Mariel Ogle, a first-year student at UMass Amherst pursuing degrees in Linguistics and Biology, was the Carol Pizzi scholarship award recipient for 2025. In recognition of her exceptional academic performance, leadership, and genuine commitment to building stronger communities, the Franklin Democratic Town Committee was proud to select Mariel as this year’s winner.

A graduate of Franklin High School, Ogle distinguished herself through both academic excellence and deep extracurricular involvement. Her high school years were marked by meaningful contributions across a variety of honor societies, arts programs, and civic leadership initiatives.

Ogle’s dedication to service and collective empowerment was reflected in her essay:

“According to Google, the definition of a citizen is simply ‘the inhabitant of a particular town or city.’ But this definition does not take into account the true significance of citizenship in a community and the true impact that a strong sense of citizenship can bring. When people of a community feel a strong sense of citizenship and civic responsibility, it allows them to forge a community where others are uplifted, and individual adversity becomes that of the collective. Simply put, being a true citizen means being an active part of a community.”

Each year, the Franklin Democratic Town Committee awards a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving High School senior who has committed to attend college in the fall. The scholarship is funded annually from fundraising activities (such as the 4th of July concessions booth that the local Dems run). 

The Carol A. Pizzi scholarship is named after beloved Franklin resident Carol A. (O’Connor) Pizzi, who passed away in 2010. To learn more and/or contribute, please visit www.franklindemocrats.com.

For more information on the scholarship, students should inquire with their high school guidance office.