WESTBOROUGH – The Westborough Women’s Club (WWC) awarded $3,000 each to eight high school seniors to put toward their college education, amounting to a total of $24,000.
There’s no guarantee the WWC can give that amount of scholarships every year, according to Reene Hatherley, the co-chair of the WWC scholarship committee, but through the annual holiday house tour, bake sales at town meetings, BINGO night, and donations from members, the group raised enough money to give back.
“One of the biggest things for the women’s club is the importance of giving scholarships to graduating high school students,” Hatherley said.
The WWC, which has awarded scholarships to Westborough seniors since 1926, had over 30 applicants for this year’s application cycle. Applicants had to list their community service activities and write an essay about a meaningful community service experience that impacted their life.
“One of the things we really focused on this year was trying to hear the students’ voices through their essays,” said Deb Lamothe, a member of the scholarship committee and retired Westborough teacher.
Elizabeth Antenucci, a WHS senior and one of the award recipients, said she has been committed to giving back to her community through service and is honored to receive the scholarship from the women’s club.
“From organizing volunteer-run events as the children’s section programming leader at the Westborough Public Library to serving on the USA Swimming Safe Sport Committee, community service has been a significant part of my life,” Antenucci said.
She said the scholarship will help her pursue her goals as she enters the next chapter of her life at Northeastern University in the fall.
“The generosity of the Westborough Women’s Club inspires me to continue making a positive impact and to give back to my community,” she said.
Since the club was in good financial shape, Hatherley wanted to designate a greater amount toward scholarships than usual: “We are very well supported by the people in this town, even by different organizations,” Hatherley said. “We are a nonprofit, so it is our mission to give money away.”
Hatherley said the committee decided last year instead of giving a greater number of scholarships like 10 or 12, they wanted the scholarship award to make a greater impact and raised it from $1,500 to $3,000.
“We all know that the cost of going to school is unbelievably high, and $1,000 or $1,500 doesn’t go very far,” Hatherley said. “Even $3,000 only makes a dent, but it makes a bigger dent.”
Scholarship winners include: Molly Johnston, Neha Konathan, Noah Nourse, Tanu Pandeti, Keira Finnerty, Katherine Tovar, Elizabeth Antenucci, and Maricarmen Escobar Moran
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