ECMC Foundation to Award $480,000 in Scholarships to Connecticut Students

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- ECMC Foundation and the Connecticut State Board of Education have joined in a partnership to create the Connecticut ECMC Scholars Program to increase access to higher education.

Connecticut high schools applied to the Connecticut State Board of Education to participate in the ECMC Scholars Program. A total of 80 students—ten from each school will be eligible to earn $6,000 in scholarships. The following schools were chosen:

• Ansonia High School, Ansonia
• Emmett O'Brien Technical High School, Ansonia
• Central High School, Bridgeport
• Bristol Eastern High School, Bristol
• Danbury High School, Danbury
• East Hartford High School, East Hartford
• New Britain High School, New Britain
• Stamford High School, Stamford

Each high school has formed its own committee to select the students they feel will most benefit from additional mentoring and early involvement in a scholarship program and whose past grades and test scores may not indicate their true potential.

"ECMC Scholars Program is distinctive in that scholarship candidates are selected by those who know them and can judge their potential," said March Kessler, executive director, ECMC Foundation. "ECMC Scholars candidates are challenged to earn their scholarships by meeting performance expectations established by their own counselors and teachers."

"ECMC Foundation has created a new opportunity for several Connecticut students by providing additional financial assistance to support their continuing academic careers and post-secondary achievement," said Mark K. McQuillan, State Commissioner of Education. "With the increasing demands in today's society and economy for greater knowledge and skills acquired on the college campus, this program recognizes the hard work and determination of high school students who have fought hard to overcome challenges."

Connecticut ECMC Scholars Program joins the previously established Virginia ECMC Scholars and Oregon ECMC Scholars Programs. ECMC Foundation funds these programs to give students with potential the support they may need to become successful in high school and go on to higher education.

About ECMC Foundation

ECMC Foundation helps low-income, first-generation, college-bound students of all ages further their education goals. Through innovative outreach programs, we convey to students the importance of completing high school, and we continue our mission by developing and distributing programs that focus on college access, retention and success. ECMC Foundation partners with government agencies, educational institutions and community organizations to make the dream of higher education a reality. For more information, visit www.ecmcfoundation.org. ECMC Foundation is funded by ECMC Group.

SOURCE ECMC Foundation