The Red Sox Nation  

The Red Sox Nation Podcast has been published on Tuesday due to the host traveling to Fenway Park. Tony Cincotta is heading to check out Bartolo Colon on Wednesday evening. I missed Curt Schilling and his off the wall comments. So I went and got Curt taking on the media with WEEI in Boston. Curt hurry back, Red Sox Nation misses the roar.

                                                       Red Sox Press Release 

Red Sox Scholars class of 2008 to be introduced at Fenway Park on Sunday 25 Boston Public School rising sixth graders to receive college scholarships, mentoring from the Red Sox Foundation; program presented by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

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BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox will introduce the Red Sox Scholars Class of 2008 in an on-field ceremony with Red Sox players at Fenway Park prior to the Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners game on Sunday, June 8th. The 25 Red Sox Scholars, who will enter sixth grade in the fall, are all academically talented, financially challenged middle school students in the Boston Public Schools. The program is the educational cornerstone of the Red Sox Foundation, the team charity of the Boston Red Sox, and is presented by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the Official Hospital of the Boston Red Sox. Each of the 25 Scholars will receive a $10,000 college scholarship, along with access to tutoring and mentoring from Red Sox Foundation staff members and other after school enrichment activities.

The Red Sox Scholars program was inaugurated in 2003 and now includes 150 Boston Public School students in seven class years, with the first class entering 11th grade in the fall. The Scholarship program is open to all 5th grade students in the Boston Public School system. Each year, the Scholars are chosen by a panel represented by the Boston Red Sox, Red Sox Foundation, BIDMC, Boston Public Schools and a new sponsor this year, the Highland Street Foundation, which supports educational programs serving disadvantaged and under-served children in Massachusetts.

"The Red Sox are proud to work with Mayor Menino and Superintendent Carol Johnson to help open the doors of higher education to talented students in Boston's public schools," said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. "The Red Sox Scholars represent a bright beacon of hope for the future of our community and we are honored to join the Red Sox Foundation and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in introducing this year's new class of Scholars to fans across Red Sox Nation."

In a pre-game ceremony slated to begin at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, each scholar will be escorted to the baseline by a Red Sox player and health professionals from BIDMC in the special pre-game ceremony. Each year, BIDMC provides 25 volunteers to serve as "Medical Champions" for the Scholars. These generous health care professionals and medical administrative personnel help introduce the youngsters to possible health professions and serve as hosts of a "Shadow Day" at BIDMC during the Scholars' 6th grade year.

"Each year we are so proud to work with this wonderful group of people on such an innovative program with students from the Boston Public Schools," said Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center President/CEO Paul Levy. "It reflects our commitment to the community along with our partners at the Boston Red Sox."

The first five classes of Red Sox scholars will enter seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades in the fall. They will participate in Sunday's pre-game ceremony to help welcome this year's class to the Red Sox Scholar program. Names of all 150 Red Sox Scholars, including the 25 new Red Sox Scholars, along with a brief biographical sketch of each member of the Class of 2008, are attached.

Additional support for the Red Sox Scholars program comes from the Highland Street Foundation (HSF), and Microsoft. In addition to the scholarships, payable directly to the accredited college after the Scholar successfully completes high school and enrolls in college, the Red Sox Foundation provides educational and social activities for the children and mentoring and academic tutoring. The scholarships are conditioned on each Red Sox Scholar maintaining good citizenship throughout their educational career.

"The Highland Street Foundation is very excited to partner with the Red Sox in such a worthy cause," said HSF Trustee Holly McGrath. "The scholars are now part of a very special family where they will have continued educational support and the comfort in knowing that financial assistance is waiting for them. We believe in the Class of 2008 and look forward to seeing them succeed!"

About the Red Sox Foundation: The official team charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Red Sox Foundation is committed to using the power of the Red Sox fan base to improve the health, educational, and recreational opportunities for children and families in New England, and address social issues that affect the quality of life in urban neighborhoods. A registered 501c3 nonprofit, the Red Sox Foundation was created in 2002, immediately after the group led by Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino and the team's partners purchased the Red Sox. Over the past five years, the Red Sox Foundation has donated more than $25 million to nonprofit programs, making it the largest professional sports foundation in New England and one of the largest in Major League Baseball. The Executive Director of the Red Sox Foundation is Red Sox Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Meg Vaillancourt.