WCLT Scholarships 2020 Awarded

In 2020 the Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) awarded two $1,000 scholarships and two honorable mentions to graduating Westborough High School (WHS) seniors. Awards were made on the basis of essays written for WCLT’s annual Earth Day Essay Contest, which was held in spite of coronavirus-related school closures this spring.

Audrey Didier won a scholarship for her essay describing how she came to know the Bowman woods through the town’s nature camp and Girl Scout activities, connected with nature for comfort during stressful times, and now cares for the woods on every visit by carrying a trash bag and picking up litter. Her college plans include entering the honors program at Fairfield University and a likely major in either mathematics or economics.

Carolyn McDermott received a scholarship for her essay about walking with her dog on Charm Bracelet and Mill Pond trails, finding solace in the woods, and making nature her artistic muse for photographing small details in the natural world. She plans to attend Fairfield University as a nursing major.

The winning essays can be read on the WCLT website at https://westboroughlandtrust.org/pr/2020-scholarship-award.

Additionally, Sarah Stroscio was recognized with an honorable mention for her essay about the problem of traffic in Westborough and its contribution to air pollution and greenhouse gases, her suggestion to create bike lanes on roads in town to make local bike travel safer and more appealing, and her personal efforts to bike and walk more and to drive less. In the fall she will attend Assumption College and major in elementary education in order to become a teacher.

Andrew O’Keefe received an honorable mention for his essay describing how his Eagle Scout project of rehabilitating a trailhead at Gilmore Pond deepened his understanding of the importance of access to natural areas such as Gilmore Pond for everyone, but especially for people with movement disabilities, and his ongoing work to keep trails and nature accessible to all. He plans to attend Quinnipiac University to study engineering.

“Almost all the essay writers mentioned the natural world as a respite from the stress of the coronavirus pandemic. Altogether they named many natural areas in Westborough that they use and appreciate: Lake Chauncy, Gilmore Pond, Mill Pond, Bowman woods, Sawink Farm, and the Charm Bracelet trails,” said Annie Reid of the WCLT Scholarship Committee. “The committee members were impressed by all the essays we received. And as always, we could see how families and the Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations provided many experiences that helped the students get to know and feel close to nature.”

Since the beginning of the scholarship program in 2006, WCLT has awarded 24 scholarships to graduating seniors in Westborough, as well as 24 honorable mentions

(see https://westboroughlandtrust.org/hall-of-fame#ScholarsHOF).