Joan Mikula, former Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DPH), received an honorary degree and delivered the keynote address at the commencement ceremony of William James College on June 11. In her 35-year career at DPH, she shifted emphasis from inpatient to community care, developed frameworks for serving young adults, initiated a Race/Ethnicity and Inclusion agenda, and enhanced the system’s competencies in treating individuals with co-occurring conditions. After retiring in 2020, she became an active volunteer supporting Newton Wellesley Hospital’s Heart, Health, and Wellness Council and currently consults with the Massachusetts Association of Mental Health’s Pediatric Behavioral Health Urgent Care Project.
Angela Nie, a junior at Newton North High School, won the Massachusetts’ Fourth District’s annual congressional art competition with her painting, “Anticipation,” which was selected from more than 60 pieces of local artwork. It will be featured for one year in the U.S. Capitol building alongside other Congressional Art Competition winners from across the country.
The Charles River Regional Chamber awards scholarships to high-school seniors that have compelling stories demonstrating that the scholarship would make a meaningful impact in each recipient’s life. This year the Chamber awarded scholarships to two 2023 graduates of Newton South High School who will be attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the fall:
Gabriela Dos Anjos captained the basketball and lacrosse teams and took part in a program, One Night Out, where she volunteered to spend time with special needs kids while their parents got a break. One of her passions is children, which she finds endlessly, entertaining, and highly intelligent,” said her teacher and mentor, Elizabeth Wachman.
Daniela Alejandra Viloria Moreno assisted attorneys at SB Law PLLC with the registration process for special immigrant juvenile status for minors to obtain legal status in the U.S. She “has taken the time to build rapport with clients, connect them with social services when needed, while also ensuring their immigration case moves forward efficiently,” said Stephanie Bonilla, the owner of the firm.
Thomas Walsworth recently graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Jillian Reingold was named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester at Quinnipiac University.