The Alice M. Yarnold and Samuel Yarnold Scholarship Trust, created in 1994, has been providing post-secondary school scholarships to New Hampshire residents since 1995. Known as the Yarnold Scholarship, the funds of the trust are focused on providing financial assistance to deserving N.H. residents pursuing degrees in the fields of medicine, nursing, and social work. Since its inception in 1995 the trust has awarded over $1 million in scholarship assistance to approximately 1,000 students with awards ranging between $1000 and $5000.
Applications for the award are available each year in early spring with all application documents due by the June deadline. Students interested in receiving an award must complete the application and attach two letters of reference; post-secondary school transcript from the institute, college, university, or school they are attending; a completed FAFSA; and respond to a short essay question. The scholarships are not available to graduating high school seniors, however once those students enroll in and complete the first year of post high school education in the fields of medicine, nursing, or social work we encourage them to apply for an award. To receive an application interested students may contact the Yarnold Scholarship administrative representative, Laura Ramsdell, at 127 Parrott Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801 or at 603-766-9121.
Once completed applications are received each is reviewed by the three trustees of the trust. The application review focuses on financial need, academic achievement, thoughtfulness of the essay response, and the likelihood the recipient will remain in N.H. to practice his/her chosen field in the health care system. After each trustee has reviewed all the applications recipients are selected and notified of the award; award checks are mailed to the program the recipient is attending.
Each year, for the past 25 years, approximately 30 to 40 N.H. residents have benefitted from receiving a Yarnold scholarship. Those recipients have become the doctors, nurses, and social workers practicing in N.H. health care settings today. Comments from students who received scholarship assistance for the 2022-23 year include “What a blessing to receive this generous amount of money…my deepest appreciation to the trust fund for helping me financially to receive an undergraduate science education” and “Your generosity is overwhelming and will allow me to continue my passion for learning and serving others through nursing”. The trustees are committed to honoring the legacy of Alice and Sam Yarnold in providing opportunity to N.H. residents to pursue a career in health care.
CONCORD — A free summer enrichment program will be available to help students throughout the state who have experienced learning loss, and assist them in a personalized, small-group setting.
Prenda, the same entity that helped the New Hampshire Department of Education launch its Recovering Bright Futures program, is now offering Prenda Discovery Summer Camp. The enrichment program will be available to all New Hampshire students from kindergarten through eighth-grade.
“While the pandemic has resulted in missed learning opportunities for many children, summer learning programs can empower youth and narrow achievement gaps,” said Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education. “This free educational platform will offer project-based and collaborative summer learning that targets creativity in the arts, technology, science and engineering.”
The Prenda Discovery Summer Camp is being offered in four, two-week segments, and runs from July 5 through Aug. 26. The summer learning program will be led by Prenda Guides in various locations, including homes, libraries, community centers, dance studios and more.
“This is a unique opportunity for families to support their students in setting summer goals, conquering their academic needs, collaborating with peers and exploring growth,” said Kimberly Greiner of Prenda.
To join the waitlist, register at prenda.com/state-offerings/summer-camps. For more information, contact support@prenda.com.
ROCHESTER — Superintendent Kyle Repucci and Director of Career Technical Education Michele Halligan-Foley announced that a senior at the R. W. Creteau Regional Technology Center is studying the effects of salt runoff on Willow Brook in Rochester with support from a $5,000 grant.
Senior Lucia Wondal, with mentorship from Environmental Science Teacher Darren Scopel, received the grant award from the Marjot Foundation to study the effects of road salt runoff on the brook that runs through the center of Rochester. Wondal’s research proposal is one of just five in New England supported by the foundation this year.
Wondal was inspired to pursue the project in part because her older sister, Marcella Wondal, conducted a similar study before she graduated from Rochester Public Schools in 2019. Wondal also was interested in a recent study conducted by the University of New Hampshire on the Merrimack River Watershed.
Wondal is collecting water samples from four testing sites along Willow Brook. The brook’s watershed is located inside city limits, making it a particularly interesting body of water for the local community.
Wondal’s samples are used to test the number and variety of macroinvertebrates in the water, as well as the water’s electrical conductivity, which is affected by salt content.
“Some macroinvertebrates are more sensitive to pollution,” Wondal said. “You can get a sense of the health of the stream based on which insects are in the water and which aren’t.”
Wondal is testing the water’s chloride and conductivity levels herself, but will also be sending her samples to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for validation.
Wondal also is studying the effects of salt pollution on local water supplies and environments, and researching possible alternatives that could reduce salt pollution. Salt pollution can affect local bodies of water, and local water supplies.
“Human impacts on the environment are interesting to me because I contribute both intentionally and unintentionally,” Wondal said. “That’s why finding solutions to mitigate environmental impacts is so interesting to me.”
Wondel hopes to study Environmental Science in college and then pursue a career in the field. “I think working on this now is preparing me for that,” she said.
Scopel said he hopes Wondal’s work and research will also lay groundwork for additional students to study such topics in the future, just as Wondal was motivated by her sister.
“I think it would be really cool to hear about others following through on my research,” Wondal said.
While it is too early to draw conclusions from the samples Wondal has taken so far, she is hoping her research can help identify issues with the stream, and help the City address those issues. She said she is particularly pleased to be studying environmental issues on a hyperlocal level.
“Hopefully this can all have an impact when I provide the information to the City,” Wondal said. “We all pass by Willow Brook every day, but don’t always realize it’s there.”
Wondal has met with the Rochester Conservation Commission to present her project proposal and get feedback. She intends to share her completed research as well, in the hope that she can help the City find more sustainable ways to use road salt and reduce salt pollution.
“This kind of hands-on research and other experiential learning projects are a key way in which the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center seeks to engage students and prepare them for future careers, regardless of whether a student’s individual pathway leads to a trade or post-secondary education,” Director Halligan-Foley said. “We are very proud of Lucia, her work, and her eagerness to contribute to our community.”
To learn more about the Marjot Foundatio, visit www.marjotfoundation.org/about.
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