McKeown Scholars Program applications now available

WINCHESTER, January 12, 2015 – Applications for Cummings Foundation’s 19th Annual McKeown Scholars Program are now available for qualifying students. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to a top Winchester senior each year, in honor of James L. McKeown, late president of Cummings Properties.

A Winchester resident, McKeown was actively involved in the local community until his death in 1996 at the age of 41.

“In the past 18 years, the McKeown Scholars Program has awarded more than $250,000 in college scholarships to exceptional Winchester graduates alone, and more than $2 million combined in eight local communities,” according to Winchester resident Dennis Clarke, president and CEO of Cummings Properties.

This is the final year of the program, which began in 1997 and has a corresponding program in Woburn. Originally funded by a $1 million grant from the Cummings organization and through gifts in McKeown’s memory, the program was scheduled to operate for 15 years.

“Additional donations from Cummings Properties have extended the program four years,” said Clarke.

To be considered for the McKeown Scholar title and accompanying $10,000 scholarship, a candidate must be a legal resident of Winchester and a high school senior in the upper 20 percent of his/her class, based on the most recently published class rank. Although open to students of other schools, the program is administered through Winchester High School. It will be the responsibility of all applicants to meet the deadlines and requirements established by Winchester High.

Selection criteria for the award include community service, scholarship, and communication skills, as well as a reputation for fairness and integrity.

“These are all qualities Jamie McKeown possessed in high degree, and that we feel he would have considered key in determining eligible award recipients,” Clarke said.

Details about and applications for the 2015 McKeown Scholars Program are available through Winchester High School and at www.CummingsFoundation.org. Completed applications must be returned to Winchester High School no later than Friday, February 14, for verification of eligibility by that school’s administrators.

All qualified applicants will be invited to Winchester High School during school hours on Wednesday, February 25 to complete a 500-word essay on a topic of current interest to be supplied by Cummings Foundation by phone, within one hour of the scheduled start time. Winchester High English Department instructors will evaluate the essays, with students’ names removed, to identify finalists. The same process will be used in Woburn, however, the topic given to Woburn students will be different. A high school selection committee will then conduct personal interviews to determine the winner. No representatives of any Cummings entity are involved in the selection process.

Clarke noted that additional funding may be available for McKeown Scholars who work at or whose parents work at Cummings Properties or its affiliated New Horizons retirement community in Woburn.

“If the employment status and number of hours worked meet the criteria, the scholarships given to these students will be matched by their respective employers,” said Clarke, “resulting in a total award of $20,000.”

The Cummings organization has honored McKeown’s memory in other ways, as well. In 2014, Cummings Foundation made a gift to his alma mater, Salem State University, for the James L. McKeown ’77 Memorial Plaza. Also in 2014, the Foundation granted $2 million for the renovation and expansion of the Woburn Boys & Girls Club, which has been renamed the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn.

McKeown had a lifelong association with the Club. He was selected “Boy of the Year” in 1974, worked at the Club as aquatics director in college, and was the first alumnus of the Club to be elected a director and then its president.

Previous Winchester McKeown Scholars include Chelsea Fujimoto in 2011, Caroline Pierce in 2012, Irena Brates in 2013, and last year’s winner, Anna Reishus.

For a list of McKeown Scholars award winners, as well as previous essay topics, visit www.CummingsFoundation.org.

PHOTO: James L. McKeown