Foundation milestone is gratifying

Three million and counting.

For Alice Fitzpatrick, the more than $3 million in scholarships awarded by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut over nearly three decades is a reflection of this region's generosity - and its academic strengths.

Fitzpatrick, the president of the New London-based community foundation, says this year's distribution of nearly $280,000 in 76 scholarships will assist more than 160 students across the 42 towns and cities that are now part of the foundation's coverage.

Included in that amount, she points out, is $21,000 in grants for financial-aid programs for local students attending Mitchell College in New London, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic and Three Rivers Community College in Norwich.

And, says Fitzpatrick, most of the scholarships that are administered by the community foundation are set up in perpetuity, able to aid this region's future scholars for a long time to come.

Mary Seidner, who is a trustee of the community foundation, says the eight-member scholarship review committee made up of local residents has been very impressed with the applicants seeking financial assistance.

It is a challenge, she admits, with the "sheer volume" of applicants, including high school students as well as local students who are attending college. More than 300 applied for scholarships from the community foundation this year. "But it's a very rewarding experience to help these students further their education," she noted.

Besides the many existing, and diverse, scholarships that are overseen by the community foundation, this year's scholarships included two inaugural awards from two new funds for the study of art or a career in government or politics: The $1,000 Latin Network for Visual Art Scholarship, awarded to Claire Howard of Waterford, and the $500 Margaret Mary Curtin Scholarship, set up to honor longtime New London leader Peg Curtin. The Curtin scholarship, earmarked for female students pursuing a career in government or politics, was awarded to Marie Schenk of Waterford.

"The number staggers me when looking over the past 28 years (of foundation scholarships," says Fitzpatrick. The foundation, through the generosity of the many individuals across this region who have set up scholarships, has awarded 1,823 scholarships during that time period. "That's a lot of financial aid," says Fitzpatrick.

She says that all those who work with the scholarship applicants find it an exhaustive, but extremely rewarding, experience.

"We hear so much (that's negative) about kids today," Fitzpatrick says. "These applications are very soul satisfying. These are a real good crop of impressive kids."

Anthony Cronin is The Day's business editor.