DEBBIE WRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
2023
NOTES FOR 2024
Any questions should be directed via e-mail to the Scholarship Committee or by phone (617-943-7241)
NOTES:
+++++ Let’s leave Anson in until the end of the summer
+++++ The amount should be put in. Last year it was $3,000. The club has to pass the upcoming budget for 2024 before we can put in an amount.
+++++ In March the “scholarship button” should be on the front page of the website so it gets attention and the application is easily accessed.
Any questions should be directed via e-mail to the Scholarship Committee or by phone (617-943-7241)
NOTES:
+++++ Let’s leave Anson in until the end of the summer
+++++ The amount should be put in. Last year it was $3,000. The club has to pass the upcoming budget for 2024 before we can put in an amount.
+++++ In March the “scholarship button” should be on the front page of the website so it gets attention and the application is easily accessed.
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The Debbie Wright Scholarship
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Congratulations Anson Rodgers a 2023 graduate of Concord Carlisle High School. This fall, Anson will be attending Southern New Hampshire University majoring in Environmental Science. During his freshman and sophomore years he plans to take required background academic classes before transferring to University of New Hampshire to pursue a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Major. |
(left to right) Jackie Jones, Anson Rodgers, Jane Colman Williams, Nancy Jaysane, (not present Heidi Harring). Courtesy photo.
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Anson has never wavered from his longstanding goal of operating an organic vegetable and livestock farm. This is his passion. He was described by one reference as “living and breathing agriculture and sustainability”. Anson grew up on organic farms, beginning at Green Meadows Farm in Hamilton and then Carlisle's own Clark Farm. From an early age, he has always been an integral part of the farm doing all the necessary chores and tasks like planting seeds, weeding, watering, and harvesting as well as working with livestock. He is currently the crew leader for the young farmers and is the primary tractor operator. He services and maintains the farm vehicles and, toward that end, created a flow chart of tractor oils. While he has extensive experience and has learned many skills, he recognizes that he would benefit from an academic base of knowledge to further his goals.
In pursuit of his goal, Anson has taken a somewhat different path as it pertains to his education. He has been resourceful in seeking out and designing his own educational experiences. He has traveled to Puerto Rico twice to broaden his knowledge of agricultural practices and to improve his Spanish. During Covid, Anson took a semester off and went to work at White Oak Pastures in Georgia to pick up skills in animal husbandry and land regeneration. To enhance his skills in fixing and maintaining farm equipment he worked with a diesel mechanic in New Hampshire.
Anson shares his love of nature and passion for sustainable agriculture with others. As an example, as part of the CCHS Rivers and Revolution program, he led students on a tour of the farm, explaining the closed-loop system for compost and organic farming in general. Anson is involved with the CRAFT Program (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training). This is a cooperative effort of local and organic farmers to enhance educational opportunities for farm apprentices. As part of the program, he has participated in multiple programs on topics like weed control and livestock care. Anson shares his skills in animal husbandry with local farmers and he is sought out to help with their livestock. A reference described him as having “a farmers value system” in that he will go out of his way to help others.
When not involved with farming, Anson has another passion. He’s a committed surfer who surfs in all weathers on the New England Coast.
In pursuit of his goal, Anson has taken a somewhat different path as it pertains to his education. He has been resourceful in seeking out and designing his own educational experiences. He has traveled to Puerto Rico twice to broaden his knowledge of agricultural practices and to improve his Spanish. During Covid, Anson took a semester off and went to work at White Oak Pastures in Georgia to pick up skills in animal husbandry and land regeneration. To enhance his skills in fixing and maintaining farm equipment he worked with a diesel mechanic in New Hampshire.
Anson shares his love of nature and passion for sustainable agriculture with others. As an example, as part of the CCHS Rivers and Revolution program, he led students on a tour of the farm, explaining the closed-loop system for compost and organic farming in general. Anson is involved with the CRAFT Program (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training). This is a cooperative effort of local and organic farmers to enhance educational opportunities for farm apprentices. As part of the program, he has participated in multiple programs on topics like weed control and livestock care. Anson shares his skills in animal husbandry with local farmers and he is sought out to help with their livestock. A reference described him as having “a farmers value system” in that he will go out of his way to help others.
When not involved with farming, Anson has another passion. He’s a committed surfer who surfs in all weathers on the New England Coast.
History of the scholarship
For over 57 years the Carlisle Garden Club has awarded the Debbie Wright Scholarship to help Carlisle students defray college costs. This year a $3,000 scholarship is available to high school seniors from Carlisle who attend either public or private high schools or are being home-schooled. Preference will be given to students who have an interest in the following fields: Botany; Landscape Architecture; Horticulture; Forestry; Farming; Conservation; Entomology; Ornithology; and Environmental Studies as well as related areas.
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, Heidi Harring and Jackie Jones.
Application form can be found here
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, Heidi Harring and Jackie Jones.
Application form can be found here
How to Contribute
Members of the community are encouraged to support the scholarship fund. You can use the Donate button below to make a tax-deductible contribution. 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.
Members of the community are encouraged to support the scholarship fund. You can use the Donate button below to make a tax-deductible contribution. 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:
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2023: Anson Rodgers
2022: Marjorie Haddad
2021: Piper Harring
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
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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
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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
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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
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