Endowed Scholarships

An endowed scholarship is a scholarship that is created with a large initial donation. The donation is then placed in an investment account where, thanks to interest, dividends and changes in market value, it grows over time. That investment growth is what provides students with scholarship funding for tuition, fees, books and supplies for many years into the future. For example, a scholarship fund that was created 20 years ago at Bristol Community College with a gift of $15,000 has provided more than $27,000 in scholarships to more than two dozen students and is currently valued at more than $48,000.

Now, thanks to the Higher Education Endowment Incentive program offered by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BOHE), all donations to either a pre-existing endowed scholarship or a newly created one will be matched at a rate of 50%. Therefore, a donation of $500 becomes $750; $1,000 becomes $1,500; $5,000 becomes $7,500; and so on.

The minimum investment amount to start your own endowed scholarship is $15,000 but, thanks to the BOHE match, a gift of $10,000 becomes $15,000 with the match incentive.

Fred and Ella Crane Family Scholarship

Created in memory of Frederick and Ella Crane, this scholarship pays homage to the academic support of their children and grandchildren, many of whom attended Bristol. It advances their legacy by encouraging scholarship recipients to pursue and achieve their American dream, just as they did. This scholarship supports matriculated Bristol students in the sciences, engineering, mathematics or education with a 3.0 or higher GPA and financial need. Consideration also goes to Massachusetts residents with special academic needs.

José Francisco Costa Endowed Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established in 2023 to honor the work and vision of José Francisco Costa and to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the LusoCentro, the academic center at Bristol that, working across academic disciplines, promotes the study of the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking cultures. This scholarship was presented to José Costa during the 20th Anniversary LusoCentro Event and provides financial support to students who are pursuing a degree at Bristol studying the Portuguese language.

Delta Dental Scholarship in Honor of Dennis Leonard

Delta Dental of Massachusetts established the Dennis Leonard Scholarship at Bristol to enhance diversity among dental hygienists. Named by his successor Erik Montlauk, this endowed scholarship supports students of color pursuing dental hygienist careers through tuition assistance. According to Mr. Montlauk, “There’s a lot of work to be done in this space, but we think this is an important first step in addressing the workforce shortages... and the gap between the amount of care that is needed and the people that are there to serve and deliver that care. There’s also the chance to increase the diversity of candidates going to school. As a leader in this industry, it’s important for Delta Dental to try to be part of the solution.” This scholarship provides financial support to students pursuing a degree at Bristol in dental hygiene. Preference shall be given to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) students.

Joseph and Joan Andrade Memorial Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was established in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Andrade of Taunton by their eight children. Joan Andrade lived in service to others as a CNA and a Residential Counselor for the developmentally delayed, until her retirement in 2018. Joseph Andrade, a jack-of-all-trades, supported his family in various ways throughout his life. In addition to raising their own children, Joseph and Joan opened their home as foster parents to innumerable children. This scholarship benefits students and provides financial support to any student pursuing a degree at Bristol in nursing.

Andre J. Godwin Memorial Scholarship

Established by the Fall River Chapter of the National Association of the Mentally Ill, this endowed scholarship was established in memory of Andre J. Godwin who passed away in June 2023. A student at Bristol, Andre was a very gifted young man whose full potential was thwarted by the challenges of mental health that life brings before us. Throughout his life, Andre fought bravely to overcome the many obstacles he faced. His family supported his efforts to heal and admired the persistence he demonstrated along the way. This scholarship provides financial support to students at Bristol pursuing High School Equivalency credentials then transitioning to a credit-bearing certificate or degree program.

Shelly A. Costa Memorial Scholarship

This endowed scholarship was created in loving memory of Shelly Costa who was a graduate and longtime employee of Bristol Community College, serving in the President’s Office. Shelly will always be known for her welcoming smile. She will be remembered best as a wonderful wife and caring mother with a vivacious free spirit and a love for spending time with family on the beach. This scholarship provides financial support to adult learners pursuing a degree at Bristol.

Paula Parsons Endowed Scholarship

Established in honor of Paula Parsons ‘75, this endowed scholarship was created by Ms. Parsons to recognize the importance of Bristol in supporting her career pathway. This scholarship provides financial support to students pursuing a degree at Bristol who show financial need.

Dr. Eleanor Morad Nursing, Ed.D. Scholarship

Established by Dr. Eleanor Morad, a longtime Professor of Nursing at Bristol, to specifically support a strong continuing pipeline of nurses in the local Bristol County community. This scholarship aids second-year Bristol nursing students with a 3.0 GPA or higher, prioritizing single mothers. The selection is made by the Bristol Nursing department, with annual awards presented at the Nurse Pinning Ceremony by Dr. Eleanor Morad or designated faculty.