|
|
History
When member Ann Wright's daughter Debbie died in 1966 at the tragically young age of 13, the club organized a bulb sale to institute a scholarship fund in Debbie's name. Although that sale has since been replaced by other fundraisers, the scholarship is still an important club priority. For more than 50 years, the club has awarded scholarships to Carlisle residents to help them defray the first year of college costs. Scholarships are currently available to Concord-Carlisle High School (CCHS) graduating seniors, as well as graduates from the regional vocational-technical high schools, private schools, or home schooling.
After the fund was established, Ann Wright served as the club’s president in 1967-68. The fund was amplified with family donations after Alan G. Wright’s death in 1986. Upon Ann’s death in 2014, her surviving daughter relayed a request that donations in memory of her mother be directed to the fund.
The fund is administered by Garden Club members, who review applications and interview prospective recipients. Some past chairs of the scholarship fund are still affiliated with the club: For example, lifetime member Sylvia Brandhorst (a member since the club's inception) chaired in 1975-76. The current chair is Jane Coleman Williams and additional committee members are Nancy Jaysane and Jackie Jones.
After the fund was established, Ann Wright served as the club’s president in 1967-68. The fund was amplified with family donations after Alan G. Wright’s death in 1986. Upon Ann’s death in 2014, her surviving daughter relayed a request that donations in memory of her mother be directed to the fund.
The fund is administered by Garden Club members, who review applications and interview prospective recipients. Some past chairs of the scholarship fund are still affiliated with the club: For example, lifetime member Sylvia Brandhorst (a member since the club's inception) chaired in 1975-76. The current chair is Jane Coleman Williams and additional committee members are Nancy Jaysane and Jackie Jones.
The 2021 winner is...
PIPER HARRING -- a 2021 graduate of Concord-Carlisle High School. This fall, Piper will be attending Middlebury College where she plans to major in Environmental Studies with a focus on Biology. Her undergraduate education and research will investigate climate change and the impact human activities have on the rest of the biosphere. She will also explore ways to mitigate and prevent these effects.
As a high school freshman, Piper took an Honors course in Earth Science and never looked back. She learned to love the natural world, the science behind it and ways to protect it. She chose courses during her high school career that would support her long-term goals such as Meteorology, Biology, and AP Environmental Science. She was also a Teacher’s Assistant for Earth Science.
As a high school freshman, Piper took an Honors course in Earth Science and never looked back. She learned to love the natural world, the science behind it and ways to protect it. She chose courses during her high school career that would support her long-term goals such as Meteorology, Biology, and AP Environmental Science. She was also a Teacher’s Assistant for Earth Science.
|
In the above photo, the The Garden Club Scholarship Committee (left to right: Jackie Jones, Nancy Jaysane and Jane Coleman Williams) presents the Debbie Wright Scholarship award to Piper Harring, right. Her dog Bear also enjoyed his moment of fame. Photo by Debbie Bentley.
|
In her sophomore year Piper joined the Weather Club and did weekly radio forecasts. In her senior year she became club president. One of her favorite activities was going to the Sanborn Middle School to teach classes about the weather
|
and construct Stevenson screens with the students. She also had the opportunity to meet climate scientists and ask them questions about how they communicate climate science within the wider community. Because of her enthusiasm, coupled with academic excellence, she was awarded the Wilson Flight award, which goes to the most outstanding CCHS Earth Science student.
Piper has spent summers working at Clark Farm where she demonstrated a strong work ethic. One of her supervisors reported that Piper quickly mastered the layout of the fields, including tasks like how to read the state of the crops, proper spacing when transplanting, techniques for harvesting and storing a wide variety of crops. Given her energy and abilities she moved quickly from the young farmers to the adult crew. It was apparent to those who worked with her that Piper has a keen interest in caring for the earth and a profound appreciation of growing food responsibly. She has been described as a wonderful asset to the farm.
