From the Sun Chronicle Local Section October 13, 2008
NORTH ATTLEBORO - A scholarship program that will reward high school seniors for projects that make a difference in the community is set to begin this month.
Selectman Mark Williamson had announced last month that he planned to form the Make Your Mark Scholarship Foundation to reward students for pitching in by creating projects to better the community.
New details about the program were made public when Williamson met with the school committee this week.
The scholarship is designed "to encourage high school seniors to offer a lasting and measurable benefit to an identified group from the community of North Attleboro," Williamson said.
The scholarship is open to any North Attleboro resident who is a high school senior - and it does not matter what high school the student attends. Students will be responsible for creating and implementing a project that benefits the town. Through the scholarship process, students will have from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 to submit proposals for projects and on Nov. 20, proposal winners will be announced. Each winner will receive a scholarship. The proposal winners will have from Nov. 20 through March 31 to complete their projects and will be required to submit a report on the project to the scholarship committee by April 20. A winner will be selected from the completed projects to receive more scholarship money.
Williamson said the name of the scholarship is not intended to reflect his first name.
"Make Your Mark is not intended as a ploy for self-promotion. If you search the Web, you will encounter many sites that use the phrase to encourage people to make a difference," he said.
To start off the scholarship funding, Williamson said he will donate the $1,000 annual stipend he receives for serving on the board of selectmen. He plans to do so for his entire tenure on the board. Additional fundraising will also be ongoing.
Foundation officers are Mark Williamson, president; Adele Williamson, vice president; Michael Martin, treasurer. In addition a selection committee has been created to go through the project proposals with members Shirley Nolin, Rita Pastore, Marie Clarner and Tony Calcia - and more members may be added shortly.
High school seniors interested in submitting a proposal or obtaining more information can write to the Make Your Mark Scholarship Foundation at 28 Newell Drive, North Attleboro, MA 02760. Individuals interested in making a donation to the scholarship foundation can also send a check to that address.
AMY DeMELIA covers North Attleboro for The Sun Chronicle. She can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.
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