Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Berkshire Taconic Announces $85K Awarded by Zenas & Winthrop Crane Funds for Student Aid

August 26, 2010

SHEFFIELD, MA—The Zenas Crane and Winthrop Crane Funds for Student Aid awarded 70 scholarships to graduating high school seniors, college undergraduate and postgraduate students residing in the Central Berkshire Regional School District. The Zenas Crane Fund was established in 1926 by the Crane family to support the higher education of worthy students residing in Dalton and neighboring towns. The Winthrop Crane Fund for Graduate Student Aid was established in 1965 by the Crane family.

The Zenas Crane Fund for Student Aid awarded scholarships to the following students: Anthony Anastasio to attend Berkshire Community College; James Bodine to attend Berkshire Community College; Matthew Boino to attend Siena College; Jenna Bracci to attend University of Massachusetts; Ashley Bruzzi to attend Western New England College; Anthony Cherry to attend Providence College; Hayley Cooney to attend Hartwick College; Chloe Crane to attend University of Rhode Island; Samantha Folan to attend Quinnipiac College; William Henderson to attend University of Tennessee; Carly Jamross to attend Endicott College; Joshua LaBeau to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology; Ethan LaPlante to attend Unity College; Cody Miller to attend Berkshire Community College; Hannah Osthoff to attend Roger Williams University; Jordan Schnopp to attend Merrimack College; Joy Sears to attend Fisher College; Craig Smith to attend Berkshire Community College; Darcey Sullivan to attend Emmanuel College; Devin Trager to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Kelly Vosburgh to attend Westfield State College and Daniel Walsh to attend University of Massachusetts. In addition, 42 students who are currently attending college are continuing to receive aid from the Zenas Crane Fund.

The Winthrop Crane Fund for Graduate Student Aid awarded scholarships to the following: Jena Burgner to attend University of New England; Candace Dodge to attend Quinnipiac College; Bradley Duncan to attend University of Massachusetts; Natalie Grillon to attend Cornell University; Katelyn Kovacs to attend University of Massachusetts; Kaitlin Taginski to attend Quinnipiac College; and Tawny Virgilio to attend University of Maine.

Stated committee member Judy Kittredge, “The committee is very pleased to have been able to assist so many students in their pursuit of higher education over the course of more then 80 years.”

Since 1926, the fund has been managed and scholarships awarded by a local board of trustees. In 2008, the fund became a constituent fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The scholarship applications are reviewed by the Zenas Crane Fund for Student Aid Committee. The deadline for the next round of applications is May 15, 2011.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Berkshire Taconic connects donors with causes they care about by administering and investing their charitable funds. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2009 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $7 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

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