WESTFIELD – The 55th annual CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars Awards Night will be held this Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the South Middle School. CSF Westfield, which stands for Citizen Scholarship Foundation, gave out its first scholarship in May of 1963, one year after the chapter started raising money for student scholarships. Since that time, more than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded to more than 6,000 Westfield students. On Monday night, 97 scholarships will be awarded for a total value of $125,000.
CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars president Cynthia Neary. (Submitted photo)
According to CSF Westfield president Cynthia Neary, in order to qualify for up to four scholarships, students must be Westfield residents. Due to school choice, they may be attending high school anywhere.
“We have students who were home-schooled and attended Christian schools. One student is at Northampton High School, one at Gateway, Williston, and Suffield. Students may complete their education within or outside of Westfield,” Neary explained.
In a departure in policy from other chapters around the country, many of whom restrict scholarships to high school seniors, CSF Westfield also gives scholarships to returning college students. Westfield has been open to both since 1962, and is one of the oldest chapters in the country.
“It’s important not only to help students to access college, but to go through and complete college,” Neary said.
State Representative John Velis and Mayor Brian P. Sullivan will be among those handing out scholarships to the students on Monday. One of the donors, JoAnn Slosek and her daughter Lori Slosek Greenan, will be telling the story of the scholarship given in memory of their husband and father Ronald Slosek, who was killed by a drunk driver. Last year’s recipient of this scholarship, Antonio Rivera, will also be reading a thank you note.
This is another way the CSF Westfield chapter is unique. Attached to every certificate on awards night is the story of that scholarship, and an address to which students may send a thank you.
“This is a complete stranger giving you money for higher education, a true gift from the heart. It’s important for donors and students to understand that this is an extraordinary gift and is deeply appreciated. This is also a way that we as Westfield residents can feel very proud. These are current or former residents and businesses supporting our community,” Neary said.
Neary has served as president of CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars for nine years and on the board for twelve years. She knows the benefit of the scholarships to the students and their families, as all three of her children received CSF scholarships.
“For nine consecutive years I attended the award nights, and proudly watched my children walk across the stage. The scholarships helped reduce college costs, and were extremely helpful for my family. When our youngest was still in college, I decided to pay it forward and join the board. That was in 2004,” she said. In 2015, Neary was selected by Scholarship America® as the 2015 Ralph “Cy” Seifert National Volunteer of the Year.
“We should feel very proud that we live in Westfield,” Neary said. “Our Westfield students are truly making a difference on college campuses all over the U.S.”