She tries to be environmentally conscious in the choices she makes in her everyday life. She strongly believes that individual actions and attitudes can make a difference. As an example, she cut meat out of her diet because of the large ecological footprint of consuming meat. Because of her love of the outdoors, Piper likes to spend as much time as possible outside playing sports, biking, hiking, skiing, rowing, swimming, and everything in between.
Piper has spent summers working at Clark Farm where she demonstrated a strong work ethic. One of her supervisors reported that Piper quickly mastered the layout of the fields, including tasks like how to read the state of the crops, proper spacing when transplanting, techniques for harvesting and storing a wide variety of crops. Given her energy and abilities she moved quickly from the young farmers to the adult crew. It was apparent to those who worked with her that Piper has a keen interest in caring for the earth and a profound appreciation of growing food responsibly. She has been described as a wonderful asset to the farm.
She tries to be environmentally conscious in the choices she makes in her everyday life. She strongly believes that individual actions and attitudes can make a difference. As an example, she cut meat out of her diet because of the large ecological footprint of consuming meat. Because of her love of the outdoors, Piper likes to spend as much time as possible outside playing sports, biking, hiking, skiing, rowing, swimming, and everything in between.
PIPER SENDS HER THANKS:
Photo by Jane Coleman Williams
|
|
How to Contribute
In these difficult times, members of the community are encouraged to support the scholarship fund. You can use the Donate button below to make a tax-deductible contribution that increases the amount of the scholarship. If you prefer to send a check, please address it to the Carlisle Garden Club, PO Box 231, Carlisle, MA 01741 and specify Debbie Wright Scholarship Fund on the memo line.
In these difficult times, members of the community are encouraged to support the scholarship fund. You can use the Donate button below to make a tax-deductible contribution that increases the amount of the scholarship. If you prefer to send a check, please address it to the Carlisle Garden Club, PO Box 231, Carlisle, MA 01741 and specify Debbie Wright Scholarship Fund on the memo line.
Past Recipients of Debbie Wright Scholarship
According to available club records, the following students have received scholarships from the fund.
According to available club records, the following students have received scholarships from the fund.
|
2020: Kierthan Lathrop
2019: Kyle Bonenfant
2018: Maeve Devlin
2017: Whitney Nash
2016: Samuel Heinrich
2015: Rachel Bratton
2014: Chasidy Jaquith
2013: Emilie Carr
2012: Lauren Tierney, Alex Doig
2011: Melissa Mariano
2010: Christopher Duffy, Jennifer Perugini
2009: Max Herman, Sarah Ganek
2008: Alice Tattersoll, Julia Lyons
|
2007: Emily Fritz-Endres
2005: Marlow Duffy, Alison Probolus
2004: Benjamin Phillippo
2003: Elizabeth Orlando
2002: Stephanie Fardy
2001: Carlyn Saylor
2000: Preston Hollerman
1999: Caitlin Gaffey
1997: Matt Zezima
1996: Edward Schreiner
1993: Chris Donnelly
1992: Tim Gordon
|
1991: Julie Hayen, Sonya Raymond
1990: Julie Hayen, Christa Clivern
1989: Lisa Hayen
1987: Robert Cliven, Lisa Hayen
1986: Linda Moseley, Karin Schubach, Heather Behn
1985: Linda Mortenson, Kenneth Jacobi, Veronica Bins
1984: Jennifer Hayen
1983: John Cremin, Holly Powers
1982: Polly Verajosian, Cherie Powers, Heidi Given
1981: Heidi Given
|
1980: Cheryl Mosely, Mary Cogswell
1979: Thomas O'Rourke, Glenn Callahan
1978: Josephine Christen, Mark Enroth
1977: John Cogswell, Mark Enroth
1976: Linda Golab, Cliff Mehan
1975: John D. Bartlett
1974: Cliff Meehan
1972: Alice Maqueene
1971: Edward Grees
1970: Gregory Cann
1966: Neal Mirfield
|