WCLT Scholarship

WCLT Scholarship Offered

Each year the Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) awards a $500 scholarship to a graduating Westborough High School senior. The scholarship goes to the winner of WCLT's annual Earth Day Essay Contest.

Any graduating senior may enter the contest, reflecting the WCLT view that awareness and appreciation of the natural environment are important for everyone. It is not necessary for a senior to be planning an environmental focus in further studies or a career. In fact, the contest and scholarship are open to all graduating seniors, whether or not they plan to attend college.

The scholarship, which was inaugurated in 2006, recognizes a young person's sensitivity toward the environment and environmental concerns, as evidenced by the essay.

"Nurturing connections with the natural world provides us all with opportunities for lifelong learning and satisfaction," according to Allison Gergely, past WCLT Scholarship Committee chair.

To enter the contest in 2010, applicants should submit their Earth Day essay to the WHS Guidance Office anytime between March 1 and Wednesday, April 28, 2010. The WCLT Scholarship Committee will announce the winning essay and the scholarship recipient at the Westborough High School graduation.

Essays should be 500-750 words and should address one of these three topics:

  1. An environmental issue in Westborough

    Describe an environmental issue that affects a natural resource in Westborough. Propose a solution that would address this issue and/or describe activities in which you have been involved that have worked towards solving this particular problem.

  2. Sustainable living in Westborough and beyond

    Discuss ways that you and others of your generation could live more sustainably on Earth. If applicable, include a description of changes you have made in your own life that have enabled you or your family to live more sustainably.

  3. Protection of Westborough's natural heritage and special places

    Describe a place in Westborough that you think is especially important to protect, and explain why. Discuss what you have done or propose ways that you could help to protect Westborough's natural heritage.

The scholarship forms are available in the WHS Guidance Office.

The deadline for applicants to deliver essays and signed application forms to the Guidance Office is Wednesday, April 28, 2010.

WCLT members are encouraged to spread word of the essay contest and scholarship among friends and neighbors.

"The Earth Day Essay Contest is a great opportunity for graduating seniors to take a few minutes to think about the natural environment that surrounds them here in Westborough and to put their thoughts down on paper – and perhaps win the scholarship as a result," says Annie Reid of the WCLT Scholarship Committee.


Westborough Community Land Trust, PO Box 838, Westborough , MA 01581
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