Goddard Systems Presents 16th Annual Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship to Christopher McDevitt from Matthews, NC

Goddard School graduate awarded $10,000 to help pursue degrees in civil engineering, Spanish and geology

Goddard Systems, LLC, manager of The Goddard School^® franchise system, the nation’s leading premium early childhood education provider, is proud to honor Christopher McDevitt as the 2024 Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship winner. This $10,000 scholarship has been granted annually over the past 16 years to a graduating high school senior who successfully completed a Goddard School pre-k or kindergarten program. The recipient must demonstrate the dedication, resilience and community spirit that epitomized Anthony A. Martino, the founder of The Goddard School franchise system. A Matthews, NC, native, McDevitt is a 2011 pre-k graduate of The Goddard School of Matthews.

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Christopher McDevitt at his high school graduation. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Christopher’s devotion to not just academics, but also giving back to his community, clearly distinguished him among all of the impressive applications we received, and we couldn’t be more excited to recognize him as the 2024 Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship recipient,” said Dennis R. Maple, chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems. “It has been an honor for The Goddard School to be a part of Christopher’s educational journey, and we look forward to seeing him continue to thrive both in and out of the classroom.”

McDevitt, an incoming freshman at North Carolina State University, is heavily involved in community service. Throughout high school, he volunteered at a local food pantry as well as his local library. Additionally, leveraging his experience as a 4-year varsity swimmer, McDevitt served as an assistant swimming coach and instructor for young children.

“The foundation that was set for me at The Goddard School encouraged me to genuinely enjoy learning and find out how the world works, because we were always taught to be curious,” said McDevitt. “The experience fundamentally changed me as a person, allowing me to use this curiosity to explore various areas of interest over the course of my academic career. Goddard also taught me the importance of kindness, which helped me form friendships that began in preschool that I still cherish to this day, and played a huge role in my various community service projects.”

McDevitt is a 2024 graduate of David W. Butler High School in Matthews. In addition to his volunteer work, he was Vice President of the National Honor Society, Vice President of the Key Club and a member of the National Technical Honor Society. Furthermore, he was a founding member of the Quill & Scroll Honor Society, which recognizes student initiative and achievement in scholastic journalism. After college, McDevitt plans to pursue a career in mining engineering.

“When children are nurtured in a safe environment that fosters curiosity, creativity and confidence, they develop the skills and character necessary to thrive academically and socially throughout their lives – just like Christopher,” said David Darmstaedtr, owner of The Goddard School of Matthews.

For more information about the Goddard School and the Anthony A. Martino Memorial Scholarship, please visit GoddardSchool.com.

ABOUT THE GODDARD SCHOOL^®

Learning for fun. Learning for life.^®

For 36 years, The Goddard School has nurtured the extraordinary in every child, providing a warm, caring and safe environment that supports their individual social, emotional and academic development, appreciates their unique talents and personalities, and fosters skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.

The Goddard School’s exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning™, embraces how children learn best—through their innate curiosity—because research confirms that when wonder leads, learning follows. Wonder of Learning is backed by expert knowledge, data-driven insight and unwavering compassion for growing minds, encouraging children to explore their curiosities and interests as they discover the joy—and wonder—of learning.

The Goddard School serves almost 100,000 students from six weeks to six years old in 37 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more about The Goddard School, please visit GoddardSchool.com.

ABOUT GODDARD SYSTEMS, LLC

Established in 1988, Goddard Systems, LLC, is the manager of The Goddard School^® franchise system. The Goddard School is the acknowledged leader in the premium early childcare and education market segment. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Goddard Systems has been consistently named one of the leading franchises in the United States by Entrepreneur (#68 in the 2024 Franchise 500) and one of the top franchise systems in worldwide sales by Franchise Times (#70 in the 2023 Top 400). Additionally, Goddard Systems is included in Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises, a recognition of the best franchise opportunities based solely on ratings and reviews provided directly by franchise owners. Goddard Systems currently licenses more than 630 Goddard School franchises that serve almost 100,000 students in 37 states and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit GoddardSchoolFranchise.com.

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