Memorial Scholarships
We are honored to have the responsibility to manage and distribute the many Memorial Scholarships created by our caring community members. Please see below for a few examples of current Memorial Scholarships awarded.
Diane B Karr Memorial Scholarship
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Diane Karr was born in Leominster, Massachusetts amid a large French Canadian extended family and grew up in Derby, Connecticut with three younger brothers, Andre, Henry and Paul. Diane met her husband Ron while she was attending college and Ron was pursuing his doctoral degree. Diane graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science Special Education degree. Diane and Ron were married in Connecticut, lived in Somerville as newlyweds, moved to Chicago for Ron’s career, and moved to Pepperell a few years later when Ron took a position at U Mass Lowell. In Pepperell, they purchased their first home and established roots in the community.
Three children completed their family, Emilie, Matthew and Jeannine. Combining her education degree with her children’s interests, Diane was a frequent volunteer in her children’s classrooms in Peter Fitzpatrick and Varnum Brook schools. For many years she coached teams for the Odyssey of the Mind, an international problem solving organization, and brought her team to the world championship. |
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Diane was a founding member and the first Correspondence Secretary at the Peter Fitzpatrick School Parent Teacher Support Group and was later elected President of the PFS PTSG. She created the PFS PTSG monthly newsletter and the “Watchdog Committee” for the purpose of attending school committee meetings and reporting relevant issues to the PTSG. Diane tackled every issue with passion and turned her duties on the Watchdog Committee into serving five years on the North Middlesex Regional School Committee as an elected school committee member. She expanded those duties by becoming a member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council and a member of the Building Committees for both the new Nissitissit School and the addition to Varnum Brook Middle School.
In addition to educational pursuits, Diane enjoyed Crazy Quilting and frequently hosted a group of crazy quilters at her home. Diane crafted many beautifully-detailed, personal handmade quilts with extensive embroidery on each square and gave these treasured heirlooms to her family and friends. She combined the crazy quilt meetings with sharing homemade foods. She enjoyed cooking and baking, and relished the delights from her garden. Her blackberry jams and pies came from her thriving blackberry bushes. Her pies were always served with freshly made hand-whipped cream. Her Christmas cookies featured a dozen of her favorite recipes and were a delight to each recipient.
Education and crafts were only two sides of Diane, her passion extended to politics and causes. She was a frequent contributor to town meeting, pleading her passionate point of view to make sure voters had the information they needed to make an informed decision. For thirty years she enjoyed volunteering as an election official.
Combining their passions for writing, history and traveling, Diane and Ron started a small family business in their home, Branch Line Press, where Diane was the Editor, Ron was an author, and their daughters were graphic artists. They published many books on railroads in New England, enjoying travelling to research and photograph those sites.
Having a full, overflowing plate was essential to Diane, and in “her spare time”, she volunteered for seven years at Pepperell Aid from Community to Home, PACH. She created their website, was the USDA Food Coordinator, and interacted with the Greater Boston Foodbank to order food and coordinate drivers for monthly deliveries to Pepperell.
Every cause, committee or concern Diane took on or believed in, she did with gusto. She dedicated her life to her family and many friends, and kept all up to date with her detailed Christmas letters, sharing the year’s activities, travels and accomplishments. She proudly supported her husband’s library career, his musical talents, his love of history, and his volunteer and elected positions on many Pepperell committees. Diane and Ron enjoyed traveling to Seattle where their three children settled. Following their parents’ examples, Emilie, Matthew and Jeannine each pursued a career highlighting their creative talents.
Diane was buried in Pepperell Cemetery, down the street from their historic home on Elm Street, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Her legacy to the community she loved and the friends she left behind is exemplified in this quote: “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.”
In addition to educational pursuits, Diane enjoyed Crazy Quilting and frequently hosted a group of crazy quilters at her home. Diane crafted many beautifully-detailed, personal handmade quilts with extensive embroidery on each square and gave these treasured heirlooms to her family and friends. She combined the crazy quilt meetings with sharing homemade foods. She enjoyed cooking and baking, and relished the delights from her garden. Her blackberry jams and pies came from her thriving blackberry bushes. Her pies were always served with freshly made hand-whipped cream. Her Christmas cookies featured a dozen of her favorite recipes and were a delight to each recipient.
Education and crafts were only two sides of Diane, her passion extended to politics and causes. She was a frequent contributor to town meeting, pleading her passionate point of view to make sure voters had the information they needed to make an informed decision. For thirty years she enjoyed volunteering as an election official.
Combining their passions for writing, history and traveling, Diane and Ron started a small family business in their home, Branch Line Press, where Diane was the Editor, Ron was an author, and their daughters were graphic artists. They published many books on railroads in New England, enjoying travelling to research and photograph those sites.
Having a full, overflowing plate was essential to Diane, and in “her spare time”, she volunteered for seven years at Pepperell Aid from Community to Home, PACH. She created their website, was the USDA Food Coordinator, and interacted with the Greater Boston Foodbank to order food and coordinate drivers for monthly deliveries to Pepperell.
Every cause, committee or concern Diane took on or believed in, she did with gusto. She dedicated her life to her family and many friends, and kept all up to date with her detailed Christmas letters, sharing the year’s activities, travels and accomplishments. She proudly supported her husband’s library career, his musical talents, his love of history, and his volunteer and elected positions on many Pepperell committees. Diane and Ron enjoyed traveling to Seattle where their three children settled. Following their parents’ examples, Emilie, Matthew and Jeannine each pursued a career highlighting their creative talents.
Diane was buried in Pepperell Cemetery, down the street from their historic home on Elm Street, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Her legacy to the community she loved and the friends she left behind is exemplified in this quote: “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.”
Shepherd Family Memorial SCHOLARSHIP
Roy and Nancy Shepherd were hard working people who believed deeply in the power of a healthy community. They spent their lives in Townsend and surrounding communities working to make this region the best possible place to call home. Our father, Roy, had a keen interest in mechanics, emergency services, business and agriculture. Our mother, Nancy, had a strong sense of social responsibility and worked diligently to be a voice for those who could not always use their own. She advocated for social justice and equality for all. She enjoyed the arts, gardening and social service.
This scholarship is designed to be awarded to NMRHS graduates interested in or planning to pursue an education in mechanics, business, emergency services, agriculture, social services or the arts. This scholarship is not based on financial needs as a priority but rather for those who demonstrate a commitment to community and service to others.
This scholarship is designed to be awarded to NMRHS graduates interested in or planning to pursue an education in mechanics, business, emergency services, agriculture, social services or the arts. This scholarship is not based on financial needs as a priority but rather for those who demonstrate a commitment to community and service to others.
Young Women's Professional Grant
New in 2023-24 is the Young Women's Professional Grant, generously created by the Rios-Martinez family: We are grateful for the education our three daughters received at North Middlesex that became the foundation for what they achieved during their college years and now during their professional lives and we would like to pay it forward.
We would like to designate three students from Townsend for the scholarship(s) - one pursuing a career in Arts/Design (our oldest daughter Alex is an Architect); another pursuing a career in engineering or computer sciences (our middle daughter Maria is an electrical and computer engineer) and the last one for someone pursuing a career in history, journalism or political sciences (our youngest daughter Natalia is in her second year of law school).
We would like to designate three students from Townsend for the scholarship(s) - one pursuing a career in Arts/Design (our oldest daughter Alex is an Architect); another pursuing a career in engineering or computer sciences (our middle daughter Maria is an electrical and computer engineer) and the last one for someone pursuing a career in history, journalism or political sciences (our youngest daughter Natalia is in her second year of law school).
NMRS Scholarship Foundation
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