Barnard Matters: 2023 Scholarship Fundraiser

North Road Sunset, photo credit Louise Blakeney

Barnard's Silver Lake Progressive Club's tradition is to award scholarships annually to Barnard and East Barnard kids who are continuing their education beyond high school. The club has awarded thousands of dollars to deserving students over previous years--48 recipients so far!

This year's Progressive Club Scholarship GoFundMe page features two scholarship winners who not only grew up in Barnard, but chose to stay close. They continue sharing their gifts and talents with us. Both winners and their families are tied to Barnard's history. Their stories are posted below our "how to donate" instructions.

How to donate to the Silver Lake Progressive Club Scholarship Fund

Please donate to this decades-long commitment to the community via our GoFundMe link (https://gofund.me/d71c7a0c) or send a check (made out to Silver Lake Progressive Club) to:

Silver Lake Progressive Club

c/o Barbara Kelley

3134 Stage Road

South Pomfret, VT 05067

All proceeds go to fund the Silver Lake Progressive Club Scholarship and will be presented on senior awards night to an outstanding student/s from Barnard and/or East Barnard. Eligibility requirements can be found below our scholar's stories.

**Historically, funding for our scholarship was raised on town meeting day at a luncheon in the Barnard Town Hall. The school meeting no longer follows the town meeting. The Progressive Club will be offering pasteries, donuts, coffee, tea and water on town meeting day. All proceeds will go to the scholarship fund.

Annabelle Lessard

“My name is Annabelle Lessard and I recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health & Society. I received the Silver Lake Progressive Club Scholarship in 2018 during my senior year of high school to help me pursue my college degree. I am incredibly thankful for this support from my community. I finished my undergraduate education in December of 2022, and I'm working locally at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center using the skills I gained at UVM. The connection that I have with my home will always be a part of my future."

Annabelle is the granddaughter of Joanne Hull Lessard (Ralph), and great-granddaughter of Naoma and Harry Hull.

Corry Manning

“As the recipient of the Progressive Club Scholarship in 1987, I used the money to buy my books for my second-semester classes. Upon graduation from college, I was hired by a local company in Hanover (Hypertherm), where I am still employed thirty-three years later. There are many good places to work in the Upper Valley. With today's technology, you can start your own business and work from your own home. I feel today, as I did back then, that there is no better place to live than right here in Vermont."

Corry is the grandson of Bucky Joy.

Scholarship Eligibility

Successful candidates must have resided in Barnard or East Barnard for at least one year before application and plan to continue their education in the academic year following high school graduation. Students enrolled in public or private schools or those homeschooled are eligible to apply. Qualifying post-secondary education plans of study include vocational, associate, and bachelor programs.

All Barnard and East Barnard seniors will receive a letter inviting them to apply for the scholarship in March. Applications are due April 16th, a committee will review the applications and decide on the recipient/s. Applications must include: 1) An official transcript; 2) A letter of reference from someone other than a family member; 3) A list of colleges or educational institutions to which the candidate has applied and been accepted; 4) A statement from the candidate on how he or she has contributed to the community; and 5) A paragraph describing the candidate’s future intentions and how the scholarship will be of benefit.