Three women from Haverhill and two each from North Andover and Andover were honored June 24 as 2026 Commonwealth Heroines.
Dianne Connolly, Devan M. Ferreira and Erin Padilla from Haverhill and Kim Hearst and Christina A. Minicucci from North Andover were recognized by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. They are among 145 women from across the state who will be honored at the 23rd Annual Commonwealth Awards Ceremony at the Massachusetts Statehouse for often-unrecognized service to their communities.
Members of the state legislature were invited to nominate one woman from their districts.
Nominated by Rep. Ryan M. Hamilton, Connolly recently retired from Haverhill Public Schools as the Title 1 and community outreach director. She is being honored for her more than 26 years of dedication to the school system and its students. Ferreira, who represents Ward 3 on the Haverhill City Council, was nominated by Sen. Pavel M. Payano. She is the founder and lead organizer of the Winter Warming Center at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Haverhill, which provides overnight shelter for the unhoused during the coldest winter nights. Garden manager at Russell Orchards in Ipswich, Ferreira also has taken a leadership role in advocating for agricultural, housing and environmental issues. Padilla, who was nominated by Rep. Andy X. Vargas, is the director of Creative Haverhill. She is being honored for her efforts to transform the old Cogswell School into an arts hub and for championing arts and cultural programing throughout the city.
Hearst was nominated by Rep. Adrianne P. Ramos for her volunteer service to several nonprofits and school projects in North Andover. She served as co-president of the North Andover High School Parent Advisory Council, as treasurer for the North Andover Music Associates and volunteered with the high school’s theater guild. She currently works as the financial coordinator for Neighbors in Need in Lawrence. Minicucci served two terms in the Massachusetts Legislature as representative for the 14th Essex District and currently works as the director of development at Merrimack Valley Transit Authority. She is currently on the board of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council. She was nominated by Sen. Barry R. Finegold.
In addition, Bonnie Zahorik of Andover, nominated by Rep. Tram T. Nguyen, and Shannon Scully, Andover, nominated by state Rep. Frank A. Moran, were honored as Commonwealth Heroines.
The awards ceremony and reception took place in Gardner Auditorium in the statehouse. Commission Chair Mary-dith Tuitt made opening remarks and served as master of ceremonies.