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Date: 5/4/2021
SOUTHAMPTON – Applications for the Richard C. Allen Memorial Scholarship Award are now available through May 7 for graduating high school seniors who live in Southampton.
Applicants must also provide documentation indicating acceptance at an accredited college or other institution of higher learning to be eligible for the scholarship. Seniors need to complete and submit the entire application packet, as well.
The scholarship program is in honor of Richard C. Allen, who served the town of Southampton for over 20 years on numerous boards and committees. Much of his service was spent on the Board of Selectman, according to the Southampton website. Allen was also employed as a police chief and fire chief, amounting to 38 years in public service. The scholarship is sponsored by Southampton Highway Department & Transfer Station.
According to Randall Kemp, the highway superintendent for Southampton, these scholarship awards are made possible through donations of deposit-returnable cans and bottles from Southampton Station permit holders and through the efforts of the Southampton Highway Department and Transfer Station.
Kemp added though, that staff vacancies and COVID-19 have put the scholarship program in jeopardy, as the highway department made the decision a year ago to put donations of deposit-returnable cans and bottles on hold as one of the many measures enacted to avoid exposure to the department’s limited staff.
“With conflicting reports on the rising rates of infection, I remain uncomfortable restarting the program due to unfilled positions,” said Kemp. “It is unclear if whether we will have the staff resources to resume once the pandemic concerns subside.”
According to Kemp, there are sufficient funds remaining in the account to award three or four scholarships before funds are completely exhausted. Kemp added that it is important that people donate directly to the scholarship fund via check sent to the highway department or town hall. If enough people do this, then the scholarship can stay alive.
"Furthering education past high school is expensive and I am happy to have been able to continue this program to give something back to our younger residents in pursuit of higher education for as long as we have,” said Kemp.
From 2012 to 2020, 63 scholarships totaling more than $30,000 have been awarded to high school graduates, according to Kemp.
Applications for the Richard C. Allen Memorial Scholarship Award may be submitted either in-person in the highway department office drop box or by United States Postal Service mail. Applications by email or fax will not be accepted.
Specifics on the scholarship can be found through this link: https://townofsouthampton.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-Scholarship-Application.pdf.