History of the Fund
In 1961, the Kent Center School PTA formed a committee to establish a scholarship fund allocating $100 from its treasury. It then voted to add its $250 commission from the class pictures to the fund to create a $350 scholarship, the first amount in the history of the fund awarded to a student. Slowly, as the community became more aware of the value of supporting local students
, the fund grew, separating from the PTA in 1982, and becoming incorporated as the Kent Center School Scholarship Fund with nonprofit status, a board and bylaws. Since 1961, many volunteers have made the KCSSF a strong presence, historically one of the first scholarship funds in Connecticut emanating from a K-8 school, not a high school. Local organizations have traditionally supported the general fund financially, as have members of the community. The fund is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, comprised of nineteen members. Applicants for scholarship awards shall be graduates of Kent Center School and shall have attended the school for a minimum of two consecutive years that shall include grades seven and eight. Recipients may reapply for scholarships to provide support during each school year for a maximum of four years. “Post secondary” education can include two and four-year college programs, as well as vocational and technical schools. Contributions and Named Scholarships
Contributions have come from hundreds of individuals and businesses since 1961. Bequests from estates and memorial gifts are a major source of support, as well as contributions given in response to fundraisers and annual appeals. The Scholarship Committee has raised money in the past with our annual Valentine’s Chocolate Fest in February. Over the years a number of “named scholarships” have been established. As of 2013, the following named scholarships are:
The J.H. Aiken Award
The Alumni Award
The Carlozzi Family Award
The Kay Cracas Award
The Moira Dolan Award
The Lux Ewald Award
The James Gadiel Award
The Donald Kingsley Gowan III Award
The James and Cecile Irving Award
The Virginia Johnson Award The Kent Grange Award
The LuAnne Kragh Award
The A. Perry MacFarlane Award
The Ruth Mainland Award
The Alan and Martha McDowell Award
The Robert Pratt Award
The Laura Simms Award
The Anthony Standen Award
The Michel Yovanovitch Award
The Justin Auer Zunino Award
History of Awards
In 1961, one scholarship was given. Totals for various other years are as follows:
1978- $1,650 to 4 students
1989- $17,400 to 18 students
1998- $31,000 to 24 students
2008- $60,720 to 58 students
2009- $65,960 to 59 students
2010- $72,140 to 62 students
2011- $59,110 to 50 students
2012- $75,744 to 56 students
2013- $61,300 to 47 students
As higher education costs have increased, the Board of Directors has worked hard to increase individual awards, as well as the total amount of money in the fund. The funds awarded each year are a combination of recent contributions and interest from the endowment fund.
