Student Awarded VNA Scholarship

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Dec 13, 1999 12:00 am

The Newtown Visiting Nurse Association has awarded a $2,000 Anna E. Clow Scholarship to Clairemarie Rooney, a 1998 Newtown High School graduate who is a student in St Vincentâs Collegeâs School of Nursing.

Ms Rooney is enrolled in a three-year program in nursing. She is the daughter of Susan Rooney of Newtown.

The scholarship is given annually to encourage interest and growth in the field of nursing by offering financial assistance to a Newtown resident. The scholarship is given on the basis of interest in nursing, financial need, scholarship ability, personality, and recommendation of high school guidance officers or the principal. The scholarship is available to students entering a nursing program that gives a RN (registered nurse) degree or a BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) degree.

The Anna E. Clow Nursing Scholarship is given in recognition of the years of service to the VNA by Mrs Clow, a member of the nursing profession and chairman of the VNA Thrift Shop from 1946 until her retirement in 1968.

The scholarship amount is increasing to $4,000 next year. It will be awarded when the recipient has entered the clinical portion of the nursing program, at least in the second year of nursing education.

The VNA also awards a $2,000 Mary M. Holian Scholarship for returning students. It was established in 1988 in honor of Mary M. Holian for her dedication and leadership in the field of public health nursing in Newtown and the state of Connecticut.

Consideration for this scholarship is given to students who live in Newtown and are returning to school for a nursing degree, which could include RN, BSN, master of science in nursing (MSN), physician assistant (PA), or the degree of nurse practitioner.

The applicant must be entering the second year of training, provided the first year has been completed within the last five years.

The VNA scholarship program was started in 1972. To date, the program has awarded a total of $53,750.

Anna E. Clow Scholarship applications for graduating seniors are available at the high school guidance department in April. Interviews are held in May and the scholarship recipient is announced in June at the high school awards program.

Mary Holian Scholarship applications may be obtained by calling Sally Schwerdtle, chairman of the scholarship committee, at 268-8333.

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The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love. We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year. I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.

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I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way. It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed. Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.

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The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."

Great effort by the those who attended to shine a light on the attacks on Democracy. Thanks for the article so all can understand whats happening.

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Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.

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Student Awarded VNA Scholarship

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