CVCSF in the News

(shortened version appeared on page 12 of the January 26, 2012 edition of the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript under the title, “Small change has big impact.”)

For several years in a row, retail businesses across the nine towns of the ConVal school district have collected enough customer-donated pocket change to fund a Merchants Scholarship for a college-bound ConVal High School graduate through the ConVal Community Scholarship Foundation (CVCSF) Dollars for Scholars.

Most sincerely,

Phil Grisafi, President
November 2011

Just after Thanksgiving, the ConVal Community Scholarship Foundation (CVCSF) chapter of Dollars for Scholars® held its annual board meeting and member reception at the Nubanusit Neighborhood’s Common House in Peterborough, hosted by Founder Sue Chollet.

As its first order of business, the board said farewell to Timothy Kolk, outgoing treasurer and executive committee member who had given 3 ½ years of extraordinary volunteer service to the foundation. In his place the board unanimously elected Sandy Bibace of Peterborough, whose career includes controller for SDE, financial manager for SoftLanding Systems and now as a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor. William Kennedy, also of Peterborough, was elected president of the board.

Kennedy recently retired as chief operations officer after merging his 15-year old local robotics business startup, MobileRobots, with California-based Adept Technology, Inc. Outgoing President Philip Grisafi remains on the board and will continue as a valuable member of the CVCSF’s awards committee. Rounding out the executive team, VP and Secretary James Callahan agreed to serve an additional year in those capacities.

The CVCSF is a 501(c)3 non-profit chapter of Dollars for Scholars® that awards financial help and future hope to Contoocook Valley High School grads as they pursue post-secondary education in the face of extraordinary challenges. The CVCSF is seeking additional volunteer help, as well as donations. Anyone interested in contributing to this compelling cause, please contact KennedyMRI [at] gmail [dot] com.
 

CVCSF Unveils New Scholarship Program

At its annual board meeting in early December, the ConVal Community Scholarship Foundation (CVCSF) Dollars for Scholars® unveiled a new scholarship program. Beginning this school year—the CVCSF’s fifth year of giving—a dozen scholars each will be given up to $250 to help defray their costs of post-secondary education applications and related expenses. In the past, the $250 was the minimal scholarship award by the CVCSF to be used for future college tuitions. According to the CVCSF’s newly elected President William Kennedy, “CVCSF and ConVal High’s Student Assistance Team recognition during the student’s senior year gives them that extra boost to aim higher in life and think seriously about their future education. This up-front financial support highlights our commitment to them and their goals.” The fund will be dispensed through a special account administered by CVCSF’s Awards and Mentoring Program Manager and ConVal High Guidance Counselor, JoAnn Fletcher.

The CVCSF is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all-volunteer chapter of Dollars for Scholars® supported by tax-deductible donations that awards financial help and future hope to Contoocook Valley High School grads as they pursue post-secondary education in the face of extraordinary challenges. For more information, see our website CVCSF.org and/or contact KennedyMRI [at] gmail [dot] com.

The ConVal Community Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars (CVCSF) was incorporated in 2006 as a not for profit corporation to give financial and mentoring assistance to graduating high school students residing in the ConVal region with limited prospects for postsecondary education. The first objective was to provide this help to those who would benefit most. The second was to motivate, encourage and assist high school students in the completion of secondary and the pursuit of postsecondary education. The third was to build an endowment adequate to provide scholarships to worthy and needy students for years to come.

Organizations Support Scholarship Fund

We Must Continue to Choose Education

Community Scholarship Awarded

William Groff, recently retired after 23 years of service as a New Hampshire Superior Court judge, has been elected to become a member of the ConVal Community Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors. Groff and his wife, Susan, have lived in Peterborough for the last 16 years, following 14 years in Temple. Their three daughters are graduates of ConVal High School. Judge Groff has chosen to serve on the CVCSF board in order to participate actively in this organization’s work in giving financial and mentoring assistance to ConVal High School students who without this support might otherwise not have post secondary education opportunities.

Wesley Maggs, a professional photographer who also runs a merchants services business, has joined the CVCSF team as a volunteer to manage its scholarship collection jar campaign which, in 2009 and 2010, has funded a two-year scholarships for one student each year.
 

ConVal Community Scholarship Foundation (CVCSF) jars at 27 locations in the nine town ConVal school district took in enough coins (and occasional dollar bills) this year to pay for a new ConVal Merchants Scholarship to be awarded to a ConVal region 2011 high school graduate in June. Collections totaled $3,789 up from $2,517 in 2009. John Vance, CVCSF Director, said that “CVCSF scholarship and mentoring awards are given to ConVal region graduates who overcome obstacles, face challenges, aim higher and demonstrate potential to achieve. This year’s Top Jar Award goes to Mr. Mike’s Mini-Mart in Peterborough where $854.31 was collected this year, the most from any one location. The Dublin General Store, last year’s winner, was in second place.” 

Seen here is the jar on the counter at Mr. Mike’s under the caring attention of Tamey Donnelly, Newton Lundsted and Philip Roy recipients of this year’s Ava Marie Chocolates gift certificate Jar labels show the face of current CVCSF Scholars and names of current year winners. 

Again in 2011 the CVCSF organization will offer scholarship and mentoring awards of up to $6,500 up to six current year high school graduates resident in the nine towns in the ConVal district. Last year’s ConVal Merchants’ award winner, Jesse Tilton of Bennington, is doing very well in his associate degree program in automotive technology at the NH Community College in Nashua. 

When you see one of our jars, drop a dollar, save a scholar.

Samantha Mannion knew that becoming a marine biologist would be a challenge, but had no inkling about the adventure she would have in June.

Samantha Mannion of West Peterborough, right, and Michelle Bibeau, also a UNH student, studied marine science on the Isles of Shoals this summer.