FONDA — Fonda-Fultonville Central School District graduates will have a new opportunity to help pay for college, thanks to a $1.83 million gift from a local couple who died decades ago.
A scholarship fund in that amount has been set up by the estate of W. Barent Wemple and Ashley Burton Wemple, who lived in Fonda for a number of years.
This year’s class of 115 students will have a chance at several scholarships worth $7,000 each. Cuyle Rockwell, a spokesman for the school district, said 12 to 15 students will receive the scholarships each year.
“Over 10 percent of kids will get one of these scholarships,” Rockwell said.
Mr. Wemple died in the 1970s, and Mrs. Wemple died in the 1960s. Hoffman said the money was put into a trust fund under the terms of the Wemples’ will. It stated that upon the death of their heirs, the money would be given to the school district. Their son, Frank Wemple, died in November 2006.
Mary Ann Scheer of the NBT Bank will oversee the fund, of which 5 percent will be donated to students each year.
District Superintendent James Hoffman said he found out about the bequest in November when he got a call from the estate attorney.
The scholarships are intended for students in financial need, and the terms of the will require an equal number of males and females receive them.
Hoffman said the district added a clause to the terms of the scholarship
The $7,000 scholarship amount, which was set by the district, is the current cost of tuition at Fulton-Montgomery Community College for two years. Rockwell said it was set up that way so students would be guaranteed a two-year college degree.
The trustees will adjust the award each year to reflect the cost of two years at FMCC, although it does not require that students attend FMCC. Tying the scholarship to the cost of education gives recipients the opportunity to complete their associate degrees with no financial burden.
“An associate’s degree today is the equivalent of a high school diploma was 20 years ago,” Hoffman said. “The concern was a lot of kids can’t afford it.”
Hoffman said he has never heard of such a large amount being given by an individual or family to a public school district like Fonda-Fultonville.
Hoffman, Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey Davis, and BOCES District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Hohenforst will serve as trustees for the new scholarship fund.
The three will determine the winners anonymously to ensure fairness. Hoffman said the committee will receive the applications with no names on them, so the decision can be made on students’ achievements and financial need alone.
“It won’t be who you are, but what you’ve done,” Hoffman said.
The school district also has reached and agreement with FMCC that would allow students in dire need to receive up to $5,000 for books and other supplies. Hoffman said students with drive and the desire to learn — but not the financial means to do so — will be able to receive a totally free two-year education.
Hoffman said he had hoped to talk to students about the opportunity on Friday, but the school was closed due to the weather. An assembly will be held on Monday to discuss the new scholarship and answer students’ questions.
Applications for the scholarship will be handed out at the next Board of Education meeting, which will be Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the school at 112 Old Johnstown Road.
The first scholarships will be presented to members of the Fonda-Fultonville High School Class of 2008 at graduation ceremonies in June.
Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County news. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com'>montco@leaderherald.com
