The Tinsley Team Standout Students of The Month: Sheila Fortune and Avery Herlihy

At Westwood High School, the annual tradition of J-Term, which takes place during students’ last week of school, transforms an ordinary classroom into various experiential learning opportunities within Westwood and beyond. Students might find themselves rising to the physical challenge in Hikes and Treks, paddling through the past in Exploring the History and Literature of Early Massachusetts in Canoes, or embracing their inner Jedi in Star Wars: Return of the J-Term.
 
But for juniors Sheila Fortune and Avery Herlihy, when it came time to choose a J-Term last year, they were instantly drawn toward a unique service-learning opportunity in the Caribbean. While many students selected their J-Term courses from the diverse catalog in December, Sheila and Avery were committed to the EF Education trip nearly a year in advance.
 
“This opportunity was so unique and so unlike anything else you could have selected,” Sheila explained. “We were really drawn to the service aspect. We went in not knowing exactly what the service would be until a few weeks prior, but we knew it was going to be a large element.”
 
Click Here to learn more about how to support Avery, Sheila and the Mariposa Foundation.
 
The seven-day journey began in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, where the group of 25 students and four faculty chaperones immersed themselves in local history and Taino culture.
 
“In school, we usually don’t thoroughly learn about other cultures, as we focus primarily on United States history for the majority of our time,” Avery said. “To learn about different cultures was so formative and interesting.”
 
From the capital, they transitioned to the countryside to experience the reality of local industry and agriculture.
 
“We spent two days on a farm, learning about their irrigation and helping plant seeds,” Sheila remembered. “The second day, we split into two groups and competed to see who could finish planting their field first, which was very fun.”
 
The trip was a balance of hard work and exciting adventures. Between service shifts, the students found themselves whitewater rafting and taking surf lessons, experiences that were as exhilarating as they were unexpected. The heart of their journey, however, was found in Cabarete, the home of the Mariposa Foundation. The organization’s primary goal is to create sustainable solutions to end generational poverty by educating girls to become empowered young women.
 
“I don’t think anyone expected the Mariposa Foundation to be as amazing as it was,” said Avery. “The community they foster there is incredible. We saw girls teaching each other Haitian Creole, bridging the divide between Haitian and Dominican cultures. It gave me so much hope for what this generation can do.”
 
The foundation serves approximately 150 to 200 students ranging from ages 7 to 18+. During their stay, Westwood students shadowed the Mariposa girls through a “jam-packed” daily schedule that included academic enrichment, sports, reading, and even surfing lessons. Quickly, Sheila and Avery were struck by how the foundation addresses the specific risks faced by girls in the region — including child pregnancy, young marriage, and abuse — by providing a safe space and essential life skills.
 
“The Dominican Republic is an island, but many of the girls don’t know how to swim,” Sheila said. “Mariposa teaches them to swim, ensuring their safety. To address the leading cause of death in the Dominican Republic, motorbike accidents, the Mariposa Foundation not only provides bikes and biking lessons but also teaches the girls safe road practices. It’s not just education; it’s about enriching their lives and ensuring their safety,” Sheila explained.
 
“They really have allowed so many girls to pursue things like higher education or careers, and to gain agency for themselves that they otherwise might not have had,” Avery added.
 
Returning to Westwood, Sheila and Avery felt a deep responsibility to continue supporting the friends they made. They have recently launched a campaign to fund the foundation’s meals for their upcoming six-week summer camp program.
 
“Our goal ($6,000) is very specific because it is the exact amount they need to fund their six weeks of summer camp to feed everyone at the foundation,” Avery shared. “Not only are they feeding the girls, but they also employ and feed the mothers. The food is mostly plant-based and delicious, but it’s a major cost and a necessity for everyone there.”
 
Despite being thousands of miles away, the girls remain in close touch with the foundation.
 
“The girls were all saying hi to us, they remembered our names,” Avery said, referring to a recent video call her and Sheila were on with the co-director of the foundation. “It made me so happy. I just want these girls to have as many opportunities as possible.”
 
The duo is currently working to spread the word throughout Westwood High School, coordinating with the athletic director to set up information tables at local sporting events. They encourage the community to view their fundraiser to learn more about the “Mariposa Girls” and the grassroots movement that is changing lives in Latin America.
 
“The girls never truly leave the foundation,” Sheila concluded. “A lot of people who graduate actually come back and help the younger girls. It’s a place where they focus on academic enrichment, health, and arts, but most importantly, on empowering one another.”
 
Congratulations to Sheila & Avery for being this month’s Standout Students! Nominate a future Tinsley Team Standout Student of the Month by emailing Diana Bezdedeanu at dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com and if you’d like to give back to your community and sponsor a regular feature in Westwood Living, contact Tom Leyden at tleyden@bestversionmedia.com