NEW HOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Stephen Young (principal), Edwin Hild (NHHS Scholarship Committee chair), Matt Rodrigues, Ben Meadows (NHHS President), Jon Gonsiewski (New Hope-Solebury History teacher) and Les Isbrandt (NHHS Scholarship Committee member)

On June 8th, New Hope-Solebury senior, Matthew Rodrigues, received the 2011 Francis Curley Scholarship from the New Hope Historical Society. On hand to present the award were NHHS president, Ben Meadows, NHHS Scholarship Committee Chair, Edwin Hild and NHHS Scholarship Committee member, Les Isbrandt.

The criteria for scholarship candidates are as follows:
1. Planned to attend at an accredited university or college
2. Further academic study in the broad field of Social Studies
3. Demonstrated excellence in NH-S HS Social Studies course work
4. Community involvement
5. A student whose selection Francis Curley would have agreed with
6. Overall GPA

The New Hope Historical Society established the Francis Curley Memorial Scholarship in 2003 to be awarded to a civic minded New Hope Solebury High School senior who has displayed excellence in Social Studies and who is going on to a post secondary formal education in the broad field of Social Sciences.

“The scholarship honors Francis Curley’s many outstanding contributions which fostered a greater public appreciation for New Hope’s unique history,” said Isbrandt. “ His work in the Historical Society and our community will forever be remembered as an excellent model of how one individual can make a lasting impact. Until his death in 2001, Francis Curley was considered New Hope’s premier historian. After serving in the US Army during WWII, he taught history and social studies at the New Hope Solebury High School from 1957 to 1980. Francis was a member of the Lambertville and Bucks County Historical Societies and was an officer and director of the New Hope Historical Society. He also taught, as a volunteer, at Delaware Valley Community College”.

“On behalf of the members of the New Hope Historical Society, we want to thank the school district for giving us the opportunity to participate in the Senior Scholarship program,” remarked Isbrandt. “This is the ninth year that the Society has given scholarships to NH-S High School seniors. In total, including this year’s grant, the Society will have awarded ten $1,000 scholarships to deserving students”.