The Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) awarded two $1,000 scholarships and two honorable mentions to graduating Westborough High School (WHS) seniors this year. Awards were made on the basis of essays written for WCLT’s annual Earth Day Essay Contest.
Nicholas Smaldone won a scholarship for his essay describing a special place behind his home and how it inspired him to work on the issue of the availability of water in a sustainable world. He plans to attend George Washington University to study international affairs and to minor in journalism.
Mary McCormack received a scholarship for her essay about water pollution and contamination. She described her efforts to change Westborough residents’ thinking and actions regarding storm drains on the basis of her insight that people tend to think of storm drains as sewers rather than drains emptying into local rivers and streams. She will attend Boston College to study biology on the pre-med track.
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The scholarship recipients’ essays can be read on the WCLT web site at http://westboroughlandtrust.org/pr/2019-scholarship-award.
Additionally, Bethany Woodcock was recognized with an honorable mention for her essay describing her calling to local community service and her work in mobilizing other students to better the local environment through projects such as the OARS Assabet River Clean-up and WHS Rangers Give Back Day. She plans to attend the University of Pittsburg in the college of business.
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Lydia O'Connell received an honorable mention for her essay describing her love of hiking and the Charm Bracelet trail system. She worked on trails and bog bridging, and further improved the environment through getting water bottle fillers installed at the high school and recycling plastic bags and soft plastics. Before attending the University of St. Andrews to study chemistry, she plans to take a gap year to work on conservation in Thailand and then work as an au pair in China.
“All the students who participated in the essay contest showed a sincere connection to the natural environment in ways that inspire them to become part of an environmentally conscious generation,” said Annie Reid of the WCLT Scholarship Committee. “WCLT thanks families, WHS teachers and clubs, and Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and town organizations for helping to develop environmental awareness in Westborough’s young people.”
