The Globe Foundation’s Richard J. Phelps Scholar-Athlete Awards celebrated its 40th year on Tuesday at Fenway Park, honoring 22 graduating seniors for their achievements in both academics and athletics. This year marked the first time the event included winners of the Will McDonough writing contest, adding a new dimension to the annual ceremony.

The Scholar-Athlete program recognizes 18 seniors from seven Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) districts, the city of Boston, and Eastern Massachusetts prep schools. Each honored student received a $4,000 scholarship toward college tuition. Additionally, four athletes were named Athletes of the Year for their outstanding multi-season performances. Brody Bumila of Bishop Feehan and Abby Hennessy of Westford were recognized in the Will McDonough/MIAA division, while Ty Curry of St. Sebastian’s and Molly Vana of Governor’s earned honors in the Richard J. Phelps/NEPSAC division.

Bumila, who led Bishop Feehan to the Division 1 boys’ basketball championship and a Division 1 baseball title appearance, reflected on the significance of his experiences beyond the statistics. “Even though I was excelling really well... it still means everything, just those memories I have with my friends in the dugout, on the court, or just in the locker room after the games,” he said.

The program was created in 1987, with Phelps—a Watertown native, Phillips Andover graduate, and longtime businessman and philanthropist—supporting it since 1991. Over the years, the foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 500 students. Phelps, 97, who attended the event before flying back to his home in California, spoke about the enduring value of friendships formed through sports, more meaningful than victories or defeats.

“Hopefully, the one overriding memory of all these contests will be the friendships that you’ve made on the athletic fields,” he said, recalling his own experiences as a baseball player at Andover and Yale.

Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, who hosted the event, noted its importance in the annual calendar. He encouraged the honorees to appreciate each stage of their athletic journey, remembering his late high school basketball coach John Fahey, who passed away in March.

Among the Athletes of the Year, Bumila, a Texas baseball commit, struck out 108 batters while allowing only seven runs in 46 innings during the spring season and averaged 41 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 blocks during Bishop Feehan’s basketball championship run. Hennessy, who will compete collegiately at the University of Washington, excelled in track, winning the Division 1 Meet of Champions and setting multiple Massachusetts records at distances ranging from the indoor mile to the outdoor two-mile.

Curry, a lacrosse prospect for Notre Dame, earned NEPSAC boys’ honors after contributing to St. Sebastian’s Independent School League ice hockey title and amassing 94 points for the lacrosse team, earning All-American status. Vana, who will play both lacrosse and soccer at Harvard, was named the NEPSAC girls’ honoree after scoring a program-record 64 goals in soccer and earning MVP honors in both indoor track and lacrosse.

The ceremony also featured recognition of four winners of the Will McDonough Writing Contest, which honors high school sports journalists across New England. The Globe took over management of the contest this year from The Sports Museum. Sean and Erin McDonough, children of the late longtime Globe sports columnist Will McDonough, attended the event. Sean McDonough said the contest reflects his father’s love of sports and competition, serving as a lasting tribute to his legacy.