PROCTOR SENIOR CHELSEA ROBERTS AWARDED

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

 

 

 

Chelsea Roberts, a graduating senior at Thomas R. Proctor High School, has won a $1,000 scholarship from the Give Back to Utica Fund of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc.

 

This is the first year for the essay contest, for which students wrote about how growing up in Utica has shaped their lives, and how they can give back. Roberts’ essay was chosen by a three-judge panel consisting of community members.

 

Foundation President & CEO Peggy O’Shea said, “Reading these essay submissions was truly a breath of fresh air. These young people are bright and optimistic. They appreciate the great things about Utica and see the challenges as opportunities to create positive change. Miss Roberts and the other students who submitted essays certainly have bright futures ahead of them.”

 

Steve Oram, donor advisor to the Give Back to Utica Fund, added, “As the Founder of the Give Back to Utica Fund, I am proud of the selection of Chelsea’s essay. She focused on how the city’s benefits and attributes will help her return to the community she knows, to give back in her own special way. Too often when today’s and yesterday’s youth speak of growing up in Utica they speak about leaving for opportunity. Chelsea’s essay is all about wanting to stay to give back. So the challenge continues, and it is up to Utica to keep the smartest and brightest of its students focused on returning home and working as a new generation which continues to make Utica a great place to grow up in and flourish. Everyone involved with Give Back to Utica is proud to endorse and support all efforts in this regard.”

 

Roberts will receive her scholarship at Proctor’s awards ceremony on June 3, 2010. She plans to attend The Crane School of Music at Potsdam for Music Education this fall.