connected learning initiatives and community resource guides to the expansion of the Compass platform and securing alongside Manchester School District a $2.5 million Federal Community Schools Grant. These accomplishments have been made possible through collaboration, dedication, and a shared vision of a stronger, more inclusive Manchester.

However, with all of this progress, we recognize the importance of pausing to reflect and ask: What’s next?

In 2025, Manchester Proud’s Champion’s Council will embark on a strategic planning process to define our focus for the years ahead. This intentional pause will allow us to assess our progress, listen to our community, and align our efforts with the evolving needs of Manchester’s schools and families.

While this strategic planning process unfolds, Manchester Proud remains committed to its core mission: ensuring that every student has access to the resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive. Our work in strengthening business partnerships, enhancing communication channels, and expanding career pathways will continue, even as we determine our next steps.

Stay connected with us as we embark on this journey. The best is yet to come! ONWARD!

On March 26th, Manchester West High School hosted its Annual Career Day, bringing together professionals from a wide range of industries to inspire and inform students about potential career paths. Among the diverse lineup of speakers was Manchester Proud’s Communication and Events Director, who shared insights into the dynamic fields of social media and creative work.

Career Day at West High School is a highly anticipated event that connects students with professionals who offer real-world perspectives on different industries. This year’s event featured an impressive list of speakers, including professionals from fields such as law, finance, healthcare, education, technology, and the arts. The goal was to expose students to the wide array of career opportunities available and provide them with practical advice on how to navigate their future paths.

Manchester Proud’s Communication and Events Director spoke to students about the evolving landscape of social media, highlighting how strategic communication plays a crucial role in today’s digital world. She discussed her role in managing digital content, engaging with the community, and supporting Manchester Proud’s mission to enhance education and civic engagement. Her session also emphasized the importance of creativity in problem-solving, branding, and storytelling.

Students had the opportunity to ask questions about careers in communications, the skills required for success in social media management, and how creative work can translate into meaningful professional opportunities. By sharing her experiences and insights, she encouraged students to consider careers that blend creativity with strategic thinking.

Career Day attendees also benefited from a hospitality room where they could network with other professionals, observe additional classroom presentations, and enjoy refreshments. The event’s schedule allowed speakers to interact with students in small groups, fostering meaningful conversations and personal connections.

With professionals from Fidelity Investments, iHeartMedia, the U.S. Army, and numerous other industries, West High School’s Career Day provided students with valuable exposure to various career options. Manchester Proud’s participation underscored its commitment to supporting education and community engagement, ensuring that students have access to resources and inspiration as they explore their future career paths.

Manchester Proud continues to be an advocate for student success, and events like Career Day serve as a reminder of the importance of mentorship and career exploration in shaping the next generation of professionals.

View Manchester Proud’s 2025 Summer Opportunity Portfolio Resource Guide below to explore summer programs, activities, and resources:

Over February break, I was able to spend some of my free time volunteering through a new volunteer app called Project Happy. This app is very efficient and easy to use. The sign-up process is very simple, with just a few clicks of a button, you can sign up for a volunteer session too! Project Happy offers a wide variety of opportunities to choose from. I chose two volunteer opportunities; SEE Science Center and MPAL’s PizzaFest.

On Wednesday I headed over to the SEE Science Center for two hours to help out with running activity stations for the visitors. My station featured making DIY Harmonicas out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and straws. Many of the kids visiting that day got to enjoy making these little projects at these stations. I got a chance to help these kids in building this instrument and seeing how happy they were to play music. 

The next day I went over to MPAL where students can connect with police and participate in various activities like cooking and sports. During the time of my Volunteering, MPAL was hosting their Pizza Fest Event. During this event they allow the kids and police officers to fill up a pizza platter with either cheese or a specialty pizza. Once they have tried all the different pizzas given by the handful of pizza places participating in this event, they vote on who’s pizza they liked best. It was my duty, along with my friend Tessa’s, to be stationed at the Domino’s table and hand out slices of pizza. Everyone, from the students and police to the volunteers, was enjoying their time. And after everyone ate their pizza and voted, we were all joined together to be on the news and take a group photo. 

My experience over February break using Project Happy and volunteering for both SEE Science Center and MPAL was amazing. It was both memorable and exciting. I hope to find more fun opportunities in the future as it is a fun and easy way to get volunteer hours!

