Gerald C Barnes II Scholarship Fund

The Gerald C. Barnes II Scholarship Fund honors the spirit of Gerald “Jerry” C. Barnes II by awarding scholarships to a Lowell High School (LHS) graduating senior lacrosse player. A 2015 graduate of LHS, Barnes completed his junior year at UMass Amherst as a Natural Resource Conservation major when he died unexpectedly in June of 2018. An active outdoor enthusiast, Barnes worked for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at Walden Pond in Concord and enjoyed playing lacrosse which he played throughout high school. To honor his memory, family and friends launched the Gerald C. Barnes II Scholarship Fund through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

Atty. Maurice Barlofsky Scholarship Fund

Established to award scholarships to graduating Lowell High School Students (LHS).

Jeanie Barkley Memorial Scholarship Fund

Annually provides scholarship opportunities to deserving students at Alvirne High School. The recipients will possess the potential to make the same kind of positive impact on their community that Jeanie did. The money awarded will be utilized by the recipients to offset the cost of postsecondary education, tuition, fees, books, room and board.

Walter Andrew Bacigalupo Memorial Scholarship Fund

Established by his family in memory of Walter, a graduate of LHS in 1987, this scholarship is awarded to Lowell High School seniors pursuing an education at a Massachusetts public university or community college.

Edward J. Babigan Scholarship Fund

Established by Col. (ret.) and Mrs. Alan E. Babigan in the Colonel’s memory. The Scholarship is to be awarded to the best chemistry student graduating from Lowell High School.

Verda Annan Scholarship Fund

The Fund honors Verda Annan of the Fitchburg High School graduating class of 2021 who selflessly returned a scholarship she was awarded and said it should go to a student who needed it more. This scholarship is awarded to Lowell High School seniors pursuing an education at a community college and have Community Service and Financial Need.

Jodi Paris Anastos Scholarship Fund

Jodi Paris Anastos Scholarship Fund is to provide annual distributions for scholarships to LHS students intending to major in biotechnology or bio medical engineering.

1826 Lowell High Scholarship Fund

This fund provides a minimum of two and no more than four scholarship awards to Lowell High School (LHS) graduating seniors who have taken a minimum of two Business Education courses at LHS. Preference is given to students who participated in DECA, Business Professionals of America, or worked in the School Store. Students must be attending a two- or four- year institution or technical school.

Nick Hyder Scholarship Fund

GLCF Scholarships Enable Donors to Give Back

Verda Annan, then a 17-year-old Harvard-bound student who graduated from Fitchburg High School last June, inspired GLCF donors to establish a scholarship to support community college students.

LOWELL – A local business looking to hire engineers set up a scholarship program to help bring more woman into the field. A 24-year-old started a modest scholarship, funded in part by walking the Appalachian Trail, to help students at her high school pursue college degrees. Anonymous donors endowed a two-year scholarship for community college students after being inspired by the generosity of a complete stranger.

These are just a few of the unique scholarships the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has helped benevolent individuals, groups and businesses set up over the years – all with the goal of giving back to their communities.

“The Foundation manages about 400 scholarships per year,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President & CEO. “Education is a big part of our mission. It is, and always will be, a gateway to success.”

Scholarships can be as varied as the students they benefit, added Howard Amidon, GLCF’s Vice President of Philanthropy. And it’s his job to make donors’ wishes come true.

“I work with individuals and businesses to support their philanthropic goals,” Amidon explained. That can mean helping donors who reach out to the Foundation with very specific plans for a scholarship. Or working closely with altruistic individuals who don’t always have all the details figured out.

“Sometimes donors come in and say, ‘I want to do something good, but I don’t have anything specific in mind.’ In that case, we ask them, ‘What are your goals? What do you hope to accomplish?’ ”

Amidon is particularly excited about GLCF’s new Verda Annan Scholarship.

It was established in honor of Verda Tetteh (now Verda Annan), then a 17-year-old Harvard-bound student who graduated from Fitchburg High School last June. At her graduation ceremony, Annan spontaneously declined the $40,000 FHS General Excellence Award she had just won. Instead, she asked the administration to pass on the award to a student – or students — headed to community college who needed it more than she did. 

After reading about Annan’s story, Amidon explained, a couple contacted GLCF with a unique request. “They wanted to emulate Verda’s generosity by establishing a two-year scholarship to help support graduating Lowell High School students go on to community college.”

And, he added, the donors wanted to name the scholarship in honor of Annan, while they remained anonymous. Beginning this spring, the Verda Annan Scholarship will award $2,500 a year for two years to a qualified LHS student planning to attend any community college.

“These very generous people were inspired by someone they didn’t know, and saw that as a way to give back,” said GLCF President Linnehan. “They have succeeded because of their educations, and community colleges are very important to them. And, over time, as their endowment grows, this scholarship will grow, too.”

Annan, who changed her last name when she turned 18 to match her mother’s, was totally surprised when she learned about the prospect of an endowed scholarship established in her name. “My jaw dropped,” she said.

“I’m so honored. When I initially gave up the FHS scholarship, I never imagined my actions would have a ripple effect. These donors went out of their way to be so generous and to help more students.”

Annan is also pleased the scholarship supports community college students. “When I was applying to colleges, there was a huge emphasis on being the ‘perfect’ student. We were advised that we needed to have a 4.0 GPA, be active in student government, in clubs, and play a sport.

“But I understand that a good student who can be successful in college may not always check all those boxes,” she said. “And they may not have the resources to be engaged in those kinds of activities.”

With the help of a GLCF scholarship, local students can keep moving forward, said Linnehan. “It’s a privilege for the Foundation to help donors create scholarships to provide the resources these talented students need to continue their education.”

To learn more about GLCF scholarships, visit: glcfoundation.org.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 390 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $55 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 $25 million to the Greater Lowell community. 

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