2025 Honorees of the Sharon M. Pollard Preservation Award, Friends of the Festival Award, and Scholarship Winner
The Salem Historic Society Honored with the Sharon M. Pollard Preservation Award
The Preservation Award was established by the Festival Board in 2009 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to historic preservation and restoration. It was named in honor of Festival Founder and Past President Sharon M. Pollard in 2017.
The Methuen Exchange Club and the Irish Cottage Honored with Friends of the Festival Award
First presented during the Festival’s 20th Emerald Anniversary in 2013, the Special Friend of the Festival Award was established to recognize an individual, business, or organization that had gone above and beyond to contribute to the success and growth of the Festival of Trees over several years.
As a founding member of the Methuen Festival of Trees, this year we awarded the Friend of the Festival Award to the Methuen Exchange Club.
Our second honoree was the Irish Cottage. Having created trees for the festival for over 10 years, supported our Taste of The Festival, and more recently hosted our Annual Volunteer Breakfast, the Irish Cottage was truly deserving of this award.
Samantha Carter Awarded Festival of Trees Scholarship
Samantha Carter, a student at Georgetown High School and attending Emerson College in the fall, was honored with honored with a $1,000 scholarship for academic excellence and community involvement.
To be eligible for a Festival of Trees scholarship, applicants had to: be high school seniors residing in the Merrimack Valley; submit a strong and compelling essay; demonstrate excellence in activities, community service, grades, and academics; and show how financial need. Preference is given to students pursuing studies in historic preservation or related fields and to those who have volunteered at the Festival.
