Courtesy photo Nashua native and Bishop Guertin graduate Madison Gilbertson has been named recipient of the annual Victoria Soto Memorial Award for outstanding mentorship by the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Connecticut. (Courtesy photo)

HARTFORD, Conn. – Unlike a lot of kids his age, Jax Johnson has never really been much for talking on the phone, perhaps because he’s a little on the shy side.

But when the pandemic struck, and phones and other electronic devices began replacing almost all in-person contact with others, Jax soon realized that if he didn’t use the phone more, he’d risk losing contact with one of the most important people in his life.

That would be Nashua native and Bishop Guertin graduate Madison Gilbertson, now a Trinity College senior set to graduate later this month.

Gilbertson, for nearly her entire four years at Trinity, has been Jax’s “Big Sister,” and he, her “Little Brother,” a relationship initiated by the Hartford-based Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters program and nurtured by Gilbertson and Jax ever since.

“She’s been great … she’s really brought him out of his shell,” said Darcie Finley, Jax’s mom, referring to Gilbertson.

Courtesy photo Nashua native and Bishop Guertin graduate Madison Gilbertson works on a project with Jax Johnson, whom she has mentored for four years in the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Connecticut. She has been named the recipient of the annual Victoria Soto Memorial Award for outstanding mentorship. (Courtesy photo)

“She really listens to what he has to say.”

Now, the impact that Gilbertson has had on Jax over the past four years has earned her one of Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters’ highest honors – her selection as this year’s recipient of the annual Victoria L. Soto Memorial Award.

Named for one of the six educators murdered, along with 20 children, in the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, the award is presented to a mentor in the Nutmeg BBBS program who exemplifies Soto’s legacy of dedicating herself to “the well-being, education, protection and socialization of children,” according to the criteria.

Soto, who was 26 when she was killed, was, like Gilbertson, regarded as a standout mentor with Nutmeg BBBS during her college years. Soto attended, and graduated from, Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in education.

Gilbertson, meanwhile, was already immersed in Big Brothers Big Sisters by the time she entered Trinity College.

“I had actually been involved (with BBBS) through Bishop Guertin,” she said, adding that she participated in the program for three of her four years at BG.

While at Guertin, Gilbertson participated in the Campus Ministry and the Classics Club, and was a stellar tennis player for BG before she graduated with high honors in 2017.

Gilbertson, who said she’s “always been interested in working with younger children, to get involved in supporting those who need that kind of help,” majored in psychology at Trinity College and hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology.

Flavin, Jax’s mother, remembers how her son gradually grew more comfortable speaking on the phone when it was pretty much the only way he could communicate with Gilbertson.

“When everything turned virtual, she kept his interest going,” Flavin said of Gilbertson. “Once he realized he could also text her, he’d be sending her (text messages) all the time.

Jax soon graduated to face-timing with Gilbertson, his mom said. “She definitely created an impact on him.

“He has always spoken highly of her,” Flavin added.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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