STURBRIDGE, MA, 7/13/20 – Woman In Business, Inc. (WIB), now in its 30th year of building community for women in our region by fostering networking, sharing information and experiences, and providing educational opportunities, is pleased to announce its 2020 Scholarship Award recipients: Leia Krans from Tantasqua Regional High School, Alyson Locke from Tantasqua Regional High School, Madison Hughes from Shepherd Hill High School, Jordan Lapierre from Tantasqua Regional High School, and Addison Ellithorpe from Shepherd Hill High School. In total, $2,000 was awarded among these recipients.
Every year Woman In Business awards four-$500 scholarships to deserving area high school seniors in support of their continuing education, and through the Judith A. Jaeger Memorial Scholarship, started in 2017 and endowed by the family of WIB Founder Judith Jaeger, an additional $1000 award is presented to the top candidate among the applicants selected for scholarship prizes. Over the last 30 years, WIB has awarded over $50,000 in scholarship prizes to over 100 deserving young men and women, who go on to do amazing things with their education and life.
Scholarship applications are open to any high school senior in our region by completing a form made available in their Guidance Office and submitting an essay. A special Scholarship Review Committee of the Board reviews all applications and selects award recipients. This year, WIB received a total of 53 applications from Tantasqua, Shepherd Hill, and Bay Path.
Jaeger Award winner Leia Krans is from Sturbridge and is graduating from Tantasqua. She will be attending the University of New Hampshire in the fall and is aspiring to be a School Counselor. “What impressed us about Leia was the extensive resume she added along with her application,” said Jennifer Anderson, Chair of WIB’s Scholarship Committee. “She has been very active in the community including volunteering for Special Olympics, Relay for Life, and Harrington Memorial Hospital.” Leila will be majoring in Psychology and hopes to double in Sociology, with a minor in Special Education. She then hopes to get her Master’s degree in School Counseling. Leia always looked forward to picking her classes each year and enjoyed helping her classmates with their choices as well. While at Tantasqua, Leia interned within the School Counseling Department and was actively involved in the schools community. She served on the Executive Board as Historian and Publicist, and has attended many Student Council Leadership Conferences. “Leia is passionate, energetic, and truly cares about what she’s doing. We wish her the best success in the future. “
Alyson Locke is from Brookfield and is graduating from Tantasqua. She will be attending UMass Dartmouth and is planning to study Art/Graphic Design. Aly always knew she wanted to be an artist. She spent a summer in Baltimore where she studied Graphic Design and found her passion. During that time she created her own branding and packaging, and has since created a logo for a friend’s company. Aly loves creating but also likes working with people which makes Graphic Design a good combination for her. “Alyson is not only talented and imaginative, but hardworking and intelligent. She has been on the Student Council, Class Secretary, and competes with the varsity swim team. We wish Alison the best of luck in her creative future.”
Madison Hughes is from Charlton and is graduating for Shepherd Hill. She will be attending Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and will study Forensic Accounting. Through high school, Maddi took many business and accounting courses which she liked. She also knew she wanted to help people. This narrowed it down to Forensic Accounting. Maddi hopes to help protect companies and individuals from financial crimes, hoping someday to work for the FBI. She has a passion for detail which will help with auditing financial records. Maddi was Captain of the Varsity Volley Ball team and coached the middle school team. “Maddi is motivated, intelligent and kind, and will be an asset in her field. We wish Madison the best of luck in the future.”
Jordan Lapierre is from Wales and is graduating from Tantasqua. She will be attending WPI, studying Molecular Biology or Bioengineering. Her plan is to then attend graduate school in the field of Genetics. Jordan has run a food and clothing drive each year since 8th grade and has been running for Team Hoyt since 6th grade. Team Hoyt is an international organization where runners push team members with disabilities in specially designed racing chairs. She was active in track and field and the varsity cross country teams, as well as a variety of clubs and extra-curricular activities. “Jordan puts 100% effort into every endeavor she tackles. Her goal would be to help reverse the effects of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease.”
Addison Ellithorpe is from Fiskdale and is graduating from Tantasqua. She will be attending Quinnipiac University studying Physical Therapy. Addie likes the sports and movement sciences. Her favorite course was anatomy which she found interesting and helped her decide to pursue this field. This field puts her love for helping people and her passion for sports involvement together. She was lucky to participate in an internship at a local therapy office through the school. Outside of school she has been active in her local church and has been on several mission trips. She was also on the Volleyball and Lacrosse. “Addie always follows through with whatever she commits to whether it is in our out of school. We wish her the best of luck.”
Scholarship winners are traditionally acknowledged and celebrated at Woman In Business’ annual June Meeting & Luncheon, but this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, recipients will receive their award checks and special gift bags donated by WIB members by members of the Scholarship Awards Committee and Board members at their individual homes.
Woman In Business, Inc., a 501c(3) charitable organization, supports women by fostering networking, sharing information and experiences, and providing educational opportunities. For additional information visit www.wibsturbridge.org.
