Our Scholarship Funds

With rising tuition costs, it is more and more difficult for students and their families to pay for a college education.  The Community Foundation's scholarships represent our donors' appreciable understanding of the role education plays in building a better community.   The Foundation is pleased to help fulfill donors' wishes as well as to increase the opportunities for students in Southeastern Massachusetts to pursue a higher education.  Some of the scholarship recipients are chosen by the fund's donors, some by schools, and others by the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee.

Applications are currently being accepted. Please see below for details.

Daniel P. Bergeron Scholarship Fund was established by Maureen and Russell Bergeron to honor the memory of their late son, Daniel P. Bergeron. The fund provides a minimum of one $500 scholarship annually to a senior attending  Fairhaven High School. Preference will be given to a student with financial need and interests in sports and/or music. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Luther B. Bowman Scholarship awards scholarships to Westport High School graduates to attend a two- or four-year college, business school, trade school, secretarial school or a technical school. The scholarship recipients will be selected by the Westport School Committee. Awards range from $500 to $4,200. Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

David A. Cappannari Scholarship provides funds to graduating students from Plymouth North or South High School to continue their studies. Awards range from $800 to $1,000. Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

Albert F. Carr Scholarship provides scholarships totaling $44,000 annually to current or former New Bedford High School graduates pursuing an undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

George Earl and Katherine Hartley Church Scholarship Fund provides several scholarships of at least $1,000 annually for tuition assistance to students pursuing an LPN, RN or BSN Nursing Degree while attending a two- or four-year accredited college or university. Applicants must be residents of Acushnet, Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett who are graduating from either Fairhaven High School, New Bedford High School, Bishop Stang HighSchool, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School or Old Rochester Regional High School as well as any graduating senior of Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. The criterion for selection will be weighted 75% on financial need and 25% on academics.Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Katelyn Dunner Fund provides one scholarship annually to a graduating student at Plymouth North High School who has overcome conflict or adversity in personal or academic life to attend a two- or four-year college. This year's award is $450.
Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

Fairhaven High School Centurion Scholarship Fund provides one four-year scholarship of at least $250 each year to a graduating Fairhaven High School senior,  beginning in 2006, the school's 100th anniversary. The criterion for selection will be weighted 75% on financial need, 25% on academics. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Frank and Eleanor Gracie Family Scholarship Fund was created by Frank Gracie, Jr. to honor the memory of his wife Eleanor and sons David and Paul. The fund provides a minimum of one $800 scholarship annually to a senior attending New Bedford High School. The criterion for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 50% on academics. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Freitas-Rebello Fund awards a minimum of a $1,000 scholarship for tuition assistance to students of Portuguese descent attending an accredited college. The scholarship recipients will be selected by the college scholarship committee. Application deadline was April 11, 2008

Thomas S. Hathaway Scholarship is awarded to students residing in Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham, or Westport, who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees at Harvard University. Scholarships are based on financial need and academic excellence. This year's award(s) will range from $350 to $4,300. The scholarship is granted for one year only, although recipients in good standing at Harvard University are encouraged to reapply annually. Harvard students should contact the financial aid office or  download an application form. Application deadline: July 2, 2008 Download application form

Thomas O. and Sarah F. Jackson Trust Award provides one rotating scholarship annually to a graduating student at Silver Lake High School, Carver High School, or Plymouth High School (North and South), respectively, who is pursuing an undergraduate degree at either the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or the University of Massachusetts. Awards range from $800 to $1,000. Preference is given to students intending to major in an agricultural course at the agricultural school of either university. For the 2008 applications, please contact the Silver Lake School guidance office for an application and details.

