Senexet Grange awarded scholarships to seven students on August 1st. Four students attended the ceremony which included Nathan Giamundo,Helena Duffy Scholarship winner attending the University of Rhode Island studying business, Danielle Nowak, John F. Duffy Scholarship winner attending the University of Connecticut studying animal science and biology, Michael Thienel, Helena Duffy Scholarship winner attending Eastern Connecticut State University studying elementary education, and Harley Blodgett, John F. Duffy Scholarship winner attending Keene State in New Hampshire studying nutrition. Not present included winners of the John F. Duffy Scholarship Tyler Luppi, Victoria Palacios, and Sarah Owen.

Diane Miller is the chair of the Scholarship Committee and has been a member of the Grange for 50 years now. The criteria to win the scholarships is the students must represent the prinicples of the Grange which now stresses the importance of community service. They must also be residents of Woodstock and have graduated from one of the following schools, Woodstock Academy, Killingly High School’s vocational/technical program, or Ellis Tech. The committee looks for well rounded students who excel in school, participate in extra-circulatory activities and donate their time to the community by participating in community service. Questions asked on the application include “What is your need?”, “Where are you going to be going to school?”, and “Are you working now?”. These are some of the questions we ask to know that they are self-motivated, they work during the school year or during the summer to make some money to go to school. We were proud of all the students we gave scholarships to this year. They been in sports, other activities, volunteered in the community and in school, and they are working to meet their goals.