Appreciation Dinner Held in Canton to Honor Students, Founding Donors
CANTON — Ten St. Lawrence County members of the class of 2021 were recently honored as recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Evergreen STEM Scholarship.
Students earned the scholarship due to their interest and intent to study in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field while in college. Students applied while in their junior year of high school and were 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 through the generosity of Gouverneur residents and Massena natives 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, 50 students have been awarded Evergreen STEM scholarships totaling $150,000 in educational support.
“This scholarship continues to represent a meaningful investment in the futures of St. Lawrence County students and holds great meaning for the Owens family beyond the financial support. It is a collective show of support for students interested in the STEM fields and an inspirational boost for their educational aspirations,” said Rande Richardson, Northern New York Community Foundation executive director.
Students had the opportunity to gather for a recognition and appreciation dinner and met and thanked Mr. Owens and his family for their generosity. Parents and school guidance counselors and administrators also attended.
This year’s students are interested in pursuing careers in animal science, computer science, environmental engineering, materials engineering, medicine, physics, psychology, and theater technology.
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.
2020-2021 Evergreen STEM Scholars:
- Corryn Canell, Gouverneur Central School, biochemistry/pre-med
- Skye Crocker, Potsdam Central School, physics/astrophysics
- McCaleb Earle, St. Lawrence Central School, theatre production design/technology
- Abigail Hughes, Potsdam Central School, environmental engineering
- Jordan Kloepping, Hammond Central School, animal science
- Connor McRoberts, Hammond Central School, computer science
- Samuel Moses, Hugh C. Williams High School, Canton, biology/pre-med
- Samantha Munson, Norwood-Norfolk Central School, biology/pre-med
- Kailey Peets, Massena Central School, psychology
- Phoebe Zagrobelny, Madrid-Waddington Central School, materials 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.