There was a recent article by Jan Tormay regarding the shortage of tradespeople in the area (The Lyme Times, Jan. 26, 2023). Over the last two years, the Salem Lions Club has been aware of this situation. After much discussion and planning we have established a program, Salem Lions Club Vo-Tech Support Grant, to help address this situation.

Beginning this year, the Club will award a $1000 grant to two graduating eighth-grade students at Salem Middle School. The purpose of this grant is to enable the two students, who have chosen to attend a vocational-technical, or vo-tech, school, to acquire the necessary equipment and supplies to help them through their years at their chosen profession.

The club has established a application process for the student to submit. The qualifications to apply are:

– The applicant must be an eighth-grade student in good standing graduating from Salem K-8 school.

– The applicant must be a resident of Salem, Conn.

– Recipients of the grant must use these funds for high school expenses related to their trade (for example: tools, uniforms, work boots) during the year awarded.

The application includes such information as personal information, desired Vo-Tech field of study, the vo-tech school the student wishes to attend, letters of recommendation from a guidance counselor or teacher, and a 150-word writing prompt in which the students explains why they want to attend a vo-tech school and discusses the career they wish to pursue.

Each year, the Salem Lions Club Vo-Tech Support Grant Committee chairperson will notify the Salem School of the grant with the required information the candidate must submit. The timeline for submission will be indicated with that notification. Those applications timely submitted will be reviewed by a committee made up of Lions Club members, including members who have attended vo-tech schools, which will decide the two recipients for the year.

The Salem Lions Club already annually awards $2000 scholarships to two graduating Salem High School seniors. We will now annually provide the Vo-Tech Support Grant to support Salem students with their academic and career efforts. The winners of both scholarships will be announced at the Salem Lions Club annual June Diner awards meeting.