The Trailblazer scholarship acknowledges family trailblazers throughout the Town’s history, no matter how recent or from which previous generation in the student’s heritage. Trailblazers take risks and forge a path to make better lives for their families. They arrive in what we now know as Danvers from all over the world and some have been the original keepers of this land for over thousands of years. All are sharing their stories to enrich our understanding of our community and our outlook on the world. From indigenous peoples and Europeans who came to this area for its abundance of natural resources to those who have pursued freedoms and education, trailblazers have seen this area as a place to thrive and nurture their descendants.
This scholarship is available to a Danvers High School senior who has been accepted into a post-secondary education program. The candidate must have exhibited consistent participation in one or more of the following: Affinity Group, Prism, Model UN/Government, English Language Learning, Women of the World.
Six excellent candidates shared how their family’s heritage taught them a valuable skill or approach to life and how their family Trailblazer was most influential. They shared how program(s) and/or classes influenced their educational goals and life pursuits. The candidates are moving on to medicine, engineering, bioengineering, speech pathology, international relations, social work, and molecular biology.
Isha’s grandmother’s valuable Indian folklore tales taught honesty, patience and confidence. For Isha, the power of storytelling preserves heritage, identity and tradition. In America, Isha has the freedom to pursue chemistry and medicine, both of which her forbears could not because of the caste system in India. Experiences at Medtronic and in the high school’s Model UN, inspires Isha to continue to pursue equity and inclusion both locally and internationally.
The Members of the Danvers Historical Society funded the scholarship and wish Isha all the best for her future endeavors. Congratulations!