Scholarship

WCLT Scholarship Offered

Each year the WCLT Scholarship is awarded to a graduating Westborough High School senior. The $500 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, 2007 chair of the WCLT Scholarship Committee.

WCLT members can help by encouraging any graduating seniors whom they know to apply by submitting an Earth Day essay early in the 8-week period of the contest.

To enter the contest in 2008, applicants should submit their Earth Day essay to the WHS Guidance Office anytime between March 1 and April 30, 2008. 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. They should address one of these three topics:

  1. An environmental issue in Westborough What is an environmental issue affecting a natural resource in Westborough and what solution would you propose? Or
  2. Stewardship of Westborough's natural environment What does it mean to be a responsible steward of our town's natural resources? How would you encourage others to become good stewards, in Westborough and beyond? Or
  3. Protection of Westborough's natural heritage or special places How would you protect Westborough's natural heritage? Is there a place in Westborough you think is especially important to protect? Why?

The scholarship forms are available in the WHS Guidance Office as of March 1, 2008. Applicants must deliver essays and signed application forms to the Guidance Office no later than April 30, 2008. WCLT members are encouraged to spread word of the essay contest and scholarship among friends and neighbors in town.

"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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