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Eastern States awards student for academic accomplishments

Date: 7/7/2009

By Amanda Lemon

Staff Intern



WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Ann Bergeron's accomplishments speak for themselves.

She has been awarded the 2009 Big E Scholarship, whose selection process requires the names of applicants be removed to ensure the winner is chosen solely based on criteria for excellence.

According to Catherine Pappas, communications manager for The Big E, applicants are judged based on scholastic performance, community involvement and financial need.

Pappas noted, "For [Big E] President Wayne McCary, one of the most important factors is whether or not it will make a difference in their ability to pay for college."

The winner must also have graduated from West Springfield High School.

Bergeron will use the $1,000 she received towards her education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which she will be attending in the fall as a nursing major.

"I appreciate the Big E's generosity and their support. This scholarship will be a great help with financing my education," Bergeron stated.

The West Springfield native is one of 11 children, the fourth of which to go to college. Considering both her mother and grandmother are nurses, it came as no surprise when Bergeron said, "I've always been interested in being a nurse."

She currently volunteers at a local nursing home and, with her church, went on a mission to Jamaica last summer to care for special needs children in an orphanage.

Bergeron has also worked with a girl with severe cerebral palsy as a personal care assistant since 2006.

She credits both experiences for her decision to study nursing.

"Working with a child who is challenged by severe cerebral palsy and seeing so many sick children in orphanages and other places when I went to Jamaica last summer really were deciding factors for me. I realized I want to be someone who takes care of these children and others," Bergeron explained.

The young woman graduated fifteenth in her class with a 3.914 grade point average, and held the position of vice president of her school's National Honor Society.

She has received numerous accolades in recent years including The Republican's 2009 Champion of Character, West Springfield High School's 2007-08 Terrier of Character and the 2007-08 Smith College Book Award.

For advanced scores on the MCAS tests, Bergeron received the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.

She also participated in athletics, having received the Four Year Award for her time on the indoor track team. Additionally, Bergeron earned the Rudy Award for her support and encouragement of her team.

As if it all this weren't enough for one girl, she also served as a member of the Student Senate and Regional Student Advisory Board. As the yearbook's business manager, she played a key role in fundraising and numerous other leadership duties.

Bergeron's father said of his daughter, "Her mother and I know Ann worked very hard. She should be proud of herself."