Left to Right: Maribeth Awiszus, Janet Netishen, Ellen Netishen with 2023 Scholarship Recipient Jarlen Arango

Lowell – Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces $611,751 in scholarships to 214 high school seniors at Lowell High School to help cover the rising costs of post-secondary education.

Since its founding 26 years ago, the Foundation’s scholarship program has supported more than 3,300 students with $5.4 million in scholarships, thanks to the generosity of donors who have set up funds to invest in young people’s continuing education.

“I want to sincerely thank our donors, as well as our volunteers, for investing in education,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “They donated their time and money for the promise of the next generation – it is philanthropy at its best!”

Of those awarded, 64% of recipients plan to attend college in Massachusetts, with 36% staying in Middlesex County. The top five schools include UMass Lowell, Middlesex Community College, UMass Amherst, Boston University and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Scholarships include new awards as well as multi-year awards, as some of the Foundation’s scholarship funds provide student support throughout their college journey.

The scholarships were awarded to students representing a variety of identities, interests, and accomplishments. A new scholarship awarded at this year’s Lowell High School Honors Night was the Michael J. Netishen Scholarship Fund, established by Netishen’s family to provide annual Lowell High School scholarships to students who play sports and have financial need.

Foundation staff and 83 volunteers selected the Lowell High School scholarship recipients based on merit, financial need, and specific criteria established by each of the 369 individual scholarship funds. High school seniors can submit one application and be considered for multiple scholarship opportunities through the Foundation’s online application, which will open again in January 2024.