WHO CAN APPLY

A graduate or graduating senior of Webutuck High School who has attained reasonable academic achievement despite facing adversity, challenges or difficulties, and who is demonstrating through interest or action a desire to pursue higher educational goals.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Matthew Reagon was a 1990 graduate of Webutuck Central School, where he excelled academically, ran cross-country and track, and starred in drama society productions. He majored in anthropology at Reed College in Portland, OR and graduated in 1994. He did graduate work in anthropology, law, ancient Greek and Hebrew, philosophy and Christian history, and at the time of his death was studying at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. His interests were many and varied: woodworking, running, mountain climbing, photography, occasional preaching, intelligent argument, and voracious reading. He had just started a hardwood floor business.

Throughout his adulthood, Matt struggled with drug addiction, bipolar disorder and physical pain. While this struggle ultimately ended with his death from a drug overdose, he had been clean from drugs for over seven years, and his own recovery and service to those struggling with addiction was central to his identity. Matt drew on his experience to share love, strength and hope to many others during his years of recovery.

When he died, Matt still faced debt from student loans. His family has started this scholarship to help Webutuck graduates complete their undergraduate degrees without the burden of crushing debt. It also seeks to affirm the worth and enable the dreams of those who have faced some adversity or difficulty in their lives.