Woods Hole Woman's Club Awards Scholarships

The Woods Hole Woman’s Club has awarded scholarships to eight Precinct One high school seniors this year. Six will graduate from Falmouth High School: Hannah Birmingham, Mj Jacobs, Elizabeth Litton, Hadley Smith, Katherine Walsh, and Amena Weiffenbach. Ursula Junker and Sadie Leveque will graduate from Falmouth Academy.

Club members extend hearty congratulations to these outstanding students. All of them have very strong academic records as reflected in their grades and inclusion in several Honor Societies. All eight of the students attended the May 9 Scholarship Tea to celebrate their accomplishments and speak with the Club’s members.

Hannah Birmingham was on the field hockey and track teams, served as an officer of her class and several Honor Societies, and participated in Model UN and Debate Club. She has worked at Coffee Obsession and the Glass Onion and as a lab assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Hannah will attend the University of Connecticut to major in Chemistry and aims at entering the pharmacy program.

Mj Jacobs has both studied and taught at Seven Stars Academy of Martial Arts since age four. Being in the Falmouth High School Theater Company and interning at the College Light Opera Company helped to develop Mj’s interest in pursuing a career in theater arts. She plans to attend Ithaca College.

Ursula Junker spent her junior year as an exchange student in Italy and looks forward to more travel. Locally she has been involved in theater, school newspaper, cello study, and painting. At home, she loves to bake. She has worked at Pie in the Sky, the Inlet Shop, and the Woods Hole Inn. College plans are to attend Wellesley College and explore a major in Philosophy.

Sadie Leveque has studied the violin and pursued her interests in visual art since early childhood leading to her preparing a portfolio of work for applications to art schools. For paid and volunteer work experience she provided summertime childcare and led children’s craft projects at the Woods Hole Public Library. She will attend Sarah Lawrence College to further study art.

Elizabeth Litton is passionate about both science and hiking. She founded the Falmouth High School Women in STEM Club. Her resume includes six years of dancing with the New England Ballet Theater and hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness. She has worked at several Falmouth eateries. Elizabeth plans to attend the University of Vermont to pursue Environmental Science.

Hadley Smith studies violin and has performed with orchestral and fiddler ensembles and soloed at local churches. She has also competed with a sailing racing team based in Osterville, run for the school track and cross-country teams and joined the French and Social Justice Clubs. She has worked at Landfall Restaurant. Hadley plans to attend University of Massachusetts at Amherst beginning with a semester in England.

Katherine Walsh has enjoyed working with horses since early childhood; she has ridden competitively and helped with lessons and camps at a local barn. She is Vice President of the Falmouth High School Women in STEM club and is a member of the French Club. Her plans are to attend the University of Vermont and she has an interest in Computer Science.

Amena Weiffenbach is chief editor of Falmouth High School’s literary arts journal and a member of a writers’ group, the math team, and Women in STEM. She has studied piano for six years and volunteered to maintain the Falmouth Dog Park and as an assistant teacher at a Spanish learning daycare. Amena will attend Tufts University and may major in Math or Engineering.

The Scholarship Committee, headed by Priscilla Ruegg, is proud to add these students to the 138 others who have received scholarships from the Woods Hole Woman’s Club since 1980. Donations to the scholarship fund are welcome throughout the year. Checks should be written to the WHWC Charitable Trust and mailed to Kitty Brown, WHWC, PO Box 342, Woods Hole, MA 02543.

The Woods Hole Woman’s Club brings members together to provide enrichment and mutual helpfulness for the betterment of Woods Hole and the surrounding communities. New members are welcomed at any time during the year. Information about membership is available from Mary Fran Buckley at maryfran55@earthlink.net