Jacobs Family New Bedford High School Scholarship Fund annually provides four-year, $28,000 scholarships to one New Bedford Global Learning Charter School and three New Bedford High School graduating seniors. Recipients must attend an accredited college or university and major in science fields including computer science, mathematics and engineering.  Each scholarship is contingent upon maintaining a cumulative grade point average of B or better. The criterion for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 50% on academics. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Charles J. Lewin Interfaith Scholarship was established to provide scholarships to returning students and graduating high school seniors of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and Plymouth counties. The Fund provides several scholarships ranging from $700 to $2,000. Scholarships are granted for one year only, although recipients may reapply annually. The criterion for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 30% on academics and 20% on personal circumstances. Application deadline was April 14, 2008.

Samuel W. McFadden Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Dr.Samuel W. McFadden II, a long-time board member of the Community Foundation. Dr. McFadden was involved in a host of community activities including our Distribution Committee, serving as its Chair in 2005 and 2006, and as Chair of the Scholarship Committee, which was perhaps his fondest role. The scholarship will be available to eligible employees of Tobey Hospital or the YMCA Southcoast seeking to advance in their profession.

Kathleen Joyce Nelson Scholarship Fund provides an annual scholarship of at least $2,000 to a graduating New Bedford High School senior planning to major in government, political science or public service at a four-year college or university. Established by David and Joyce Nelson in memory of their late daughter, Kathleen Joyce Nelson, preference will be given to students who have struggled with cancer or have an affiliation with the cancer-stricken population through community service, employment, volunteer work or family involvement.
Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

New Bedford Woman's Club Fund provides a scholarship of $500 each to one New Bedford High School and one to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School graduating senior. The criterion for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 50% on academics. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Matthew “Matty” Ryan Oliveira Scholarship Fund was established by Kathleen and Matthew Oliveira to honor the memory of their late son, Matthew "Matty" Ryan Oliveira. Several $500 scholarships are awarded annually to seniors attending  Fairhaven High School. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate strong community service, leadership qualities, and athleticism.Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Padanaram Foundation Art Scholarship Fund provides two $250 scholarships annually to art students at Dartmouth High School. One scholarship is awarded to a junior to attend a summer art program, the other is awarded to a graduating senior to attend a two- or four- year post high school program. Applicants must have a cumulative B average and demonstrate talent in some area of art (including but not limited to theater, fashion, design, drawing/painting, sculpting, film making).
Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

Katherine Hassan Penton, New Bedford High School Class of 1948, Scholarship Fund offers annual scholarship of at least $3,000 to a New Bedford High School graduating senior who intends to study business at a four-year accredited college or university. The criterion for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 50% on academics. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Louis M. Rusitzky Scholarship Fund hopes to inspire its recipients to return to New Bedford and establish a business. It provides an annual scholarship of at least $2,000 to a graduating senior at New Bedford High School. Recipients must attend an accredited four-year college or university and major in an area of business studies. The scholarship is contingent upon maintaining a cumulative grade point average of B or better. The criterion for selection will be weighted 50% on financial need, 50% on academics. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Ellery R. Sherman Memorial Scholarship Fund provides a scholarship of at least $1,000 to a graduating senior of New Bedford High School. Applicants should have attended the John Avery Parker School.
Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

Frank D. Sylvia Trust Scholarship was established by Frank D. Sylvia to honor the memory of his late son, Frank P. Sylvia. It is limited to indigent deserving Dighton or Somerset students who plan to attend a college or university. The scholarship (up to $9,000) is granted for one year only, although recipients may reapply annually. The criterion for selection will be weighted 75% on financial need, 25% on academics. Application deadline was April 14, 2008

Paul F. Vecchi Memorial Scholarship Fund, created in honor of long-time Plymouth School District administrator Paul V. Vecchi, provides a minimum of one $1,000 scholarship each to a graduating senior from both Plymouth North High School and Plymouth South High School as well as Plymouth Technical High School.
Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

Webb Family Scholarship provides tuition assistance to graduating Franklin High School students to attend a four-year college or university. This year's award is $600.
Please contact the school's guidance office for details and an application.

For additional information about scholarships please call Gabrielle Simmons, Program Officer, at the Community Foundation.