The Kathleen M. McAloon Memorial Scholarship

Criteria: ($1,000 award) The Kathleen M. McAloon Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student with financial need who is majoring in either Urban Studies, Business Administration, or Economics with a GPA of 2.7 or higher. Applicants should provide an essay attesting to their need for this scholarship and describing their understanding of the parallels between economics and the field of Urban Studies (the understanding of complex challenges of urban/metropolitan areas).

Kathleen M. McAloon, a junior majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Political Science, was a dedicated daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, friend, and student when her life was tragically cut short in an automobile accident in 2004.

Throughout her years at WSU, for example, she would return to North Andover every Sunday to go to church with her father and to visit and have dinner with her mother and stepfather. She also loved animals, especially her two cats.

While at WSU, she lived in the dorms and worked part-time as a waitress. She was also a volunteer at St. Michael’s Church in North Andover and Habitat for Humanity.

Katie was a 2001 graduate of North Andover High School, and when she was looking at colleges, her Mother, Darlene Ellis, says, she chose to apply to—and ultimately attend—WSU because of its high-quality academics and “intimate personal structure.”

A very motivated and dedicated student, according to her mother, Katie was unsatisfied unless she excelled in her classes. She had the drive and determination to accomplish whatever she set her mind to do.

Katie impressed Urban Studies Professor Steve Corey and Adjunct Professor Alan I. Gordon, who say she “was an excellent student and a rare human being.” As Katie excelled in their Urban Studies courses, “it was clearly evident that with her intellectual interests and dedication, she would succeed in any academic or professional field or endeavor which she chose.”

The two professors have established this scholarship in Katie’s memory. This scholarship “would be an effective way for her memory and spirit to assist other students of similar dedication,” they say.