BRAINTREE, MA, ISSUED March 29, 2010...Archbishop Williams High School, a leading Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school located in Braintree, proudly announces that senior Brian Kimball, son of Gary and Christine Kimball of Plymouth has been awarded a four-year full-tuition Cardinal Medeiros Scholarship from Boston University.

Kimball is one of a dozen other students from Boston-area Archdiocesan high schools to receive a Cardinal Medeiros Scholarship; the scholarships will be presented to the recipients by his Eminence Sean Cardinal O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, and Boston University President Robert A. Brown at a ceremony this spring.

Medeiros Scholarships are granted to students on the basis of their academic achievements, demonstrated leadership skills, and contributions to their schools and communities.

Kimball is a recognized leader at AWHS as President of the school's National Honor Society and Manager of the football and baseball teams.  He is a member of the Theater Ensemble, the Math Team, the Mock Trial Club and the Admissions Council.  He is also a four-year member of the baseball team.

"It is a tremendous honor to be granted a Cardinal Medeiros Scholarship," said Kimball.  "I am blessed and humbled by it; I hope I can make everyone in my life proud and do wonderful things with this scholarship."

"The entire community at Archbishop Williams applauds Brian as a recipient of this most prestigious scholarship," said Dr. Carmen Mariano, President of AWHS.  "We couldn't be more proud of his achievements and know that his future will be magnificent in many ways."

Since the program’s inception in 1986, Boston University’s commitment to the Cardinal Medeiros Scholarship Program is substantial. The students recently honored will receive scholarships valued at over $1.6 million. By the time these students graduate, the University will have enrolled a total of 327 scholars, representing a contribution of nearly $31 million from Boston University to the Greater Boston area and the students of the Archdiocese.

Some of the noteworthy accomplishments of the Medeiros Scholars include holding leadership positions in the National Honor Society, as well as serving as members of student governments and campus ministries. Recipients also actively participate in community service, academic extracurricular activities as well as athletic teams, and have received many awards in recognition of their accomplishments.

Humberto Sousa Cardinal Medeiros was appointed Archbishop of Boston in September 1970, and less than three years later, he was named a cardinal. A native of the Azores, he emigrated as a child with his family to Fall River, Mass. While serving as Bishop of Brownsville, Texas, Medeiros’ work on behalf of migrant workers came to the attention of former BU President and native Texan John Silber, who became well acquainted with the cardinal during their mutual spans as leaders of Boston institutions. Soon after Cardinal Medeiros died in 1983, Silber recommended to the BU Trustees that the scholarship program be named in the late cardinal’s honor. Medeiros received an honorary degree from Boston University in 1982.