>>Valley Patriot>>
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College
Club of Greater Lawrence
(04/04/07)
Kathelleen Corey Rahme, Methuen
City Council
 It’s
that time of year again. The college applications are in
and now it’s time to apply for those scholarships.
With the costs of higher education being what they are,
every little bit counts. The College Club of Greater
Lawrence is offering eighteen, $1,500 scholarships this
year to deserving students.
The applications can be obtained from the guidance
departments of local schools and are due on Tuesday,
April 24, 2007. A scholarship committee is responsible
for reading and reviewing each application and they
carefully select the winners based on academic
performance, leadership, community service and financial
need. Students who are planning to attend a four-year
college or university are eligible. There is an essay
component where students must write about their personal
and career goals. Residents of Andover, North Andover,
Methuen, and Lawrence are eligible. Graduating seniors
from Andover High School, Central Catholic, Greater
Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical High School,
Brooks, Lawrence High School, Methuen High School, North
Andover High School, Presentation of Mary Academy and
Phillips Academy are eligible to apply. Winners will be
notified by May 11, 2007, and there will be a scholarship
dinner on June 5, 2007 to honor the recipients.
What is the College Club of Greater Lawrence? Eighty-six
years ago, a group of women interested in promoting
friendship among female college graduates and in
providing scholarships to students graduating from
Greater Lawrence high schools, formed the College Club of
Greater Lawrence. Since its inception, hundreds of local
students have benefited from the benevolence of this club
as recipients of thousands of dollars in scholarship
money.
In the early years, the club relied on bake sales and
other fund raiser to provide scholarships. In the early
years, $50 scholarships were given. In 1942, a $100
scholarship was awarded to Miss Georgia McHugh who
graduated Salutatorian from Searles High School in
Methuen. She went to the University of Massachusetts and
later became an executive at Fireman’s Fund
Insurance Company in California. She died a millionaire
at the age of 63. To demonstrate her appreciation of the
club’s generosity, she bequeathed a sum of money to
the College Club of Greater Lawrence to be used
specifically for scholarships.
It is through prudent investing that the College Club has
been able to continue and expand its scholarship program.
Fluctuations in the market dictate the award amount and
numbers given. It is because of the wise investments of
the funds from the generosity of Georgia McHugh that the
club has been able to promote college work and provide
scholarships.
Every year the members are able to meet the recipients at
the scholarship dinner. As a member for the past nine
years, the students continue to impress me. I have heard
their testimonials regarding their desired career paths
and they have included pediatric thoracic surgeons,
educators, and photojournalists. The membership is quite
diverse in age and career paths. Members include
educators, business women, retirees, and other
professionals. Some women are currently out of the work
force and raising their families. The common thread is a
desire to promote scholarship among educated women.
The College Club of Greater Lawrence is always looking
for new members. If you are a female, graduate of a
four-year college and are interested in meeting other
women who share your background, this club is for you.
The College Club is currently seeking new members who are
interested in supporting local, college bound students.
Yearly dues are only $20 and there are only four meetings
a year, as well the scholarship dinner. The meetings are
always quite entertaining and would satisfy a variety of
interests. Some past programs include story tellers,
politicians, published authors, an origami master,
interior designer, student and professional musicians,
antique appraiser, and motivational speakers.
Club President, Linda Friel acknowledged that the club is
eager to promote its scholarships as well as its
networking and social potentials. One hundred thirty-six
women are members. “Our students are our
future, and the College Club of Greater Lawrence
continues to provide them with assistance as they leave
high school and move into higher education,” said
Friel.
I would like to thank President Linda Friel for her
assistance in writing this column. If you would like to
join this club, call Friel at 978-372-1027 or email her
at lafriel@comcast.net.
Kathleen Corey Rahme is the former Central District
Councilor in Methuen and was elected as a city councilor
“at large” last year. She is also the founder
of the Methuen Youth Corps and hosts “Call to
Serve.” You can email her at kcoreyrahme
@comcast.net
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The March 2007 Edition
of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 12,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
Boxford, Amesbury,
Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury, MERRIMACK, Hampton &
Salisbury Beach, and Lowell.
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