WHO CAN APPLY

Residents of northern Berkshire County (Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown) who are currently working in a health care field and plan to further their health care education and qualifications. If, in a given year, no such eligible candidate applies, the scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school senior for studies in a health-related field.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

This scholarship began in 1972, when the residents of the Sweet Brook nursing home voted to give a nurse’s aide $100 from the money they had collected from selling handmade craft items. The grant provided textbooks needed to allow the aide to continue in her LPN program.

Every year thereafter, scholarships were given to staff members to pursue career in health care. Residents raised money through their annual crafts fair and families donated funds in memory of loved ones. Most donations were designated for one-time grants, but some families donated large amounts of money to establish annual scholarships:

• Dorothy LeFebreve, a longtime activities director at Sweet Brook
• Judge Ernest H. Rosasco, a founding member of Sweet Brook and a longtime treasurer
• Ray Norcorss, a longtime volunteer
• Dagmar Dudley, a resident whose husband willed Sweet Brook a bequest to support the scholarship program

The scholarship fund was brought to Berkshire Taconic in 1997.

The Sweet Brook Scholarship primarily supports adults currently working in a health care field to further their healthcare education and qualifications. If, in a given year, no such eligible candidate applies, the scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school senior for studies in a health-related field.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must:

• Be a resident of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown for at least two years prior to application
• Be planning to attend an accredited school to further their education either in health care or in another field of study

AWARDS

Awards of $1,000 or more will be granted annually. The number of awards given will depend on the number of eligible applications.

REVIEW CRITERIA

The committee will review requests for scholarships according to the following criteria:

• Financial need
• The applicant’s motivation to further their education

Applications will be reviewed by a Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Scholarship Committee and their recommendations will be reviewed by Berkshire Taconic’s board of directors.