Learn more about Project Happy from the Manchester School District here

Gabby McNulty, a Behavioral Health Counselor at Beech Street Elementary School through is making waves in both the mental health and dance communities. Growing up as a dancer, Gabby recognized the toll that the art form can take on mental well-being. This realization led her to create Exhale, a dance conference focused on mental wellness. Now in its fourth year, Exhale has expanded beyond dance to support broader mental health initiatives, helping both dancers and families in need.

Gabby is deeply concerned about the state of pediatric mental health, particularly the staggering three- to eight-month-long waitlists for children to see a therapist. Recognizing the alarming lack of resources, she is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and providing support to struggling dancers and families. Her fundraising efforts have been impressive. She has raised over $25,000 to date to support pediatric mental health services.

In her work at Beech Street Elementary, Gabby noticed that many children lacked the experience of playing board games with their families, possibly due to financial barriers. Inspired by this, she launched an initiative to collect board games for a family engagement night. Through community support and an Amazon wishlist, Gabby and her team collected 90 board games, ensuring that every family who attended the event in February left with one. The initiative, which began in November, was a resounding success. Beech Street’s Guidance Counselor, Kerry Crow, shared that students were thrilled to open their games immediately, reinforcing the power of simple activities in strengthening family bonds.

Gabby is currently planning 10 events along the East Coast under the Exhale umbrella, ranging from self-love classes to yoga sessions and dance conferences. She is passionate about expanding these initiatives to provide more resources, not only for dancers but also for families and children in need. Exhale’s mission remains clear: “We promote kids first, dancer second.”

Beyond large-scale events, Gabby’s daily work at Beech Street focuses on equipping students with the tools they need to manage their emotions. She teaches them techniques like deep breathing and effective communication, ensuring they understand that emotional responses are normal. “We aren’t robots—it’s okay to react,” Gabby says. “At Beech, we teach them to use their toolbox.”

Gabby also emphasizes the importance of guiding parents in navigating their children’s mental health challenges. “What do parents do when their child has a mental health issue?” she asks. “We want to help them know their options.” Her commitment to providing families with resources and support is evident in all aspects of her work.With her ongoing efforts, Gabby McNulty continues to make a lasting impact, one that bridges the gap between mental health advocacy, dance, and family engagement. Whether through Exhale, her work at Beech Street, or her larger community projects, Gabby is dedicated to ensuring that children and families have the resources they need to thrive.

Every year, high school students from across New Hampshire audition for prestigious state-wide music festivals, and this year was no exception. Continuing a tradition of musical excellence, 13 students from Manchester’s high schools have been selected to participate in these renowned festivals. Representing Central, Memorial, and West High Schools, these talented young musicians will showcase their skills at the NHMEA Jazz All-State Festival from February 6-8 in Derry and the NHMEA All-State Festival from April 2-4 in Concord. Read the Manchester School District’s announcement on this here: https://www.mansd.org/article/1981176 

Among these talented musicians is David Kulikovskiy, a junior who has earned a place in the NHMEA All-State Orchestra.

David, whose primary instrument is the violin, is also a student in the Video & Digital Media program at Manchester School of Technology (MST). He is considering Audio Engineering as a potential college major but remains passionate about performance. Reflecting on his All-State journey, David said, “In the future, I would like to be a performer. All-State is a step to that.”

Preparation for the All-State audition was no small feat. David developed a disciplined practice routine, listening to the audition music on repeat while following along with sheet music. He would slow down the recordings to play along at a comfortable pace, gradually increasing the speed as his confidence grew. He also credits his private lesson instructor for his success, along with his mom’s encouragement. “My mom kept on me to practice,” David shared. David also credits his music teacher at Memorial High School, Mrs. Jaques for her mentorship.

Outside of school, David is an active member of his church’s orchestra, which includes both adults and children. His musical journey began in third grade when he was drawn to the violin during an assembly introducing students to different instruments. Despite his older brother’s attempts to teach him piano, David found his passion in the strings.

When he’s not playing violin, David enjoys fitness and boxing, hobbies that balance his artistic pursuits. Looking ahead, David plans to re-audition during the festival with hopes of earning a higher seat placement. He continues to practice every day after school, working on scales and perfecting his technique.

David is excited to meet new friends and play alongside his peers at the NHMEA All-State Festival in April. For those inspired by his dedication, David offers this advice: “Don’t stop playing over the summer. Practice every day. Do your homework on time so you have time to practice.”

Congratulations to David Kulikovskiy and all of Manchester’s All-State musicians for their hard work and dedication to their craft!