John and Elizabeth Blennerhassett are the parents of a Charter Oak State College graduate. Their daughter is committed to the philosophy and the mission of the College and has established this named scholarship in honor of her parents. The Blennerhassetts were, for many years, residents of Orange, Connecticut where they raised their four children. John passed away in 1988 and Elizabeth in 2003. One of the Blennerhassetts’ most strongly held values was education, and they made many sacrifices so that their children could enjoy the benefits of a good education. John’s own education was that of a skilled craftsman (a printer), but Elizabeth was denied the opportunity to finish high school. Collectively, their four children earned three bachelor’s degrees, one technical college degree, two master’s degrees, a Ph.D., and an honorary doctorate.
The Blennerhassetts had to choose between extending their own academic careers or allowing their children to go on to higher education. This scholarship is intended to save a few working parents today from having to make that difficult choice. This scholarship is open to working parents who show academic promise and financial need. The scholarship can be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books or other educational expenses.
The average bi-annual award is $700.
Gemma Venuti - 2010 Blennerhassett Scholarship Recipient
Getting a college education is never an easy task for me and my family. Amidst all of the financial difficulties, I somehow managed to step into college. Attending was a real financial struggle for our family because my mother was the only bread winner who worked as a seamstress. With money problems and other infrastructure factors, I never finished the degree program I dreamed of in Bohol, Philippines.
I got married here in the U.S. and although life is still tough, my husband and I highly regard the importance of a good education. So, I chose to enroll in Charter Oak State College. For me taking the online courses frees up valuable drive time which gives me more control and a personalized schedule for family, work, and school. My family is so grateful for the financial assistance I received from the John and Elizabeth Blennerhassett Scholarship. The scholarship was a real blessing to us and it eased our financial burden. Thank you so much to the COSC Foundation for selecting me as recipient of the scholarship.