A Scholarship to Honor Hayley Shen and an Ethos of Service
The students came up with a most fitting way to pay tribute to Professor Shen’s service to them and the program, a scholarship in her name to be given to a Potsdam High School student who embodies the qualities of the Honors Program. For someone who eschews personal recognition, there could not be a more fitting thank you. The scholarship was given to Alexander Throop, a coincidentally most fitting recipient since his father was on the original committee that designed the Honors Program. In order to raise the money for the scholarship, the students raffled off a Wii, raising $600. The effort also enabled some students to earn their service hours, and the students intend to raise money for a similar ‘Shen Scholarship’ each year.
The effort points to changing attitudes and a deeper commitment to service in the Honors Program. Take, for example, this year’s Cancer Society Relay for Life at which the Honors team won three awards, including most money raised and best theme. Their theme was the Wild West, and their slogan was “Shooting for a cancer free frontier.” Habitat for Humanity and Make a Child Smile nights were also popular service events this year. We do not yet have an ethos of service to match our commitment to intellectual excellence and research, but we are well on our way.
