New Hampshire School Board Association Announces 2020 Student Scholarship Winners

CONCORD — Executive Director Barrett M. Christina is pleased to announce that five New Hampshire students were chosen to receive this year’s New Hampshire School Board Association (NHSBA) Student Scholarship.

Each student was awarded $2,000 to be used to support their pursuit of a career in public education or a related field.

The Scholarship program is open to all high school seniors who are the children, stepchildren or grandchildren of school board members whose board is a current NHSBA member. A winner is chosen from five regions across the state: Lakes Region, North Country Region, South Central Region, South East Region and South West Region.

Winners are chosen by a committee of non-NHSBA members who look at applicant’s academic achievements, participation in school-sponsored, extracurricular activities and/or community service activities. Applicants also submit an essay on “Steps That My Local School Board Should Take To Promote Student Achievement” and three letters of reference. 

“Each of these students has shown a deep interest in furthering their education to help others learn and grow during their academic careers,” Executive Director Christina said. “They showed their commitment to their own academic success during their time at their respective high schools and provided thoughtful insight into how school boards can best support future students. We wish them all the best as they enter into the next chapter of their lives.”

This year’s winners are:

• Megan Ebner, of Plymouth. She is a graduating senior at Plymouth Regional High School and her mother, Maureen Ebner, serves on her local school board. In her essay, Ebner wrote about how local internships can help promote student achievement by giving them hands-on learning experiences and connecting them with mentors in the fields they wish to pursue.
• Nathan Labrecque, of Errol. He is a graduating senior at Colebrook Academy and his mother, Crystal Labrecque, serves on his local school board. Labrecque urged school officials to support staff and students, and be aware of their needs to ensure a comfortable learning environment for all in his essay.
• Aidan O’Connell, of Manchester. He is a graduating senior at Manchester Central School and his father, James O’Connell, serves on his local school board. O’Connell advised school officials to create a more inclusive learning environment by helping students access technology or materials that they may need to improve their learning, such as dual language immersion programs and better access to remote learning resources.
• Campbell Parish, of Hampton Falls. She is a graduating senior at Winnacunnet High School and her father, Gregory Parish, serves on her local school board. In her essay, Parish encouraged school officials to hire an in-school therapist to provide easier access to mental health care and help students learn coping mechanisms when dealing with their academic stresses and emotions.
• Aaron Brown, of Hollis. He is a graduating senior at Hollis Brookline High School and his mother, Elizabeth Brown, serves on the local school board. In his essay, Brown encouraged school board members to actively listen to student needs, and add classes or programming that will help students decide what they want to pursue after high school.

Since 2008, the NHSBA has awarded $70,000 to 61 students through this scholarship program.

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