LIRA Members Support Students who Perform Community Service
12/16/2015
By Katharine Webster
Four students got a welcome financial boost when the Learning in Retirement Association (LIRA) awarded each of them a $1,500 scholarship at the group’s annual holiday party.
More than 50 students applied for this year’s scholarships, which are awarded to juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or better and a strong record of community service, regardless of financial need. Janet Redman, co-chair of LIRA’s Scholarship Committee, said the committee was hard-pressed to choose the four winners because there were so many deserving applicants.
“We could have awarded many, many more scholarships,” said Redman. “It’s just amazing what these students are doing.”
The number and size of the scholarships has grown significantly since 2013, when LIRA signed a formal agreement with the university’s offices of Community Relations and Alumni Relations, said Toby Hodes, past president of LIRA. Now a portion of LIRA members’ dues goes into the scholarship fund; the rest of the money is raised through a silent auction and individual donations.
“When I joined LIRA, back in 1998, we were giving out $50 scholarships. Originally we only gave out two scholarships; the past two years, it’s been four,” Hodes said. “I think people of our age realize how lucky we have been. To us, education is very important, because we’re still pursuing it. And we realize what a struggle it is for kids, particularly for people who attend state schools, so if we can help the next generation get a leg up on their education, make things a little bit easier for them, it gives all of us a really terrific feeling.”
Rajia Abdelaziz, a senior from Nashua, N.H., who is pursuing a double major in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, says the award will give her some breathing room as she completes her two capstone projects.
“Senior year for us double majors is really difficult, so I’m going to be able to cut back on my work hours and I’m really grateful for that,” she said.
Abdelaziz works with Professor Fred Martin on the iSENSE project, developing software that teaches math and science to middle and high school students. She is also president of the campus chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and she mentors middle school students.
Renoel Amogawin, a senior from Burlington, will use his scholarship to defray the cost of a five-year accelerated bachelor’s to master’s degree program in Criminal Justice and Security Studies. He has tutored international students on campus in conversational English, helped refugee families at the International Institute of New England and tutored immigrant children in English and math.
“The bonds you make with those kids are great. It’s so rewarding to help them succeed,” he said.
Kevin Pillone of Quincy will complete his B.A. in History this spring and has applied to the Graduate School of Education for an accelerated, one-year master’s in teaching. As a Co-op Scholar, he mentors three boys, tutors and plans group activities for students at Lowell High School. And like Renoel, he also tutored immigrant children at the International Institute Center, working through the SayDaNar Community Development Center for Burmese refugees.
“The LIRA scholarship lifted my spirits,” he said. “It’s going to help me go to school so I can continue helping people out.”
Gerrit Boldt, an Honors College government fellow from Groton, who is double-majoring in History and Economics and minoring in Spanish, has a passion for sharing his financial expertise with others. As finance chairman for the Student Government Association, he helps decide how student activity fees are allocated. He is planning a forum for students on paying for college and he has served as treasurer and vice president of the International Student Club.
“I plan to pursue a State Department teaching fellowship and my life goal is to have a significant impact on public policy,” he said. “If I can really impact one law concerning education, health care, or international trade, I will be very satisfied.”
Boldt also understands the importance of paying it forward. He plans to speak to LIRA’s members next fall about how much their scholarships mean to students like him.
“What the scholarship really helps me do is pursue my passions for active problem solving and working on teams without having to be tethered by massive amounts of debt,” he said. “It helps ease the burden of attending college for my family and me.”