The Springfield Lake Shore Improvement Association (homeowners on Lake Springfield) will offer two $750 Sherel Nutt Memorial Scholarships for graduating seniors going on to college this fall, an increase of $250 over prior year awards.

All seniors attending public or private schools in the Springfield, Chatham or Rochester School Districts (schools that border Lake Springfield) are eligible to apply for these cash awards. The only requirement to awarding these scholarship funds is that students must continue their education this fall -- be it a public or private community college, 4 year college or university.

Garrett Deakin, President of the Association, said he was very excited to announce these scholarships at the higher award level. "The members of our Association know the importance of getting a good education and recognize that college costs continue to rise. We talked to guidance counselors, and they told us how important it is to have local scholarships to help make it easier for two of our area students to go on to college. The awards are very flexible and can be used to cover the cost of tuition, room and board, books or even travel expenses," said Deakin.

Grades, extra curricular activities/community service, two letters of recommendation and a written essay on "What Lake Springfield has meant to you" are the key elements of the application.

Deakin noted that applications are available at each high school in the Springfield, Chatham and Rochester School Districts, from Association Board members, clubs on Lake Springfield or through the Association’s web site www.lakespringield.org.

An April 16, 2008, deadline has been established for receipt of applications. The Association has established a committee to review the applications and will announce the winners of the scholarships in early May, before high school graduation.

2004 was the first year the Lake Shore Improvement Association offered scholarships. Deakin said that he was amazed at the number and quality of applicants for the then two $250 scholarships. Three years ago in 2005 our Association increased the scholarship level to $500 and applications for these two scholarships more than doubled. "Seniors from all over Springfield as well as Rochester and Chatham applied. A senior does not have to live on the lake to apply. In fact, only two of the first eight recipients lived on Lake Springfield."; said Deakin

This year we have increased both scholarships to $750. Guidance counselors, students and parents have told us that the cost of a college education is simply more expensive. It is not uncommon for books for one semester to be six to seven hundred dollars. Hopefully, these scholarships will help make a difference for two local students who want to go on to college.

The scholarships are named after a long time serving board member who believed in the preservation of Lake Springfield, volunteering for community service and the future of our youth. Sherel Nutt lived on Lake Springfield for over 40 years, and his wife, Loretta, still resides on the lake.