East Providence, Rhode Island Grad Creates Scholarship for Young Women

How many of you have fond memories from you high school days? Have you ever thought of giving back? One East Providence grad is doing just that with her new scholarship initiative and before you ask, no, it's not me.

Paige Messier, an EPHS Class of 2020 grad, wanted to create a scholarship to "empower and support young women in East Providence who show leadership, passion, and a drive to break barriers in their communities."

Though our paths have never crossed, I quickly discovered Miss Messier and I have a similar backgrounds; both Townies (the EPHS mascot) and muti-sport athletes during our time there. Messier played volleyball and softball, while I played soccer, basketball and softball.

We also share a former employer, WPRI. As host of their morning show, The Rhode Show, for 12 years, I just missed Messier serving as a sports reporter for the television station before she moved on to work with the Patriot League.

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"I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges and rewards of navigating male-dominated industries. I know how important it is for women to have a platform where they can thrive, share their stories, and push the boundaries of what’s possible," Messier wrote.

The young reporter is now giving back to her community with the Changing the Game scholarship.

"It’s with great pride that I now have the opportunity to give back in a way that directly impacts young women from our area," Messier said.

We reached out to East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva, who acknowledged Messier's recent efforts.

"It brings me great pride to see a young lady like Paige Messier who came up through the East Providence School system and is leading a successful professional career in sports journalism, who also did very well as a candidate for Miss Rhode Island, and seeing her transfer her personal experiences and try to forge a path for other young woman looking to break into traditionally male-dominated professions," DaSilva said. "It makes me feel very proud of both this young lady and our community."

The scholarship will be awarded to a young woman from East Providence who "is ready to challenge the status quo and pursue her dreams with determination and confidence" Messier wrote.

"As someone who benefited from scholarships during my own education, I know just how pivotal these opportunities can be," she wrote. "They allowed me to focus on my education and pursue my passion for sports journalism, and now I’m excited to pay it forward by helping young women in our community follow their own dreams."

To donate to the scholarship, checks can be sent to P.O. Box 154438 East Providence, RI 02915. Check should be made out to the Scholarship Foundation of East Providence with "Changing the Game Scholarship" in the memo.