The Estelle H. Blake ’60 Scholarship

(One $1,000 award annually) The Estelle H. Blake Scholarship will be awarded to an incoming freshman or current student with a 3.0 or higher G.P.A. The applicant must be pursuing a career in either Psychology or Urban Studies, with a future career interest in a Social Services organization. The applicants should provide evidence of financial need through a short essay upon application.

Even as a senior at Classical High School in Worcester, Estelle Blake ’60 worked a full-time job at an insurance company to earn money for college tuition. She was a good student, and as a result, received a scholarship named for Nancy Burncoat, the pseudonym of a long line of Worcester Telegram society page editors. That scholarship, plus the money she earned before and during college, helped her afford the $50 per semester tuition at Worcester State.

“My parents helped as much as they could with my tuition, books and expenses, but scholarship aid was a blessing,” she said. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my Worcester State education.”

Now retired after a successful career as a teacher and guidance counselor, Estelle wants to help the next generation of hard-working WSU students afford college. She has created an endowed scholarship that will be awarded to psychology or urban studies majors interested in going into the social services field.

After graduating from WSU with a degree in elementary education, Estelle taught English and French to high school students in Portsmouth, N.H., before relocating to Sacramento, Calif., with her husband, John, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. She was active in the Officers Wives Club and also earned a master’s degree in counseling services at the University of California at Sacramento in 1968.

Another military relocation brought Estelle back to New England, where she earned a second master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She was a guidance counselor and English teacher in South Hadley, Mass., before leaving education for a job at Wyman Gordon.
John died quite suddenly at age 49 and Estelle embarked upon a new adventure as the elementary guidance counselor for School District #72 in Southwestern Maine, a district comprised of five elementary schools in the towns of Fryeburg, Brownfield, Denmark, Sweden, Lovell, Stoneham, Stow in Maine and Chatham, N.H. She traveled more than 100 miles a day for 14 years before the harsh winters and travel became too exhausting. After retirement, she moved to Cape Cod with her mother to enjoy a milder climate.
Several years ago, Estelle reconnected close ties with WSU as a result of the encouragement of a classmate to attend a summer WSU alumni event at Cape Cod. The seed for wanting to give back was planted at this event.

Throughout her career, Estelle showed a commitment and dedication to guiding students through challenges in life. She hopes this endowed scholarship inspires future WSU students to pursue their dreams of serving those in need and helping others in their educational pursuits.