Congratulations to
The 2011 George T. Gaudette-PHS Class
of 1958 Scholarship was awarded to Ms. Brittany White.
Based upon a review of applications, the Foundation
Board selected Brittany to be the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship.
On June 21, 2011 members of the class of 1958 were
in attendance at the Night of Excellence to formally congratulate and to offer
support to Brittany (see photo below).
She expressed her excitement and gratitude for the
financial award, which will be a major contribution to her college tuition at
Queens University in North Carolina.
Her aunt literally shared tears of joy because both
sisters received substantial scholarships and recognition. Brittany demonstrated her interest to
pursue a degree in education, in particular secondary education with a major in
English.
Besides her high school grades, extracurricular activities
and after school employment, the Foundation Board was very much influenced by
her personal history and her ability to overcome personal hardships and tragedy.
As one of her recommendations indicated, “She has
coped with many hardships in her short life including the death of her father,
poverty, transience, death of a much loved brother through violence two years
ago and now her mother’s impending death from cancer”.
(Brittany’s mother died on March 28, 2011.)
Brittany’s essays presented a young woman who
exemplified wisdom and maturity beyond her years. Recently, Bob Bocwinski, Chairman of the Foundation Board,
received an email from Brittany in which she stated: I am really excited about starting college. I would just like
to let you know, and I hope you forward this to the class, how much this
scholarship has meant to me and helped me. Yes, it is helping paying for my
tuition but it is also doing so much more than that. This summer I have been
working two jobs in order to make sure I have everything I need for college, but
because I have earned enough scholarships that I don't have to pay tuition this
year, I am able to enter college with some money in my pocket which is a HUGE
relief. Not only that, but throughout this whole year I have learned a lot about
the kindness in people's heart and that there really are people out there
willing to help when you are willing to put in the effort to help yourself
first. I can't wait to share my story with others and one day to give back by
giving to people in need. Through the generosity of the Gaudette family and all the
contributing members of the great PHS Class of 1958 we were able to assist
Brittany and to help launch her future as an educator.
Attending the Night of Excellence were (l-r) John Folcik,
Barbara Dahlgren, Ed Wishart, Brittany, Bob Bocwinski, Marie Shay Cassidy, and
John Deli. |
