Apply for funding from Fred W. Wells Trust by March 20

Applications for funding from the Fred W. Wells Trust will be accepted until March 20.

Wells, a former resident of Shelburne Falls and Greenfield, was a businessman and an active community member. The Fred W. Wells Trust was established in 1946 under his will, which directed that a portion of the income from the fund be used to provide monetary awards in three areas: to assist students in obtaining a higher education; to help organizations that support the sick or aged by providing home, nursing or hospital care; and to support agricultural groups organized primarily for the advancement of agriculture.

Academic scholarships

Scholarship applicants must be residents of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Conway, Deerfield, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Northfield, Rowe or Shelburne who have resided or whose parents have resided in any of the said towns for not less than two years before the date of application.

The actual awards are made by an independent scholarship committee whose members consider, among other factors, each applicant’s scholastic ability, need, character, leadership ability, integrity and participation in work and/or extra-curricular activities. The maximum annual award cannot be more than $5,000 in any one year or more than $20,000 total for any student over their entire educational career.

Applications are available at town halls, high schools and Franklin County branches of Greenfield Savings Bank. The application can also be downloaded and printed from WellsTrustScholarship.com.

Agricultural awards

To support and advance community agricultural programs in Franklin County, the Fred W. Wells Trust provides awards for the most outstanding accomplishments in agriculture for the year. Complete applications include a cover sheet, current budget, income and expenses from the most recent fiscal year, a copy of the applicant’s IRS nonprofit determination letter, a copy of the rules under which the prize(s) will be awarded and any other additional information that assists in the consideration of the application.

Health-related awards

The Fred W. Wells Trust also continues to support the community’s health-related needs by providing awards to programs that help care for the sick or aged. The trust also calls for helping to provide medical care in rural areas. Health-related applications can be accessed online at WellsTrustScholarship.com. The application, along with two complete copies of all required documentation, must be submitted by March 20.

Decisions on scholarships and awards will be made in May. With questions, contact Prudence Blond, vice president and trust officer at the 400 Main St. branch of Greenfield Savings Bank, at pblond@greenfieldsavings.com or 413-775-8243. Completed applications should be sent to: Attention: Prudence Blond, Greenfield Savings Bank, 400 Main St., P.O. Box 1537, Greenfield, MA 01302.

Six local students make Endicott dean’s list

BEVERLY — The following six Franklin County students were named to the dean’s list at Endicott College for the fall semester: nursing major Brooke Flanders of Conway, daughter of Heidi Flanders and Jon Flanders; marketing major Julie Sprankle of Gill, daughter of Kimber Sprankle and Kenneth Sprankle; nursing major Sydney Unaitis of Greenfield, daughter of Dana Unaitis and Christin Unaitis; events management major Isabelle Spooner of Orange, daughter of Christina Spooner and Karl Spooner; education major Clarese Gardiner of South Deerfield, daughter of Melissa Stetson and John Gardiner; and interior architecture major Elise Friedrichs of Sunderland, daughter of Beth Roberge and Joseph Friedrichs.

To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.5, receive no letter grade below a C, have no withdrawal grades and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits for the semester.

Comerford receives Legislator of the Year Award

BOSTON — State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, was honored at the State House by the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, receiving the Legislator of the Year award during the organization’s 46th Legislative Advocacy Day earlier this month.

The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council is an independent agency, funded by the federal government, that is dedicated to empowering people with developmental disabilities and their families to enjoy full, productive lives by promoting self-sufficiency, community inclusion and opportunity.

“In accepting this tremendous honor, I want to name the shared values that I have learned from you all: a shared commitment to access and equity; a shared commitment to full inclusion and respect for all people; a shared commitment to ensuring that the people most affected by any policy and budget decisions have a voice in shaping them; and a shared commitment to have people living with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities,” Comerford said in her remarks at Legislative Advocacy Day. “Your agenda is my agenda.”