The Essex Garden Club is pleased to announce the winners of its college scholarships for 2023. The scholarships are given to students who are pursuing environmental studies.
This year scholarships totaling $20,000 were awarded to the following six area students:
Emma Carey, a 2020 Valley Regional High School alumni, is a junior at the University of Delaware. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science with minors in soil science and landscape horticulture. Emma is a rowing athlete on the University of Delaware’s Division 1 squad.
Tabitha Hardgrove, a 2020 Valley Regional High School alumnus and a junior at Rochester Institute of Technology, is studying biology. She is a member of the school’s Community Garden and Beekeeping Club. Tabitha’s ambition is to work for Fish and Wildlife Services, assisting with local wildlife conservation.
Anna Benson attends Valley Regional High School and is a senior. Anna plans to major in biology at Northeastern University in the fall. Anna is the President of Valley’s Interact Club, an organization dedicated to serving others.
Nathaniel Hill, a Valley Regional High School graduate and sophomore at the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, is studying natural resources. Nathaniel is interested in biodiversity programs and intends to study in Galway, Ireland, in the spring of 2024 to gain a better understanding of how small towns develop and implement biodiversity action plans.
Patrick McCauley graduated from Xavier High School in 2022. In the fall of 2023, Patrick will be a sophomore at Union College. Environmental Policy is his intended major. Patrick and his dog are usually seen wandering the paths near Canfield Meadow Woods.
Jack Finnegan is a senior at Valley Regional High School who plans to attend MIT to study computer science (with a focus on the environment). Jack has been a class officer and a baseball player for four years. He intends to investigate how his academic interest in computer science intersects with his love of outdoors and concern for the environment.
Furthermore, the garden club will grant scholarships to 43 children from Essex neighborhoods to attend environmental camps offered by The Incarnation Center, Camp Hazen, and Essex Parks and Recreation.
The revenues from the club’s annual May Market, as well as generous gifts from The Kitchings Family Foundation and Essex Savings Bank, make these scholarships possible. The club would like to thank everyone who helped make this possible.