Windham will give out two $1,500 scholarships to graduating Windham High School seniors in the coming months.
According to the town’s website, the scholarship can be used to support students on a wide variety of educational paths, including university, two-year college, or a trade school. All applicants must submit, as part of their application, their high school transcript, as well as a one-page essay explaining their educational objectives, as well as why they feel that they deserve the scholarship.
According to Mark Morrison, a member of Windham Town Council, the scholarship started in 2022. Morrison said that every year, the town council reviews submissions and makes a determination on who they believe to have written the best responses. He said that all seven council members vote independently, and then take a tally on which students have the most votes. Morrison also noted that the number of scholarships varies each year, with four given out last year.
Morrison said that the primary source of funding for the scholarships was an education fund created when Windham agreed to license cannabis stores. The ordinance allowing for cannabis stores, which took effect in 2020, stipulated that the businesses contribute part of their licensing fees for educational purposes at an amount set by the council. Whenever the license was renewed, Morrison said, a portion of those funds would be set aside for educating students, predominantly high schoolers, about making healthy choices.
Speaking about how Windham distributed the money in the educational fund, Morrison said that the town was looking to support activities and functions that are typically “one-time type[s] of event[s].”
The recipients of this money, he said, which include the Be the Influence campaign, were decided based on whether their activities were supportive of making healthy decisions for young people, as well as how many students would be served by the activity.
When asked about what criteria for the scholarships, Morrison said that recipients were chosen based on the merit of their essay, and the answers that they have written. Regarding when the winners of the scholarship are expected to be announced, Morrison said that it will take place during Windham High School’s Senior Awards Night. The event, which will take place in the high school’s auditorium shortly before graduation, will see students recognized for achievements in academics, athletics and other areas. The winners of the scholarships have historically been announced by a member of the council, though Morrison did not specify who would be making the announcement this year.
Applications for this year’s scholarships are due by Wednesday, April 30.
