Class of 1961 Endowed Scholarship

Class of 1961 Endowed Scholarship

Criteria: (Amount Equal to One Full Annual In-State Tuition) The Class of 1961 Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore, junior or senior majoring in Education. Applicants must be residents of Massachusetts and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Preference will be given, but not limited, to relatives of a Worcester State graduate from the Class of 1961. Applicants must provide a 500-word essay expressing why they should be the recipients of this scholarship along with their application.

As a tangible expression of their deep appreciation for the education they received at Worcester State University, members of the Class of 1961 are delighted to create this endowed scholarship in honor of their 50th reunion.

Members of the reunion planning committee, in particular, believe it is a way to honor Worcester State’s heritage as a university of that provides high-quality education to students who work hard in and out of the classroom.

There was no such thing as a flexible, full-time course schedule or a part-time program in the late 1950s and early 1960s. So many in the class went to work after spending their entire day in classes as well as held weekend jobs. The veterans in the class, most of whom had served in the Korean War, went to full-time jobs when classes ended at four o’clock—or five o’clock if they had a lab—in order to provide for their families.

A small number of scholarships existed then, and that financial assistance enabled Class of 1961 recipients to continue pursuing their dream of a college degree.

With degrees in teaching in hand, class members found they could find work as teachers anywhere in the United States. They recognize now how well Worcester State prepared them for their professional success.

The impetus for this scholarship was the generosity of the Class of 1961 that members of the reunion planning committee never imagined was possible. Now the legacy of the class’s hardworking members will forever inspire recipients to continue undaunted until they reach their academic goals.

Scholarships