They had been so small, but they returned all grown up.
Six high school seniors that once walked the halls of the Harvard-Kent School and received the Leadership Scholarship Award when they were much younger, much smaller students, at the school. Now, in their senior year of high school, all six students are headed to college and were on hand last Friday, May 8, at the 10th annual Leadership Scholarship Award Winners Presentation and Celebration.
Many years earlier, they been promised a scholarship once they headed to college, and Friday that promise was made good by the active board – steeped in Charlestown community members – of the Partnership.
At the same time those students were sent off with applause and pride, a new group of six students from the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades were chosen to receive that same promise so that one day, they too, could return to their elementary school and claim their scholarship.
“This is the 10th year of us talking to kids and giving college scholarships to third graders,” said Principal Jason Gallagher. “Who would have thought of that? We know who. It would be Charlestown’s Petie Hilsinger. After today, there will have been awards given to over 60 Harvard-Kent students, some who are in college now and some who will be going next year and many who are
In the photo to the left, Edward Xiong keeps cool with his traditional fan as he awaits his turn to receive a check for the Harvard-Kent Leadership Scholarship Ceremony last Friday at the Charlestown elementary school.
still in school and working towards college.”
The scholarship has now sent six kids off to college with something in their back pockets. Two years ago, they sent off their first two and last year there were another four. With Friday’s six students, that makes 12 total who have benefitted.
The reason they did benefit is due to an idea by Hilsinger based on a scholarship partnership she had seen in California.