Recognition, Appreciation Dinner in Canton Honors Students, Founding Donors
WATERTOWN — Ten St. Lawrence County members of the Class of 2026 were recently named 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 and apply during their junior year of high school for selection in the summer. Recipients will receive a one-year $3,000 scholarship toward their freshman year of college next 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, 100 students have been awarded Evergreen STEM scholarships totaling $300,000 in educational support.
“As an award made in the junior year for nearly a decade now, this scholarship continues to be a unique and instrumental tool in helping support and encourage St. Lawrence County students considering a career path in the STEM fields,” said Rande S. Richardson, Northern New York Community Foundation executive director. “Mr. Owens and his children see recipients of their scholarship as part of their extended family and take deep interest in their success.”
In October, students had a chance to meet and thank Mr. Owens, his son, Bruce, and his daughter, Sandy Owens Hosier, at a scholarship recognition and appreciation dinner in Canton. Parents, school guidance counselors, and several district administrators also attended.
Bruce Owens is a retired engineer who spent more than 30 years with The Boeing Company. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sandy Owens Hosier is a retired English teacher who spent 33 years teaching in the Port Byron School District.
This year’s students are pursuing post-secondary education in pharmacy, engineering, medicine, psychology, and biomedicine, among others.
Mr. Owens and his wife established the scholarship at the Community Foundation in 2014 to inspire high school students to focus on post-secondary studies and careers in STEM while encouraging them to pursue employment opportunities in the North Country. 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.
2025-2026 Evergreen STEM Scholars
- Violet J. Atkinson, Harrisville Central School, Kinesiology
- David Cheng, Hugh C. Williams High School, Engineering
- Emily G. Ewy, Potsdam Central School, Dietetics
- Abigail B. Hayes, Potsdam Central School, Pharmacy
- Lauren L. Lopez, Heuvelton Central School, Radiology
- Jacob L. Monroe, Massena Central School, Electrical Engineering
- Gabrielle H. Paradis, Ogdensburg Free Academy, Pharmacy
- Benjamin S. Weaver, Madrid-Waddington Central School, Aerospace Engineering
- Keely J. Wilhelm, Lisbon Central School, Biomedical
- Gianna M. Willis, Ogdensburg Free Academy, Psychology
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.
