The Village Bank awards $44,000 in scholarships to Newton/Wayland students

Kenneth Brennan, president and CEO of The Village Bank, has named the recipients of 2008 college scholarships totaling $44,000 awarded recently by the bank's Auburndale Community Charitable Foundation. Fourteen college-bound Newton and Wayland students shared in the awards. Madison LiDonni of Newton North High School and Caroline Stack of Wayland High School were each recipients of a $10,000 scholarship awarded by the foundation this year. The scholarships will be honored upon successful completion of each of the student's four academic years. To be eligible for the special $10,000 scholarships, applicants had to have been actively involved in community and/or charitable causes. An established banking relationship was also required. "The Village Bank has a strong commitment to the communities it serves," said Brennan. "The $10,000 scholarships give us the opportunity to recognize local students who share our commitment. "We also value the solid relationships we enjoy with our customers," he added. "and we're pleased to be able to 'give back' to customers as well as to the community." The Auburndale Community Charitable Foundation also granted 12 one-time $2,000 scholarships. All Newton and Wayland graduating high school seniors were eligible to apply. The $2,000 scholarship winners: Adam Bao, James Cucchi and Jonah Mirfendereski of Newton North High School; and Zara Budd, Jacobo Cohen, Leila Gerstein, David Raygorodsky, and Alexander Schneider from Newton South High School. Also, Tully Sun Cheng, Johanna Jahnke, and Daniel R. Skehan from Wayland High School and Patrick Kaltenbach of St. Sebastian's School. Each of the scholarship awards can be applied toward tuition, room and board or supplies at the college of the student's choice. Auburndale Community Charitable Foundation scholarships are funded in part by the Bank's Annual Golf Classic. The scholarship program began with the announcement of four $2,000 scholarships to be awarded to members of the 1997 graduating class. The number of annual scholarships was gradually increased, and the foundation's total investment in education since the program began now totals over $200,000.