GLCF’s Thomas F. and Helena B. Murphy Scholarship Provides an Opportunity for Future Educator
Education was a driving force in the Thomas and Helena Murphy household.
Helena was a first-grade teacher before the children arrived and Tom, after returning from World War II, taught Math at night school to returning-home veterans. During the day, he was a Latin teacher at Lowell High School, eventually becoming Freshman Advisor and Submaster, over his 32-year tenure.
There was no question that all the Murphy kids – Tom ’64, Garry ’66, Kathy ’67, Gregory ’69 and Kevin ’70 (Keith Academy), would go to college as education was a building block of their family.
“Our parents instilled the importance of an education from an early age. Checking our homework was a daily ritual. I was tutored in Latin after bringing home a failing grade. Fortunately, it helped me significantly in my law practice to understand legal terms and phrases,” noted Kevin Murphy, J.D., former Lowell City Manager and Massachusetts State Representative, 18th Middlesex District.
Kathy Murphy Akashian, a former fifth-grade teacher at the Immaculate School in Lowell, followed in her father’s footsteps, a Housemaster at Lowell High. Kathy and Kevin concurred on how their parents would react to a scholarship in their names, “They would be so proud and happy. The scholarship is awarded to a senior pursuing a degree in education. Our parents would want that person to become an educator and come back to teach the children of Lowell.”
It’s rare for a scholarship donor to know the recipient. The review of randomly assigned applications by volunteer evaluators is a ‘blind’ procedure with no name or identifiers on the form.
However, this year, Jovani Ubri received the Thomas F. and Helena B. Murphy Scholarship at the Lowell High School’s on Honors Night.
“We’ve known Jovani since he was 7, as he was on my son Brian’s baseball team for years. This was serendipitous!” recounted Kathy, who has given out her parents’ scholarship for many years. “As a teacher, I witnessed firsthand the students’ need for scholarships and financial assistance. Our hope is that these kids go on to pay it forward in the world and do something good with their education.”
A retired LHS and Greater Lowell Vocational Tech teacher and longtime superintendent in the Triton, Wakefield, Swampscott and Hillsboro (N.H.) school systems, Garry Murphy felt his parents would give this advice to the recipients, “Remember to enjoy your time in college. There will be good days and bad days which is good preparation for a teaching career.”
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) provides opportunities for donors to create a fund and establish a lasting charitable legacy. To learn more about Lowell High School Scholarships, contact Jay Linnehan or Barbara Dunsford at 978-970-1600 or info@glcfoundation.org.
About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of over $70 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.
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CAPTION: Thomas F. and Helena B. Murphy in 1975, their children established an LHS scholarship in their honor.
