Rotary Club to Give Scholarships to Seniors Bound for GCC
Original publication date: 2008-02-21 08:11:53
The Rotary Club voted to give the scholarships only to students planning to attend Greenfield Community College.
“We wanted to do all that we could to promote GCC, which is a tremendous educational institution in our own backyard and help local kids in the process,” said Michael Johnson, president of the Franklin County Rotary Club.
The decision to give the scholarships only to GCC bound students came after GCC President Bob Pura was honored by the club with its Vocation Service Award, one of the highest awards the club can bestow on a person, for service above and beyond the call of duty. After the award, Pura was invited back to talk more about GCC.
“Bob just inspired us so much when he came to speak,” said Penny Ricketts, a member of the club. “I think this is an excellent idea because we will be investing in local young adults choosing to pursue education close to home.”
Ricketts said that all the club’s fundraisers are supported by local businesses and keeping the money local by giving it to GCC bound students is a wonderful way to close that circle.
Pura said GCC is honored by the Rotary Club’s decision and is happy to count the club as a partner in helping to provide quality education to the people of Franklin County.
"We are so very appreciative of The Rotary Club of Franklin County and its leadership for this change in policy. The Rotarians have a long history of service to our community. This adds to that history,” Pura said. “We appreciate the scholarships, of course, but we also appreciate their confidence and trust in GCC. Our faculty and staff will continue in our efforts to live up to that trust. At a time when our nation seems hellbent on driving a wedge between Access and Excellence, we at GCC remain committed to both. The Rotary is now a partner in that commitment."
Tim Farrell, a member of the club and a member of the GCC Board of Trustees, said it’s important to support students choosing to attend GCC, especially because many local students are no able to afford a four-year college. He said GCC gives a first-rate education to these students and gives them a boost towards eventually earning a baccalaureate.
“I think it’s clear that the Rotary Club knows the importance of the college and has always been a supporter of the college,” Farrell said. “The Rotary’s primary purpose is to raise money to help the community. We know that GCC is an extreme benefit for our area, and we want to continue working with the college to make that access to education available.”
The Rotary Club accepts members through an application process and is always looking for new members. Its other activities include raising money for Relay for Life, cleaning up Route 2 from the rotary to the Shelburne line eight months of the year, an Easter Egg hunt, a downtown Halloween festival, a Franklin County Fair booth and a literacy project with the Greenfield school system.