Appreciation Dinner Held in Canton Honors Students, Founding Donors
CANTON — Ten St. Lawrence County members of the class of 2022 were recently honored as recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Evergreen STEM Scholarship.
Students are awarded the scholarship due to their interest and intent to study in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field while in college. Students apply while in their junior year of high school and are selected during the summer. Recipients will receive a one-year $3,000 scholarship toward their freshman year of college this fall.
The Evergreen STEM scholarship is made possible thanks to the generosity of former Gouverneur resident and Massena native Charles Owens and his late wife, Higouhi “Hi” Owens. The scholarship is a permanent fund of the Community Foundation and provides $30,000 annually for high school students who live in St. Lawrence County. Since its inception, 60 students have been awarded Evergreen STEM scholarships totaling $180,000 in educational support.
“We are now seeing the first college graduates whose educational paths were supported by this program. Many of them are helping supply the workforce needs in the STEM fields in our region. It is fulfilling to see the Owens’ vision for this program come to fruition in meaningful ways,” said Rande Richardson, Northern New York Community Foundation executive director.
Students had the opportunity meet and thank Mr. Owens and his daughter, Sandy Owens Hosier. Parents, school guidance counselors, and several district administrators also attended.
Mrs. Hosier, a retired English teacher who spent 33 years teaching in the Port Byron School District, told students she is grateful her parents had the foresight to create the Evergreen STEM scholarship program.
This year’s students are interested in pursuing careers in education, engineering, medicine, biology, biomolecular science, and mathematics, among others.
Mr. Owens and his wife established the scholarship at the Community Foundation in 2014 to inspire high school students to pursue post-secondary studies and careers in STEM. Mr. Owens spent his professional life as a pharmacist and later in senior management for Kinney Drugs, retiring in 1994. The first scholarships were awarded in 2016. During that time, others have made contributions to help build the permanent fund.
2021-2022 Evergreen STEM Scholars
- Katelynn Bennett, Hugh C. Williams High School, Canton, engineering
- Dylan Bissonette, St. Lawrence Central School, engineering
- Keaton Brabaw, Hermon-DeKalb Central School, pharmaceutical sciences
- Harlee Cook, Harrisville Central School, education
- Brynn Farley, Gouverneur Central School, civil engineering / architecture
- Brianna Grant, Potsdam Central School, biology / medicine
- Calea LeBel, Lisbon Central School, chemical engineering
- Hailey Morrissiey, Gouverneur Central School, biomolecular science
- Daniel Onyper, Hugh C. Williams High School, Canton, engineering
- Laney Tiernan, Madrid-Waddington Central School, mathematics or engineering
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors, and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.