Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Awards a Record $474,000 in Scholarships

August 13, 2012

SHEFFIELD, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation today announced that a record $474,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 189 students throughout the region. Four scholarship funds awarded $35,000 to students from northeast Dutchess County. The funds— Rhoda Lubalin Art Scholarship Fund, Millerton Grange Scholarship Fund, Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund and the Tabor Foundation Scholarship Fund—made awards to 9 students.

Berkshire Taconic continues to add new endowed scholarship resources annually with investments building more assets over time for all of its scholarship funds.

“This is a testament to the many donors who have created or contributed to existing scholarship funds,” said Maeve O’Dea, program director at Berkshire Taconic. “This is terrific news for the students of our communities. As we all know, a college education is often a pre-requisite for successfully navigating the world ahead. Many of our young people come from families who have not gone to college, and a robust scholarship program is key to opening new doors for our students. We’re also proud that many of our scholarship programs are renewable…in other words, a student can be supported throughout their four years of college and some even into graduate school.”

The Rhoda Lubalin Art Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to graduates of Webutuck Jr./Sr. High School who are planning to pursue a career in the visual arts. This year scholarships were awarded to Cobi Adrian and Caitlyn Coon, both of Millerton.

The Millerton Grange Scholarship supports residents of Millerton with preference given to students planning to study agricultural or agribusiness. This year scholarships went to Brian Christofel to attend Siena College; and Katherine Boeding to attend Hobart & William Smith College.

The Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund awards outstanding graduates of Webutuck Jr/Sr High School a four-year scholarship. This year's Simmons Scholars are Shane Corcoran of Amenia to attend Bucknell University; Brian Christofel of Millerton to attend Siena College; and Meagan McCoy of Millerton to attend the University of New England.

Health Care Scholarships
The Tabor Foundation Scholarship Fund supports residents of northeast Dutchess or northwest Litchfield County who plan to undertake training in a field of healthcare and to seek employment in northeast Dutchess or northwest Connecticut. This year, scholarships were awarded to Sarah Marshall of Amenia to attend Mercy College; Jennifer Cranna of Wassaic to attend Dutchess Community College; and Brooke Harvey of Millerton to attend the University of Hartford.

“I am thrilled to be the recipient of the Tabor Foundation scholarship,” said Jennifer Cranna. “Being awarded this scholarship lessens the financial burden of attending college as a single mother and allows me to continue my nursing studies full-time. My goal is to work as an RN in one of our many wonderful regional hospitals and focus of giving expert care to those in our local communities.”

Previous Tabor grantees who have now completed their studies include Chantel Richards of North Canaan, CT, who is now working on the cardiac floor of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and Zachary Sawicki of West Cornwall who works as a paramedic for the Northern Dutchess Paramedics company.

The Tabor Foundation is also providing seed funding for “The Scrub Club” at the Dover Jr./Sr. High School. The pilot program which will run over the student’s four years of high school encourages them to pursue healthcare careers by introducing them to professionals in the field, mentoring programs and site visits. The program is being administered through the Catskill Hudson AHEC (Area Health Education Center).

The Tabor Fund invites applications through November 1 from residents of northeast Dutchess and northwest Litchfield Counties.

To make a contribution to any of these funds, please visit our donation page or for information on grant deadlines go online or call 413.229.0370.

“The cost of a college education is escalating fast and yet the cost of not having a college education is one that will be felt for a lifetime,” said Jennifer Dowley, President of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. “Berkshire Taconic is proud to serve as steward for scholarships that support the possibility of a productive healthy future for so many of our young people.”

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation celebrates 25 years of building stronger communities and helping donors make a difference through charitable giving in northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships to nonprofits and individuals in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. You can make a difference. We can help.

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