Date: Fri 04-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-scholarship-Fries

Full Text:

New Scholarship Assn. Head Says Town's Commitment To Kids Is Strong

(with photo)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

For over 50 years, the Newtown Scholarship Association has helped Newtown

families put their children through college. This year, the NSA has made its

strongest commitment to local youth ever, by providing more than $148,000

towards post-secondary education.

Sponsored by local benefactors and businesses, the scholarship program is

assisting 20 Newtown freshmen with college tuition, and another 40 Newtown

students with continuing aid, through their sophomore, junior and senior years

of college.

Mark Fries, the new president of the scholarship association, expressed great

pride in the Newtown community for making education such a priority with its

youth. He said that "for a small town of 20,000, with a scholarship

association that gives $150,000 a year to its students -- that's something!"

The first year the association operated, in 1937, it provided only one

scholarship, for $50. It has been increasing ever since.

Mr Fries emphasized that the association's scholarships are needs-based to

help students overcome financial limitations in order to pursue their academic

ambitions.

The process starts in the fall with application forms available at the Newtown

High School Career Center, and culminates with an interview with the applicant

and a financial analysis called the "Free Application For Federal Student Aid"

(FAFSA) which determines the estimated family contribution toward their

childrens' education.

Mr Fries said how much he enjoyed meeting the student applicants and hearing

about their career plans. He said "It's invigorating to see the kids we have

coming out of Newtown High School. You look at the schools these kids are

being accepted to -- some of the best schools in the country -- and think,

they are coming out of a public high school. It's such a wonderful day,

meeting these young people."

He cautioned however, that "you can feel warm and fuzzy about someone, and

know he's a wonderful person, but guess what, if the numbers don't work,

that's it. The financial analysis, the FAFSA, determines student eligibility."

Of 30 freshman applicants last year, 20 were eligible for support.

Once eligibility is determined, then the board of governors of the Newtown

Scholarship Association work to set the amounts of the individual

scholarships.

Sometimes, Mr Fries said, too high a local scholarship can jeopardize grants

that the student may be receiving directly from the university, so all the

details need careful review to optimize the use of the available funds.

From reading stacks of student applications and essays, to ensuring maximum

benefit to Newtown students, Mr Fries said the NSA board is very active.

As well as deciding on how to disperse the money, the 14-member board is also

busy raising it. The board arranges two annual fund-raising events, the

Scholarship Ball and the Jack Friel Memorial Golf Tournament.

The Scholarship Ball will be held Saturday, November 14 at the Ridgewood

Country Club this year. People interested in more information may contact Mark

Fries at 426-8507.

The Jack Friel Memorial Golf Tournament, held in June, is the largest special

event fund-raiser, which netted the organization $18,000 this year.

The board also runs an annual fund drive in March which has been supported by

many local businesses and individuals.

The scholarship association has also received memorial gifts (in lieu of

flowers in memory of loved-ones) sizable bequests through estate planning,

gifts of securities and stocks, and even, recently, a significant land

donation.

With a lawyer, an accountant and a investment broker on the board, Mr Fries

said that they have benefited from a good deal of expert advice at no cost.

He said "We've got a very active hard-working board. It's extremely efficient.

Again and again, I hear board members saying `I'll cover the cost of that.'

They want every penny going to the kids. We have no administrative overhead,

except postage and a federally required independent CPA audit."

The other board members are Stephanie Gaston, Barbara Borst, Mary Ann Murtha,

Deborah Osborne, Claudia Coopersmith, Carol Garbarino, Judy Holmes, Mark

Korotash, Bill Lavery, Bobbie McNamara, James T. Morley, Jr, Libby Payne,

Dunham Smith and an honorary member, Betty Lou Osborne.

Each year, the Newtown Scholarship Association helps approximately 60 Newtown

students with post-secondary education expenses. Since 1985, the committee has

made 870 awards.

Mr Fries expressed a strong commitment to Newtown youth and the Newtown

Scholarship Association. He said "you just feel so good about doing it."