Southborough committee approves five scholarships, authorizes townhouse to sign checks

A Town of Southborough scholarship committee voted unanimously to award five scholarships and authorized the townhouse to sign checks for distribution.

The votes, taken during a brief meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m., approved the Stephanie Capello scholarship ($1,500), the Carol Harris scholarship ($1,000), a town scholarship ($1,000), the Linda Hovley scholarship ($1,000) and the Stephanie Renieri scholarship ($1,500). The committee also voted to authorize the townhouse to sign the checks for each recipient.

The awards matter because they directly allocate local funds to student recipients and set the committee’s plan for the upcoming award ceremony. The committee discussed account balances, confirmed recent donations and made logistical plans for the presentation.

Committee members reviewed account totals before voting. Lisa, committee member, said the Hovley account stood at $2,341 and the town account at $2,590, with an additional $1,000 check expected but not yet received. She said the Harris account was $1,978 and the Ranieri (Renieri/Rainieri in transcript) account was $4,780. "The $2,000 check really brought it up," Lisa added when describing the recent Ferris Development donation.

After confirming the balances, the committee moved through each award by applicant number because some recipients had not confirmed attendance. For each motion the committee used roll-call votes because the meeting was conducted over Zoom; Stephanie, Christine, Isabelle, Maria and Lisa all voted yes on each award and on the authorization for the townhouse to sign checks. The motions passed.

Committee members also discussed logistics for the award ceremony. Lisa said recipients had been invited and that Kate Donahue would bring citations; she asked Isabelle to read prepared remarks as the group hands out flowers. Lisa said she would speak briefly about the Stephanie Capello award and that Andrew Dennington, chair of the Select Board, had been told the committee would handle the ceremony. Terry from Access Media will record video inside and outside the Townhouse and produce a short clip for the committee’s use.

The committee agreed to meet Tuesday at 5:45 a.m. at the Townhouse (the transcript alternately referenced 5:45 and 6:45; the committee confirmed 5:45). Lisa said the committee will take pictures and record short thank-you videos with the recipients for future use.

Committee members thanked Kathy Cook for assistance securing prior funding and noted that the committee previously received ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds last year. Lisa said Kate Donahue had arranged a certificate to recognize Cook’s help. No additional formal motions or votes were taken.

The meeting concluded after completing the roll-call votes; the committee adjourned with all members voting yes.