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Pentucket Bank honored 10 high school seniors with $2,000 checks in a scholarship ceremony Tuesday which put the spotlight on the value of community colleges and workforce training.
The first-time awards are the brainchild of Lloyd L. Hamm Jr., CEO of River Run, the holding company for Pentucket Bank and its sisters, Newburyport Bank and Rollstone Bank and Trust in Fitchburg. Officials said the awards were created last year to reflect the bank’s commitment to workforce development and a community college education as well as long-term investments in the community. River Run Senior Vice President, Community and Public Relations Director Leanne M. Eastman explained the bank sought to acknowledge the option of community college and training for the skilled trades because a four-year college experience has priced itself out of range for many.
“We think it is just so important that students are able to take advantages of these options that give them affordable, post-graduate education and get right into the workforce and become part and economic drivers,” she said.
Three Haverhill High School seniors were given Pathways Scholarships as they are headed to community college. Five Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School students were honored with Workforce Ready Career Kickstarter Scholarships. Two Salem High School students were also honored with Pathways Scholarships.
The Haverhill High School students honored were Melody Brien, Jeff Gisson and Gerald Taabi. Whittier students were Lucas Craig, Luis Guaman, Emma Marion, Edwin Saenz Velazquez and Jeffrey Wilson. The Salem High School were Brodie Boudreau and Demian Kochubei.
River Run gave $60,000 in scholarships through its Opportunity Awards, $20,000 at each bank. Each institution worked with high school guidance departments in their regions to choose the students, Eastman said.