Girl receives first Lynn YMCA scholarship

LYNN – Third-grader Merlyn Garcia won the Lynn YMCA’s very first scholarship, but it was hard to tell what had her more excited, the award or that it was presented by the city’s newest celebrity singer, Amanda Mena.”She’s like my best friend,” Garcia said.”They’ve known each other forever,” her mother, Michelle Santana, added.Mena threw her hands in the air and let go with a loud cheer before she got the crowd chanting, “Merlyn, Merlyn, Merlyn,” after she called her friend’s name. She also met Garcia with a huge hug as she accepted her award.”She is just so caring and so kind,” Mena said with her arm slung around her friend.Garcia was awarded the scholarship during a welcome home celebration for Mena at the YMCA Wednesday. Three nights prior Mena, 11, won a scholarship as well, along with a cash prize and a recording contract when she was named the winner of “La Voz Kids,” the children’s Spanish version of the talent show “The Voice.”Mena created her audition tape for the show in Lynn Music Studio Clubhouse, located in the YMCA. Garcia said she wouldn’t mind doing the same thing.YMCA Associate Director Gregg Ellenberg said they have established a scholarship that will be awarded each year to one youth member. It will give the youth member full access to everything the YMCA has to offer, including the school year program, summer program and the music studio, he said.It’s access to the music studio that makes Garcia most happy. Ellenberg said she already spends most every afternoon in there singing.”She’s in there most afternoons,” he said. “She’s really deserving and she works so hard.”Santana called the scholarship exciting and helpful.”I’m so proud of her,” she said.The Lincoln-Thomson 10-year-old said she’d love to sing her way to success like Mena has.”I want that,” she said. “I want to do that.”When asked what she likes to sing, she thought for a minute, giggled and said, “everything.”She will get to try everything because the studio offers voice lessons as well as piano lessons and access to recording.”And mentoring,” Ellenberg said. “That is the biggest piece, we offer mentoring.”