​2025 Ben Kessel Memorial Scholarship Recipients (Natick High School)

Sammy Rennie

Sammy Rennie graduated from Natick High School in the Class of 2025. They plan to major in chemistry and plant biology at the University of Vermont, Patrick Leahy Honors College. In their free time, they love hiking, canoeing, foraging, and documenting plants they find. In addition, they love to learn! They are very passionate about chemistry and biology. They have been taking Organic Chemistry I & II this year at Mass Bay Community College, and it has been the most amazing experience. They also love reading about ecology and symbiotic relationships. Their favorites are plant galls made by wasps. Learning about chemistry and biology has shown them how detrimental invasive plants, ozone depletion, and lack of regulation of harmful chemicals can be to the environment. They love nature and hope to put their knowledge of chemistry and biology to work to help protect our world. They are excited to continue their learning journey at UVM, and they are  grateful for the Ben Kessel Memorial Scholarship for helping them do so!

Mia Barron

Mia Barron is a 2025 graduate of Natick High School and will be continuing her education at the University of Vermont in Forestry and Wildlife, and Fisheries Biology. Mia was inspired by Michael Reynolds and his work building Earthships and is now dreaming of pursuing a life dedicated to helping our planet to the best of her ability. She found a love of nature through camping, hiking, and traveling with her family. Mia also loves to play guitar, pole vault and craft in her free time. She is very appreciative of the Ben Kessel scholarship and hopes to be able to take inspiration from Ben, finding similar values throughout her life.

Rex Caruso

Rex Caruso is a member of the Natick High School Class of 2025. They plan to attend the University of Massachusetts-Amherst to study Biomedical Engineering. Their love for sustainability and ecosystem preservation stems from hiking on the Appalachian trail and the 4000+ foot peaks of the White Mountains with their mom. To “leave no trace” was not just an on-trail rule reserved for the backcountry, but something that they carried with them no matter where they went. They are pretty sure their hiking boots have followed them to every country they’ve been to, and their love for nature will never stop inspiring them to care about environmental sustainability. They strive to make a difference to protect the wildlife of where they grew up - or anywhere in the world, for that matter. Other than hiking, they love to study, sing, and look for cool rocks on the beach or on riverbeds.  They are excited to start this new time in their life, and they are beyond grateful to be a Ben Kessel Memorial Scholarship recipient and continue to expand their learning and broaden their horizons this fall.

Marin Gitlin

Marin Gitlin is a 2025 graduate from Natick High School. She will be attending Tufts University in the fall. She is passionate about using technology to solve real world problems, especially those that impact both people and the planet. Being a part of the Equity Collaborative, she has promoted environmental change by giving a presentation to over 100 students about climate change, focusing on everyday actions that can reduce waste and protect the environment. These experiences showed her how small, thoughtful steps can lead to meaningful change when we act with both equity and sustainability in mind. 

Marin also taught a digital skills program for seniors in her community, helping them learn to use social media and stay connected with loved ones. As a representative for CyberAware, she furthered this initiative by empowering seniors to recognize and avoid digital scams, helping protect their online safety and privacy.

Looking ahead, Marin hopes to continue exploring ways to apply creative problem solving to the most pressing challenges we face. She is grateful for the Ben Kessel Scholarship!

Sarah Golden

Sarah Golden graduated from Natick High School in 2025. Next year she will be attending Georgetown University for environment and sustainability.  She is passionate about environmental issues concerning climate change and conservation specifically, and she has always had a love for nature. Throughout her childhood, she was always outside, whether it was playing sports or just exploring with her neighbors in the local town forest. Her love and appreciation for nature has only grown as she has gotten older. Outside of school, she ran track and cross country and was captain for all seasons. She also does many crafts, such as sewing, crocheting, and making jewelry in her free time. She loves spending time outside, especially around spring and summertime, and will often do these activities outside with her friends. She is grateful for the Ben Kessel scholarship and she plans to pursue her love and care for the environment in her future with it.