POSSE Winner: Eric Tran

Lesley Ta

Snowboarding, Red Cross of Mass Bay, sleepless nights -and a full four year scholarship to Bucknell University located in Pennsylvania. Malden High School Senior Eric Tran is one of the only two recipients of the Posse Scholarship in MHS.

A graduate of Beebe Middle School, and a self-proclaimed “band geek”, Tran has a passion for the flute and piccolo since his start in the fourth grade. “Throughout the years, the label stuck, and I never stopped playing music to this day. I used to spend hours upon no end, practicing because I liked it, not because I had to,” reminisced Tran. As a junior he was Concert Band Treasurer, now recently promoted Concert Band President. Aside from school, Tran competed and won all levels of Kung Fu championships at the Wah Lum Tai Chi Academy, starting his reign in 2004.

As much of his interests are influenced by his upbringing, Tran is also very involved in volunteering, particullary through the Red Cross events that his aunt, whom was the Director of Volunteer Resources, brought him along to. “When I was younger, these volunteer activities were no more than chances to have fun, but as I grew older I found each experience more meaningful as I found out more about the impact it created,” said Tran. As President of the Red Cross Club this year, Tran certainly has made his mark, following in his aunt’s footsteps.

For the Chemistry and Biology Bunker Hill Courses taught at MHS, Tran is their lab technician, tending to the lab preparations and inventory of these classes. Outside of school, Tran also works as a math and reading tutor for Kumon, a program that assists children from preschool to twelfth grade in enhancing their educational skills.

In 2009, Tran’s sister, Stephanie Tran, was also the recipient of a Posse Scholarship for Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. ”He has a drive that I believe will allow him to succeed at whatever he does. I could not be more excited for him to join this network of amazing people, and start the next chapter of his life. The family and I are all very proud of him!” she stated.

“I was at the end of my ice cream at Jay’s ice cream when my phone lit up with a random number… my heart skipped a beat,” reveals Tran,  about receiving the news of his accomplishment. “I picked up and ran outside to blasting music, and I had to run so I could hear them on the phone,” he continues, “They delivered the amazing news, and offered me the scholarship– I was jumping in screaming in the parking lot, so much so, I neglected to listen to what they were saying on the phone.“