New arts scholarship encourages NP students to follow their dreams

Friday, December 8, 2017
Courtesy photo Announcing the newly established North Putnam Dollars for Scholars Arts Scholarship are (from left) Elaine Peck, Putnam County Community Foundation executive director; Alan Zerkel, North Putnam Dollars for Scholars president; Linda Gjesvold, Arts Scholarship Fund founder; Ken Eitel, Community Foundation president; Dean Gambill, Foundation community development director.

The Putnam County Community Foundation has announced a new scholarship for graduates of North Putnam High School -- the North Putnam Dollars for Scholars Arts Scholarship.

A one-year award, students may reapply and previous recipients will receive preference. Thus, it is possible that the same student could receive support for up to four years of schooling and even graduate school. The scholarship was established by Linda Gjesvold, who taught visual arts for 44 years, 43 of which were at North Putnam High School and Junior High.

“North Putnam has many past, present and future talented students,” Gjesvold said. “I hope this scholarship will encourage them to follow their dreams.”

Gjesvold never dreamed of being able to create a scholarship, until she learned from her State Farm adviser, Brad Tucker, that she could make contributions by designating her IRA required minimum distribution as a charitable donation to the Community Foundation to fund the scholarship endowment. She plans to add to the scholarship over several years using this strategy.

The first Arts Scholarship will be awarded in 2018. For eligibility requirements, information and to apply online, visit https://northputnam.dollarsforscholars.org.

Alan Zerkel, president of North Putnam Dollars for Scholars, said this is the third endowed scholarship being administered by North Putnam Dollars for Scholars.

“These are scholarships that will continue to grow and support North Putnam graduates every year in perpetuity,” Zerkel said. “The partnership between the North Putnam Dollars for Scholars program and the Putnam County Community Foundation provides many benefits for our youth, who are the future of our community.”

The Putnam County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1985 to fulfill the charitable wishes of donors in perpetuity, award grants, and provide leadership, enriching the quality of life and strengthening community in Putnam County.

To discuss how to leave a charitable legacy, persons may contact Foundation Executive Director Elaine Peck at 653-4978 or epeck@pcfoundation.org.

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  • Love Mrs. G!!

    -- Posted by PutCoRes on Sat, Dec 9, 2017, at 6:44 AM
  • Love Mrs G!!

    -- Posted by PutCoRes on Sat, Dec 9, 2017, at 6:45 AM
  • You rock Mrs. G!!!

    -- Posted by putnamcountyproud on Mon, Dec 11, 2017, at 2:56 PM
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