Weller Foundation Scholarships Available

WOODBURY — The Weller Foundation, Incorporated, has announced several scholarships for seniors who are full-time students at Joel Barlow, Masuk, Newtown, Shelton, and Trumbull high schools. The scholarships are in honor of the late Barton L. Weller, who was the founder of Vitramon, Incorporated, in Monroe, and whose generosity has made the awards possible.

$12,000 2001-2002 Barton L. Weller Scholarship – Full-time students may now submit a one- to two-page proposal outlining a project in any field of study to be developed during the academic year 2001-2002 for the annual Barton L. Weller Scholarship. Applicants must remain full-time students for the entire academic year. The scholarship’s purpose is to encourage academic excellence in a substantial independent project.

Entrants are required to complete a five-month original, independent research or study project having the potential for developing into a project with merit in its own field. A student may submit only one proposal. Scholarship brochures detailing specific rules may be obtained from each school’s guidance department. The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, November 2. Up to five finalists will be selected from all entries and will be notified by November 16. The project period will run from November16 until April 10, 2002. All projects will be judged by a panel of judges. The primary standard for judgment will be the degree to which, and the skill and care with which, the original proposal is developed into the final project.

$6,000 Weller Medical/Health Sciences Scholarship – Seniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 during the first three cumulative years of high school and an SAT score of 975 or higher may compete for the 2002 Weller Medical/Health Sciences Scholarship. Applicants must remain full-time students for the entire academic year. The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and financially assist a student upon graduation who has chosen a course of study in the field of Medical/Health Sciences. Healthcare careers acceptable under this program are nursing, therapy, medical technology, paramedics, and other licensed healthcare workers who provide one-on-one patient training. Programs leading to MD or PhD Degrees are not acceptable.

Qualified applicants from the five eligible high schools shall be competing for one award. The award is a total of $6,000 or 50 percent of the cost of tuition for the training program, whichever is less. Entrants are required to complete the scholarship application form prior to March 15, 2002. Application forms detailing specific rules and requirements may be obtained from each school’s guidance department.

$4,000 Weller Instrumental Music Scholarship – Applicants must remain full-time students for the entire academic year. The purpose of this scholarship is to acknowledge and encourage a student to further his or her demonstrated talent and interest in instrumental music.

Entrants are required to complete an appropriate application form prior to March 15, 2002. Application forms detailing specific rules may be obtained from each school’s guidance department.

Not more than two finalists will be selected from each of the five participating high schools by each school’s director of instrumental music. The finalist will compete in an audition before a team of appropriate judges appointed by the foundation. The judges’ selection will be based primarily on demonstrated talent with due consideration given to other evidence indicating dedication to learning and performance experience.

$4,000 2002 Weller Entrepreneurial Scholarship – To qualify, applicants must be involved with Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut; recommended by their adult company advisors; display exemplary leadership, reliability, teamwork, attitude, and performance; and be recommended by their school.

Specific scholarship rules and application forms may be obtained from your Junior Achievement Advisor. The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, March 15, 2002. Qualified applicants will be judged on Tuesday, April 2, 2002. The Scholarship Program will not be offered unless a minimum of three qualified applicants apply. The Scholarship will be awarded without regard to the student’s existing financial status.