Hopkinton High School graduate Alexander Matsoukas was named a winner of a college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. Matsoukas plans to study computer engineering at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham.

Matsoukas joins classmates Matvey Ortyashov (Boston University) and Grace Ye (Tufts), who previously were announced as winners of National Merit Scholarships.

These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

Houley AMSA valedictorian

Hopkinton resident John Houley was valedictorian of the Class of 2020 at Advanced Math & Science Academy (AMSA) in Marlborough. Houley is set to attend Boston College this fall.
AMSA scheduled in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies on July 19 at ForeKicks in Marlborough.

Locals shine at Worcester Academy

Worcester Academy recently announced its honor roll and headmaster’s list for the second semester, and a number of Hopkinton residents were recognized.

Seniors Aidan Busconi and Deen Muttakin, junior Emma Potas and freshman Ally Gray received first honors. Seniors Lily Bradway, Adara Groman, Rohan Krishnan, Tingyu Liang, Michael Rabinovich, Angela Scumaci and Carlin Stewart and juniors Lauren Gray and Yixin Huang were named to the headmaster’s list.

Hwang earns Berklee summer scholarship


Berklee College of Music awarded City Music Summer Scholarships to 60 outstanding young musicians from the United States and Canada, and one of the recipients is Hopkinton resident Ryan Hwang.

The students, who must be nominated by a Berklee City Music full-member site, have received full-tuition scholarships valued at $4,345 to Berklee’s Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive program, taking place virtually from July 11 through Aug. 14. Five-Week is one of the world’s most comprehensive summer performance programs, providing students with one-on-one instruction from Berklee faculty and special guests, including Esperanza Spalding, Jacob Collier, Terri Lyne Carrington and Victor Wooten, among others.
Hwang, a drummer, attended the Berklee City Music Preparatory Academy for four years. He is studying drums at Five-Week.

“During my time at Prep Academy I benefited greatly from the program,” Hwang said. “It was a wonderful experience that improved many different areas of my musicianship, from instrumental skills to technical production. I can’t wait for virtual Five-Week.”