By Geena Monahan–For the North Star Reporter
Close to 100 people came together at Plainridge Park Casino on March 23, to celebrate this year’s recipients at the North Attleborough/Plainville Rotary Club’s 39th annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet.
The five award recipients are as follows – Jamie O’Hanlon, Outstanding Citizen; Faith Wilder, Outstanding Youth; Nicole Pelletier, Outstanding Public Employee; Todd Vigorito, Outstanding Educator; and Julie Holt, Outstanding Senior.
John Barone, club sergeant-at-arms and chaplain, spoke highly of this year’s nominees and how they fulfill Rotary’s principal motto of “Service above self.”
“You citizens are the definition of outstanding,” said Barone. “People are noticing every day how you place service to your community above self and this is why tonight is all about you.”
Julie Holt — Outstanding Senior
Julie Holt was the first of the night to accept her award for Outstanding Senior, joined by her five grandchildren. Rotary Club President Nicholas Estrella welcomed Holt to the stage, calling her an “exceptional public servant” and remarking on how her selflessness has contributed to the strength and success of the community.
For over 20 years, Holt has dedicated herself to Meals on Wheels, which brings healthy meals and friendly visits to senior citizens. Estrella noted that this is more than food delivery; it also serves as a wellness check and he recounted a time when one of Holt’s deliveries resulted in a 911 call that saved a person’s life.
Holt also spent years volunteering at the Literacy Center in Attleboro as an English tutor. She has served on the Council on Aging’s board for 12 years, six as its chairperson.
“Her work embodies the spirit of service and community engagement, inspiring those around her to give back and make a difference,” said Estrella.
Holt kept her acceptance speech short and sweet, thanking the board members, staff and family.
When asked about what this award means to her, Holt said “It’s very nice, but there’s a lot of other people who could qualify to get it, too. There’s a lot of people that do so much for the area. We have a great staff up at the Senior Center.”
Faith Wilder — Outstanding Youth
Faith Wilder was up next, accepting her Outstanding Youth award for her contributions to North Attleborough as a member of its Cultural Council. Wilder is a senior at North Attleborough High School and recent winner of two Gold Awards from the Scholastic Art Awards for her work, which will be on display at Tufts University’s Breed Memorial Hall.
Sandy Vandette, who serves on the Rotary Club’s Board of Directors, recounted the story of Wilder’s eight-day hospital stay at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in 2020 that served as the impetus for her public service. The children in the hospital were given flashlights and encouraged to shine them out their windows at night as a reminder that they were not alone. This small symbol of hope and belonging is what inspired Wilder to become more involved in promoting the arts and humanities in her hometown.
“Since then, Faith has made it her mission to spread light throughout her community,” said Vandette. “Faith’s passion is expressing herself through art and raising money to support programs, so other young people may have the same opportunity to develop their artistic talents.”
In her acceptance speech, Wilder thanked her family for supporting her dreams, her friends for their bravery in doing what’s right and her teachers for their endless encouragement.
“Lastly, I’d like to thank the Cultural Council,” said Wilder. “Whether approving grants, designing a coloring book or organizing town events, I’m beyond grateful for the experience I’ve gained. Working alongside you all has been a blessing, and I’m so fortunate to be a voice within our community.”
In her spare time, Wilder enjoys painting, running, reading and spending time with friends. Wilder has been accepted to various colleges with the goal of studying art and science, but hasn’t made her final decision just yet.
“I’m in shock and I feel really honored,” said Wilder, when asked how she felt about receiving this award.
Todd Vigorito – Outstanding Educator
Third to the podium was Vigorito, a seventh-grade world geography teacher at the North Attleborough Middle School for over 29 years. Sean Carroll, president-elect of the Rotary Club, presented Vigorito with the Outstanding Educator award. According to Carroll, this is the first time he has ever seen an entire department come together to nominate one teacher.
“Tonight, we recognize an individual whose passion for education and dedication to shaping young minds has made a profound impact on our community,” said Carroll. “This individual has gone above and beyond, inspiring students, supporting colleagues and leaving a lasting legacy of positive change in the classroom for the past 29 years.
When asked about the challenges of being an educator, Vigorito said “To be honest, there is really nothing I would do any differently. I signed a contract to teach. I just want to do what I can, all at 100%. There are no off-days as a teacher. The kids are too important.”
In his acceptance speech, Vigorito brought up the joys of growing up in North Attleborough as one of six boys. He worked at his father’s clothing store, M.A. Vigorito & Sons, in downtown North Attleborough, reminiscing on the valuable lessons it taught him in developing relationships with customers over the years. Vigorito’s initial plan was to teach high school history, but three days before the start of a new school year he was offered a position to teach geography to middle schoolers and never looked back.
“I’ve never had a bad day at North Attleborough Middle School,” said Vigorito. “It’s a special place with a great and caring staff. There are plenty of other teachers who are sitting here tonight who are every bit as deserving, or more deserving, as I am of this award.”
Nicole Pelletier – Outstanding Public Employee
James Floyd, Plainville Chief of Police, presented Pelletier with the Outstanding Public Employee award. Pelletier worked as a registered nurse for years, specializing in mental health and substance abuse treatment. In 2018, Pelletier took a role that aligned with her passion for public service, joining the North Attleborough’s Veterans’ Office as the agent administrative assistant.
“Nicole’s journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication to public service,” said Floyd. “She serves veterans in her community with embodied compassion, resilience and a steadfast commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Pelletier’s duties range from managing annuities and benefits for widows and Gold Star families to coordinating military honors for funeral services and providing guidance and support to grieving families. She serves as the first point of contact for veterans who need assistance with appointments, accessing services, housing support and medical care. Floyd called her knowledge of the people she serves “encyclopedic” and praised her warm demeanor and professionalism.
Pelletier was joined by her son Wyatt on stage to accept her award. After the banquet, Pelletier spoke with the North Star Reporter to express her humble appreciation for the recognition.
“I love my job, and I enjoy working with everyone in each of the three towns that are part of my district,” said Pelletier. “I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of amazing people and veterans along the way.”
Jamie O’Hanlon – Outstanding Citizen
Over 14 years ago, O’Hanlon’s life was forever changed when her daughter, Scarlett, was born with a rare cardiac defect that required life-saving surgery. As her daughter recovered, O’Hanlon was inspired to start a nonprofit, Sisters at Heart, with her two friends, Lisa Deck and Caitlan Kane.
Together, they’ve raised over $500,000 to fund heart and stroke research projects, provide financial assistance to families dealing with health issues, and award scholarships to students impacted by heart disease or stroke. Most recently, the organization placed 18 AED devices at parks and recreational areas in North Attleborough, Attleboro and Norton.
Rotary Board of Directors member Domenic Longobardi presented O’Hanlon with her Outstanding Citizen award and spoke to the passion she has for family and helping the community.
“When you talk to Jamie about her nonprofit and her children and family, she just lights up,” said Longobardi. “She has done an outstanding job with her organization; she has a list of communities she wants to go to next. She’s not done; she is going to keep marching forward every day.”
Jamie was joined onstage with three of her five daughters, and expressed a “deep gratitude and humility” for this award, which she wants to share with her Sisters at Heart co-founders. O’Hanlon thanked her supporters for their generosity that makes their work possible, her family for their unwavering support and a special thanks to North Attleborough Firefighter Rich Burns for the time and energy he has donated to the cause.
“Scarlett’s strength and resilience have been my inspiration every single day,” said O’Hanlon. “As she continues her fight, I pour myself even more into this work. So, Scarlett, this award is for you.”