Swampscott resident, St. Mary's honor former Archdiocese secretary of education

St. Mary’s High School honored Dr. Mary Grassa O’Neill, the former Archdiocese of Boston secretary of education, with the Cardinal Cushing Award at a reception at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem Nov. 20. The award was presented by event chair and St. Mary’s benefactor William Mosakowski of Swampscott.

In her role at the Archdiocese, O’Neill oversaw 120 schools and 42,000 students. She also had a front-row seat for the transformation that has occurred at St. Mary’s, a Catholic, college-preparatory school for students in grades 6-12. “The turnaround at St. Mary’s has been amazing,” said O’Neill, who is on the faculty at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “There is an energy and spirit there that is contagious.”

In addition to presenting O’Neill with the Cushing Award, St. Mary’s Headmistress Grace Cotter Regan and Mosakowski announced the formation of a scholarship in her honor to be given to a Marian Division grade 8 student who will be attending St. Mary’s High School.

The Cushing Award is presented annually to champions of Catholic education whose personal and professional life reflect the mission and values of St. Mary’s.