Scholarship Committee's Future Uncertain as Membership Declines

For more than 40 years, volunteers from Durham and Middlefield have been raising money to help send local high school students off to college.

But members of the Coginchaug Regional High School Scholarship Committee, an organization responsible for raising and distributing thousands of dollars worth of scholarships each year, say the group faces an uncertain future as membership to the committee declines.

"We are having a conversation about whether or not we are going to be able to continue," said Kelly Therrien, Scholarship Committee president.

"I don't know if there's a downward trend in people wanting to volunteer or become involved in these type of things but people just aren't volunteering the way that they used to," she said.

Since it was established in 1972, the scholarship committee has raised close to one million dollars in scholarships which are now given out through the Senior Fund. Each year, the scholarships are provided to qualified applicants who plan to continue their education beyond high school.

Last year alone, the committee raised more than $35,000 through the group's two primary fundraisers, the Scholarship Ball and the Chocolate Covered Banana booth at the Durham Fair, as well as a car wash. As a result, nearly 90 students who applied for the Senior Fund scholarship and were qualified received $400 each.

This year, 102 students applied for the scholarship.

In addition, the committee administers 56 private scholarships offered throughout the community.

"The amount of money and the amount of help that that this committee and these scholarships have given to kids has just been phenomenal," said Superintendent Susan Viccaro.

In recent years, however, membership to the scholarship committee has fallen from 25 volunteers (as required by the organization's by-laws) to just a dozen members this year, according to Therrien. Fewer members puts more stress on the existing members to do more. Donations are down as well, Therrien said.

"Last year 222 people attended the Scholarship Ball. We had 150 this year," she said.

A 1993 graduate of Coginchaug, Therrien joined the committee seven years ago as a way of giving back to the community.

"I became involved in the committee because I just felt it's so important and it's such a great organization. I don't believe any other towns, that I've heard of, have an independent scholarship committee which is totally maintained by volunteers," she said.

But with two young school children, work commitments and other volunteer opportunities, Therrien will be leaving the committee at the end of the school year. More members are likely to follow Therrien as their children get ready to head to college.

"We don't want to see it dissipate. We're all extremely passionate about this organization," Therrien said.

"We welcome anyone with open arms that want to get involved in a great organization," said Martha Luther, a three year committee member. "We don't want to fold up the tent."

The scholarship committee meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Durham Public Library. New members are required to make a three year commitment to the committee to allow for better continuity among the organization.

This year's scholarships will be awarded at the Senior Awards on June 5 at Coginchaug High School.

"If people want to be a member, they should call immediately. The sooner the better," Therrien said. She can be contacted at crhsscholarshipfund@gmail.com.