The George F. Stowe ’62, MA ’64, Scholarship

Criteria: (One $1,000.00 Award) The George Stowe Scholarship will be awarded to a non-traditional student interested in the education or nursing fields. Preference will be given to students who want to become a teacher or nurse. The ideal candidate should demonstrate good character, initiative and leadership and be able to demonstrate a financial need.

George, who passed away in July 2014, began his career in the Sutton public schools as a teacher and principal of Manchaug Elementary School. He also served as principal of the Dudley Elementary School and Mason Road School, as well as the Director of Elementary Education and Title One Director for the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District, among other administrative roles.
“Education was always a focal point in our careers, and in our lives,” said his wife, Joanne Stowe MA ’72, who retired as an assistant superintendent of schools after a 36-year career in education. “He always stressed the importance of an education and the significant impact a teacher can have in the classroom.”
The George F. Stowe ’62, MA ’64, Scholarship may also be awarded to a student pursuing a nursing education, as a way to honor George’s mother, who was a nurse, and also as a tribute the caring and skilled nurses at UMass Memorial Health Care.
Preference will also go to a non-traditional student as an acknowledgement of George’s mentorship and passion for helping colleagues pursue administrative leadership roles.
“Through the years he would encounter people who dropped out of college because of personal or financial reasons and George would always encourage them to go back to school. He’d tell them to take it one step at a time,” said Joanne. “Non-traditional students often find it difficult to find the resources to go back to school, so hopefully this scholarship can help those students.”
The St. Francis Community Health Care Foundation, along with Mr. Stowe’s family, contributed to the scholarship.