This spring the Yawkey Foundations awarded scholarships to 22 high school seniors from Massachusetts. Each of the recipients displayed a high level of academic achievement, leadership potential and was involved in a balance of community, school and work activities. The 2011 Yawkey Scholars include Kaitlyn Farmer, a 2011 graduate of Lynn English High School and Jasmin Matos, a 2011 graduate of Lynn Classical High School. Both girls will attend Emmanuel College where Kaitlyn plans to study international business and Jasmin plans to communications and marketing.
The Yawkey Scholars Program provides four-year scholarships and other support to high-achieving Massachusetts students attending private colleges within the state. It will award $1 million in scholarships this academic year.
The mission of the Yawkey Foundations is to continue the charitable legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey to make immediate, significant, and positive impacts on the quality of life of underserved children, youth and families. In pursuit of this mission and to honor the legacy of the Yawkeys – who valued the importance of education and understood its ability to alter the course of young lives – the Yawkey Foundations’ Board of Trustees established the Yawkey Scholars Program in 2005. Since 2005, the Yawkey Foundations have awarded over $5 million in scholarships to 137 deserving students throughout the state.
Initially created to help talented and motivated young people from Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina meet the rising costs of undergraduate education, the program has since expanded its goals. Moving beyond tuition-only scholarships, the Yawkey Scholars Program today includes a strong advising component, flexible financial supports, a peer network, and customized assistance to enable Yawkey Scholars to access resources and opportunities to help them meet their full potential.
“The 2011 Yawkey Scholars represent extraordinary high school seniors that have shown a resolute commitment to their studies, their school and their communities,” said President of the Yawkey Foundations, James Healey. “The Yawkey Foundations are proud to honor the passion that Tom and Jean had for education and to help these students reach their full potential.”
The Yawkey Scholars Program is administered by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) and is open to graduating high school seniors in Massachusetts attending private four-year colleges in state. Applications for the 2012 Yawkey Scholars Program will be available in the fall of 2011.
About The Yawkey Foundations
Established over three decades ago and committed to preserving the philanthropic legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey, the Yawkey Foundations serve communities throughout New England and Georgetown County, South Carolina in the areas of education, health care, human services, youth and families, arts and culture and conservation. (www.yawkeyfoundations.org)
About The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI)
TPI is an ally and consultant to donors looking to embrace creative thinking in their efforts to realize deep social impact. Hired by families, foundations and corporations to create and implement custom philanthropy programs, TPI has invested in the promotion of strategic philanthropy around the world since 1989. (www.tpi.org)