Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation - [image of young people in drum circle]
Grant Seekers

Grant Guidelines: William Stanley Scholarship Fund

The William Stanley Scholarship Fund was created in 1991 following the dissolution of the Stanley Club, a social club for the General Electric Company for over 50 years in Berkshire County. The Club was named after William Stanley, an inventor and a pioneer in the early development of the advantages of alternating electrical current (AC) over Thomas A. Edison’s direct current (DC) system and demonstrated the practicality of AC generation and transmission by his historical lighting of stores and hotels on Main Street in Great Barrington, MA on March 20, 1886. William Stanley was originally associated with Westinghouse, but formed the Stanley Manufacturing Company in Pittsfield in 1992. The Company was bought by General Electric Company in 1903. The scholarship fund is named in his honor. The purpose of the fund is to offer assistance to Berkshire County residents planning to attend a two- or four-year college.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Have physically lived within Berkshire County during the last two years of high school.
  • Demonstrate motivation and academic achievement.
  • Be a high school senior with SAT scores of 1000 or more, in the top 20% of the class, and with a GPA of at least 3.0.
  • Demonstrate financial need, and plan to attend a four-year college.
  • Finalists must be available for an interview.

    • Awards

    The Stanley Scholar receives $3,000 for up to four years (total $12,000) provided he or she continues to meet the academic and financial requirements established for the award. Annually. Additional awards are given as funding allows.

    Applicants will be informed of Berkshire Taconic’s decision within two months of the deadline date.

    Review Criteria

    The committee will review scholarships according to the following criteria:

  • The student’s academic achievement.
  • The student’s efforts and ambitions to achieve their academic and life goals.
  • Financial need
  • Community service

    • Applications will be reviewed by William Stanley Scholarship Advisory Committee. This is a committee of the Berkshire County residents who are active in community affairs. The Committee will interview finalists in June in Pittsfield, MA. Their recommendations will be reviewed by Berkshire Taconic’s Board of Directors.

    If you have any questions, please contact grants@berkshiretaconic.org.