Scholarships and Camperships
Spring 2025
$5,000 Scholarships for Students
Pursuing Environmental and Other Related Careers
Eligibility requirements - applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of Centerbrook, Essex or Ivoryton;
- Be planning to pursue studies related to the environment or related field in an accredited two-year or four-year institute of higher learning;
- Be a high school senior or undergraduate/graduate college student. Prior year recipients are also encouraged to reapply;
- Have a "B" or better grade point average.
Fields may include: Agriculture, Conservation Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Humanities, Environment Justice, Environmental Law and Public Policy, Environmental Toxicology, Forestry, Geology, Horticulture, Renewable Energy or Urban Ecology.
Closely related subjects may also apply: Land Conservation, Landscape Design, Nursery Management.
Closely related subjects may also apply: Land Conservation, Landscape Design, Nursery Management.
Applications are available from your Guidance Counselor,
at the Essex and Ivoryton Libraries or
Click here to download the Scholarship Application
Deadline: Return completed application by April 25, 2025
to your Guidance Counselor or mail to
Essex Garden Club
Attention: Scholarship Committee
PO Box 936
Essex, CT 06426
at the Essex and Ivoryton Libraries or
Click here to download the Scholarship Application
Deadline: Return completed application by April 25, 2025
to your Guidance Counselor or mail to
Essex Garden Club
Attention: Scholarship Committee
PO Box 936
Essex, CT 06426
Your Education is Important to Us
Essex Garden Club 2024-2025 Scholarship Awards
The Essex Garden Club is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 college scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to students who are pursuing studies related to the environment. This year scholarships totaling $26,000 were awarded to the following ten Essex students:
Anna Benson, a 2023 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a junior in the fall and attends Northeastern University. Her major is biology, and she is a member of the Husky Environmental Action Team at Northeastern, which is a club that promotes sustainability on campus.
Jack Finnegan, a 2023 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a junior at MIT in the fall and attends MIT. He is pursuing a degree in Computer Science and sees technologies as a powerful tool for driving sustainability. Jack is a member of the MIT Energy and Climate Club –
a central platform for energy-related dialogue and collaboration on campus.
Nathaniel Hill, a 2021 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a graduate student at the University of Denver. He intends to study Global Environmental Sustainability. Nathaniel is interested in developing strategies that manage conservation and recreation.
Abigail Jones, a senior at Valley Regional High School, will be a freshman at Connecticut College in the fall. She is planning to study Mathematics and Education. She is an active member of Valley’s environmental club. Abigail believes education is one of the most powerful
tools for promoting environmental change.
Zachary Jones, a 2024 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a sophomore at the University of Connecticut in the fall. Zachary has worked with Project Oceanology to test water quality and monitor fish populations both of which are vital to preserving ocean ecosystems.
Delny Marsden, a senior at Valley Regional High School, is co-president of Valley’s environmental club. She is planning to study Biology at the University of California, Davis. While studying at UC Davis, she plans to explore how humans and other organisms interact and
change the Earth’s environment.
Anna McCaulay, a 2024 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a sophomore at Fordham College in the fall. Anna is pursuing degree in Biological Sciences. Anna studies animal behavior to protect their habitats and is dedicated to environmental conservation.
Michael McCauley, a 2022 graduate of Xavier High School, will be a senior at Union College in the fall of 2025. He majors in Environmental Policy and recently interned at the Sustainable Living Center. He hopes to use his education to work for a development company to promote green building as well as environmental responsibility and ecological restoration.
Abigail Reardon, a 2024 graduate of Valley Regional High School, attends the University of Miami where she studies Marine Science and Biology. She participates in a program called WAVES, which aims to enhance education among elementary school students in the fields of
marine science and conservation.
Matthew Reardon, a 2022 graduate of Valley Regional High School, attends the University of Miami. He is pursuing double majors in Marine Science and Meteorology, along with a minor in Mathematics and Ecosystem Science and Policy. He intends to leverage his education to
enhance the understanding and forecasting of weather and climate variations, thereby assessing future ecosystem changes and their environmental impacts.
In addition, the garden club will provide scholarships to help approximately 40 children from the Essex communities attend area environmental camps offered by The Incarnation Center, Camp Hazen and Essex Parks and Recreation.
The proceeds from the club's annual May Market and two Pop Up Sales make these scholarships possible along with generous grants received from the Kitchings Family Foundation and Essex Savings Bank.
Anna Benson, a 2023 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a junior in the fall and attends Northeastern University. Her major is biology, and she is a member of the Husky Environmental Action Team at Northeastern, which is a club that promotes sustainability on campus.
Jack Finnegan, a 2023 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a junior at MIT in the fall and attends MIT. He is pursuing a degree in Computer Science and sees technologies as a powerful tool for driving sustainability. Jack is a member of the MIT Energy and Climate Club –
a central platform for energy-related dialogue and collaboration on campus.
Nathaniel Hill, a 2021 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a graduate student at the University of Denver. He intends to study Global Environmental Sustainability. Nathaniel is interested in developing strategies that manage conservation and recreation.
Abigail Jones, a senior at Valley Regional High School, will be a freshman at Connecticut College in the fall. She is planning to study Mathematics and Education. She is an active member of Valley’s environmental club. Abigail believes education is one of the most powerful
tools for promoting environmental change.
Zachary Jones, a 2024 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a sophomore at the University of Connecticut in the fall. Zachary has worked with Project Oceanology to test water quality and monitor fish populations both of which are vital to preserving ocean ecosystems.
Delny Marsden, a senior at Valley Regional High School, is co-president of Valley’s environmental club. She is planning to study Biology at the University of California, Davis. While studying at UC Davis, she plans to explore how humans and other organisms interact and
change the Earth’s environment.
Anna McCaulay, a 2024 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a sophomore at Fordham College in the fall. Anna is pursuing degree in Biological Sciences. Anna studies animal behavior to protect their habitats and is dedicated to environmental conservation.
Michael McCauley, a 2022 graduate of Xavier High School, will be a senior at Union College in the fall of 2025. He majors in Environmental Policy and recently interned at the Sustainable Living Center. He hopes to use his education to work for a development company to promote green building as well as environmental responsibility and ecological restoration.
Abigail Reardon, a 2024 graduate of Valley Regional High School, attends the University of Miami where she studies Marine Science and Biology. She participates in a program called WAVES, which aims to enhance education among elementary school students in the fields of
marine science and conservation.
Matthew Reardon, a 2022 graduate of Valley Regional High School, attends the University of Miami. He is pursuing double majors in Marine Science and Meteorology, along with a minor in Mathematics and Ecosystem Science and Policy. He intends to leverage his education to
enhance the understanding and forecasting of weather and climate variations, thereby assessing future ecosystem changes and their environmental impacts.
In addition, the garden club will provide scholarships to help approximately 40 children from the Essex communities attend area environmental camps offered by The Incarnation Center, Camp Hazen and Essex Parks and Recreation.
The proceeds from the club's annual May Market and two Pop Up Sales make these scholarships possible along with generous grants received from the Kitchings Family Foundation and Essex Savings Bank.