The Dr. Ruth Griffiths Endowed Scholarship
Criteria: (Amount Equal to One Full Annual Tuition Award) The Dr. Ruth Griffiths Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to either an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Elementary Education. The applicant should have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and his/her essay should show evidence of a commitment to the advancement of children and the teaching profession. If the applicant sees any other connections between the brief write up of Dr. Griffiths and him/her self it would be thoughtful to include them in the essay.
Dr. Ruth Griffiths joined the faculty at Worcester State University in 1958 and for many years served as the chair of the Education Department and as coordinator of the Master of Education in Elementary Education degree program. She drove to work each day from her home in North Andover and was always in the parking lot by 7:30 a.m. She was the ultimate professional who was well-known for her ability to identify potential in students and to encourage them to reach for higher goals.
Ruth was a positive, energetic, witty woman who always had a funny story to share with colleagues and students. She was widely respected throughout the campus and community. She had a good sense of the evolution of teacher education and of the college. She was often called upon by the faculty and administrators to research and provide statistical data on a variety of topics because she was so well-prepared and so quick to generate the requested reports.
A graduate of Lowell State Teachers College, Ruth earned her M.Ed. and Ed.D. at Boston University and later served as dean of students at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire before coming to Worcester State University.
Ruth enjoyed traveling and spent summers in Maine and later on Cape Cod. She loved music and was active in church choirs in Farmington, Maine, Plymouth, New Hampshire and North Andover, Mass.
Ruth was actively involved on the scholarship committee in North Andover and took a leadership role in establishing the criteria and in fund-raising to provide scholarships for worthy North Andover students going on to college.
“She was a lovely lady, very gracious and kind,” recalled Dr. Catherine Quint ’39, who served on the WSU faculty during Ruth’s tenure. “She set high standards, and yet she allowed people to be independent. She led through example and inspired people to do their best.”
This scholarship was established by friends and colleagues of Dr. Griffiths to honor her dedication to education, her exemplary leadership and her ultimate professionalism. Her spirit of kindness and generosity is fondly remembered by everyone whose life she touched.