Congratulations to the 2021 Plan With A Purpose Scholarship Recipients!

For the past four years, Pioneer Valley Financial Group has been awarding the Plan With A Purpose tri-town $1000 scholarship to three graduating seniors from Ludlow, Belchertown, and Wilbraham. The scholarships look to honor local graduating high school seniors, who are meaningfully planning a purposeful future leveraging their academic careers to make a difference in their community. This year, our recipients are Drew Woishnis from Ludlow High School, Ashley Messier from Belchertown High School, and Sydney Harrison from Minnechaug Regional High School.

Drew Woishnis served as a member of numerous groups, both at Ludlow High and in the community. Along with being a part of multiple sports teams, he also held the position of President of his school’s National Honor Society helping to organize events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities. While being an active leader at school, Drew also served his community, constantly finding ways to give back. He was a youth track coach, as well as a Veteran’s Park FUN run organizer and volunteer, suicide prevention awareness walk volunteer, and much more. In the Fall, Drew will be attending Springfield College and will be starting the Physician Assistant Program, intending to become a Physician’s Assistant.

During her time at Belchertown High, Ashley Messier was actively engaged in both her school and community. As a student, she was an active leader participating in many organizations, including Student Council, where she ran many volunteer activities for the community. She also played field hockey and was a part of the school’s Social Justice Book Club. Ashley also helped design and publish the high school’s first literary journals. She continued to leverage her academics and gave back to her community, by volunteering at the town’s local garden and local youth theater group. She has also been an artistic contributor to the Belchertown Justice Collaborative. Being inspired by her dad and his career as an engineer, Ashley hopes to spark the same curiosity and wonder in others. This Fall, she will be attending Smith College, with a major in Engineering with the goal of either becoming a teacher at a high school or university or stepping into the research field.

Sydney Harrison was an active leader across multiple sports teams and organizations, during her time at Minnechaug. Besides playing on several varsity teams, and being the varsity lacrosse team’s captain, she was also the manager of the varsity football and boys basketball teams. Sydney was part of the National Honor Society, co-president of her school’s Canine club, and a peer tutor. Sydney was very actively engaged in her community. She worked as an MRHS boy wrestling tournament volunteer and helped organize and run her school’s annual girls’ varsity food drive. During the pandemic, Sydney assisted in organizing a socially distant parade and gift baskets for the senior lacrosse girls in the Spring of 2020. This Fall, she will be attending Roanoke College to become a Physician’s Assistant.

Since opening PV Financial group, Edward Sokolowski, Joseph Leonczyk, and Charles Myers have committed to their mission of helping their clients and community live better. Living up to the mission, they have committed to giving back to the community, targeting their volunteer hours and charitable contributions towards organizations that support the development of youth and future leaders. The Plan With A Purpose Scholarship is just one way they have been able to uphold PV Financials’ mission.

If you would like to learn more about PV Financial Group or wish to locate and speak with an experienced advisor to help develop and cultivate your financial goals, please visit www.PV financial.com or call (413) 589-1500. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. PV Financial Group is located at 535 East Street, Ludlow, MA 01056.