Last week, the BrightBridge Foundation presented the inaugural Officer Paul Tracey Memorial Scholarships to two graduates of Waltham High School, honoring the legacy of Officer Paul Tracey and supporting students committed to serving their communities. The scholarship recipients are Samuel Rizza and Braeden Cunningham, both members of the Waltham High School Class of 2025.
Rizza is currently attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy and plans to continue a proud family tradition as a third-generation firefighter. Cunningham is enrolled at Merrimack College, where he is studying criminal justice with the goal of working in law enforcement. Each student received a $1,600 scholarship, a meaningful amount chosen to honor Officer Tracey’s badge number, 16. The awards were formally presented during a check ceremony held on March 13.
The scholarship was announced by BrightBridge Credit Union and the BrightBridge Foundation in 2025 to honor Officer Tracey’s legacy and support graduating Waltham High School seniors who intend to pursue a career in law enforcement or public safety. Officer Tracey’s wife, Kristin Tracey, shared that it is incredibly meaningful to see something positive emerge from such a tragic loss.
From left: BrightBridge Vice President of Business Development Sarita Ledani, Community Relations Officer Mike Davis, Samuel Rizza, Kristen Tracey, Braeden Cunningham, Waltham Branch Manager Stepan Chiloyan and Joan Kuhn, BrightBridge Board of Directors member and Chair of the BrightBridge Foundation.
“It’s comforting to have something good come from something so difficult,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful to BrightBridge for establishing and funding this scholarship. It means so much to our family to know that Paul’s memory will continue to live on by helping young people pursue careers dedicated to serving others.”
Established in 2011, the BrightBridge Foundation is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the credit union that supports initiatives focused on financial wellness, financial literacy and community engagement. The Foundation serves as a natural extension of BrightBridge Credit Union’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the communities it serves through education, charitable giving and volunteerism.
“Paul was both a celebrated member of the Waltham community and a friend to many BrightBridge team members, and his dedication to protecting and serving the community made a lasting impact,” said Joan Kuhn, Chair of the BrightBridge Foundation. “We are honored to support students like Samuel and Braeden who share that same commitment to making a difference.”
