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John & Elizabeth Blennerhassett Endowed Scholarship

Jamie and David Gibson

"I feel truly blessed to have been given this opportunity. Thank you Blennerhassett Scholarship for the gracious incentive!" - Jamie Gibson, Blennerhassett Scholarship Recipient

John and Elizabeth Blennerhassett are the parents of a Charter Oak State College graduate. Their daughter is committed to the philosophy and the mission of the College and has established this named scholarship in honor of her parents.

The Blennerhassetts were residents of Orange, Connecticut for many years, where they raised their four children. John passed away in 1988 and Elizabeth in 2003. One of the Blennerhassetts' most strongly held values was education, and they made many sacrifices so that their children could enjoy the benefits of a good education. John's own education was that of a skilled craftsman (a printer), but Elizabeth was denied the opportunity to finish high school. Collectively, their four children earned three bachelor's degrees, one technical college degree, two master's degrees, a Ph.D., and an honorary doctorate.

The Blennerhassetts had to choose between extending their own academic careers and allowing their children to go on to higher education. This scholarship is intended to save a few working parents today from having to make that difficult choice.

Scholarship Criteria

This scholarship is open to working parents who show academic promise and financial need. The scholarship, applied to the student account, covers tuition, fees, books, or other educational expenses.

Scholarship Award Amount

The average annual award is $850 per student.

Application Process

Applications will be listed in the Acorn Student Portal when available, typically in the summer.