Debora Trindade, center, had her name added to the Memorial School Plaque for 2025. The annual tradition recognizes contributions to the Town of Medway or Medway Public Schools. (Photo Courtesy Medway Public Schools)
MEDWAY — The names of two Medway community members are now etched in metal as part of the Memorial School Plaque.
Former School Committee chairperson Debora Trindade and parent volunteer Angelica Crosby were each recognized for their impact on the town and school community.
The Award
The addition of names to the Memorial School Plaque is an annual tradition for Medway Public Schools.
According to School Committee policy, candidates for inclusion on the Memorial School Plaque must have made a significant or memorable contribution to the Town of Medway or Medway Public Schools. The nominees need to show, through their service, volunteerism or dedication, that they have made life in Medway better for those who come after them.
“The long-standing tradition of the Memorial Plaque and its accompanying ceremony is one of the most meaningful moments of the year, as it reflects Medway’s deep commitment to service, inclusion, and community,” said Burke-Memorial Elementary School Principal John Kelley. “Each year, we have the privilege of adding new names to the plaque — individuals whose actions and leadership have made a lasting impact on others. This tradition honors the generosity, dedication, and quiet leadership that strengthen our community and remind us that Medway’s greatest asset is the people who consistently step forward in service of others.”
Candidates for the award are nominated through a form that’s available through the school district website, with names submitted to the Superintendent’s Office. The School Committee then goes through a selection process conducted by majority vote, with up to five names added to the Memorial School Plaque each year.
“The addition of names to the Memorial School Plaque is a special recognition for some of those people who go above and beyond to improve the lives of their fellow community members, including our students and families,” said Superintendent Dr. Armand Pires. “We applaud this year’s honorees for all of their efforts to do just that.”
Debora Trindade
As a parent of a child on an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Debora Trindade became a strong voice for improving Special Education Services in Medway.
In 2005, she joined the Medway Special Education Parent Advisory Council, serving as chairperson in 2006, before getting elected to the School Committee, taking office in 2007 and eventually becoming the chairperson in 2011.
Trindade worked hard with fellow committee members to build community support for the Middle School Building Project, promoting a debt exclusion that was needed to fund it, gaining the support of the Select Board and the Finance Committee. Trindade also served as the School Committee representative on the Middle School Building Committee.
Angelica Crosby
After moving to Medway with her family in 2017, Angelica Crosby quickly got involved with the Medway Education PTO, raising money to support the schools and regularly volunteering her time to support them. She continues these efforts as part of MEPTO through the present day.
On top of that, Crosby joined the Medway Cultural Council in 2020, and she volunteered for the Indigenous Peoples Day Committee, a role that led to an annual town celebration that highlights Medway’s native roots. Crosby is currently working with the Ponkapoag and Nipmuc tribes on research to better understand the area’s Indigenous history.
Among many, many other accomplishments and highlights from her time as a volunteer and community advocate, Crosby was a founding member of the nonprofit Medway Marches, helped raise funds for restaurants during the pandemic, co-organized a Black History Month Art Contest, served at Medway’s Food Pantry, volunteered with the town’s PRIDE Committee, and co-created Black History Bingo together with her husband.
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Angelica Crosby, right, was one of two community members whose names were added to the Memorial School Plaque for 2025. The annual tradition recognizes contributions to the Town of Medway or Medway Public Schools. (Photo Courtesy Medway Public Schools)
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