The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

2026 application deadlines coming up for Wellesley-eligible scholarships

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You don’t need us to tell you that an education beyond high school is expensive. Here are a few organizations that are looking to defray the costs for eligible students.

The below 2026 scholarship-granting organizations are ready for applicants. Please note that not all scholarship applications support graduating seniors—a couple of project-based grants for younger students are included.

Lots of organizations don’t have their updated information ready yet. We will refresh this story frequently as groups send us their current information.

Don’t see your group’s scholarship information listed here? Contact theswellesleyreport@gmail.com for inclusion.

Want to sponsor this story? Well, that would be swell. Contact theswellesleyreport@gmail.com for information

Hannah B. Randolph Scholarship Application—due by Feb. 27, 2026

This time of year, WHS reaches out to the 9th grade students, asking them to apply for the Hannah Randolph Scholarship. In addition, students, parents, guardians, and school staff members may nominate a 9th grade student, other than oneself or one’s own child.

In February, 2012, Hannah Randolph was a 9th grader in Wellesley High School. During winter break she died unexpectedly in a skiing accident. She is remembered for her dedication and hard work in her pursuit and love of music, athletics, and academics. Her ultimate objective was not necessarily to win, but rather to be the best she was capable of, while supporting her peers, whether they be friends or people she had just come to know.

The Hannah Randolph scholarship is a grant to support a Class of 2029 student for an activity or project selected by the recipient and approved by the Fund’s Board. The scholarships could potentially be used for clinics, camp, or summer programs in the areas of sports, academics, or music. An award could also be used as a stipend for a student choosing to serve as a community service volunteer, either locally or outside of Wellesley.

The due date to submit an application is February 27.  Please email or drop off your application to JanetKwon at kwonj@wellesleyps.org in the WHS Main Office.

Review these documents to either apply yourself or to nominate a 9th grader:
Application for Scholarship Candidates – 2026
Nomination for Scholarship Candidates – 2026
Tips Toward a Successful Application for a Hannah Fund Scholarship

WHJWC application deadline: March 1, 2026

The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) has been awarding scholarships to Wellesley students since 1972! Over the years we have given more than 1.5 million dollars to students to assist in the pursuit of their college dreams..

In 2025, the Club awarded $120,000 in scholarships and awards to 28 Wellesley students. Scholarships were given to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate college students in amounts ranging from $1,000 – $9,000.

Applications are evaluated based on demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, and involvement in community service. Applicants must be high school seniors graduating from Wellesley High School, Wellesley residents graduating from high school in or outside of Wellesley or Wellesley residents currently attending undergraduate institutions on a full-time basis.

Learn more about how to apply for a WHJWC scholarship.

Wellesley Scholarship Foundation application deadline—March 1, 2026

Wellesley Scholarship Foundation has been assisting with the high cost of post college education since 1951. Last year, Wellesley Scholarship Foundation awarded over $150,000 in grants to high seniors at Wellesley High School. An additional $240,000 was awarded to Wellesley High School graduates and/or residents of Wellesley as they continued their undergraduate or post-high school technical certification programs.

Two different types of scholarships are awarded each year:

  • Need-Based Scholarships: Any Wellesley High School graduate (regardless of residence) and any Wellesley resident (regardless of school) are eligible to apply for our need-based scholarships. If demonstrated financial need exists, students are eligible to receive award funding for up to four years of college or post-college technical education but MUST reapply annually and maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
  • Merit-Based Scholarships: Applicants must be high school seniors that are Wellesley residents (one male/one female) that have demonstrated a superior level of distinction in scholarship, citizenship and character, as well as strong extracurricular interests and activities. These two merit awards are renewable annually for four years provided the recipient maintains acceptable academic performance (certified with yearly college transcript) and maintains their Wellesley residency.

Learn more about how to apply for each of these scholarships at Wellesley Scholarship Foundation.

GFWC scholarships—deadline: March 1, 2026

GFWC offers more than a dozen scholarship for Massachusetts residents. The women’s volunteer service organization is seeking applicants going into fields such as business, education, international study abroad, Italian heritage, music, public health, and more. Scholarship awards range from $500 – $3,000

TBB Scholarships app. deadline: March 2, 2026

Scholarships from TBB Scholarships, Inc. are available to young women who are seniors in high school and reside and/or go to school in Brookline, Newton, or Wellesley, Massachusetts. TBB awards scholarships to four or five new applicants per year, and financial support and mentoring normally continues through four years. Scholarships are based on both merit and financial need. Scholarships are typically $4,500 for first year students. Renewable for four years up to $7,500/year.

Questions can be addressed to: Scholarship Committee Chair, TBBScholarships@gmail.com

Professional Women in Construction (PWC) app deadline: March 13, 2026

Scholarship award program for undergraduate and graduate students planning to study/work in the construction-related industry: Construction, Construction Management, Interior Design, Architecture, Landscape Design, Construction trades, or Civil, Mechanical, Structural, and Electrical Engineering. Gender is not a factor in the scholarship award decision.

Note: Although the PWC chapter offering the scholarship is based in Connecticut, applicants do not need to reside in CT. Students who attend schools in New England and NY will be given preference, but their current residence does not need to be New England or NY.

The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation scholarship—deadline: March 15, 2026

The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation scholarship was created to help deserving young men and women excel in their quest to improve themselves, their school or their community.

The scholarship is available to any high school student in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is awarded on the basis of need, and is not academically based. In addition, the Foundation will give more serious consideration to those students who have made efforts to make a difference in their communities and/or have shown leadership qualities within their school or community.

Journalism Education Foundation of New England—deadline: March 27, 2026

Up to $2,000 scholarships are available to high school seniors and college students pursuing a career in journalism. Must be residents of a New England state. Application here.

Wellesley Service League app. deadline: March 20, 2026

The Wellesley Service League introduced the annual Centennial Youth Service Award in 1981, as the town celebrated its 100th birthday. This award is given by the League to recognize outstanding volunteer service among our youth and to encourage the spirit of volunteerism in our community. Wellesley Service League will name one recipient of a $3,000 award this year.

To be eligible, applicants must have demonstrated exceptional dedication and selflessness in a volunteer capacity AND be completing their senior year of high school as a Wellesley resident or as a student at Wellesley High School. Ideally, the volunteer service will have been performed in the local community. Children of active League members or the WSL Executive Board are not eligible.

Application here.

Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts application deadline: April 1, 2026

The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. offers scholarships for undergraduate students (including high school seniors who will be freshmen in the fall), and graduate students who will be attending accredited colleges and universities.

​Applications are due April 1, 2026

​Scholarships are available for students majoring in: Horticulture; Floriculture; Landscape design or architecture; Conservation; Forestry, agronomy; City planning; Environmental studies; Land management; Botany; Biology; and allied subjects

Charles River Regional Chamber app. deadline: April 9, 2026

Charles River Chamber Scholarship are now available. The application deadline is April 9, 2026

The Charles River Regional Chamber is pleased to offer scholarship opportunities to up to four students from Needham, Newton, Watertown, and Wellesley who plan to enroll full- time in an accredited post-secondary program, trade school, community college, college, or university in the 2026–27 academic year.

The scholarship award, approximately $2,000, will be sent directly to each recipient’s institution after the student successfully completes their first semester. The Chamber encourages all eligible students to apply, including those who may not have a high GPA. While transcripts are required, grades are not the deciding factor in the selection process. A volunteer panel of local leaders reviews applications holistically, considering financial need, personal statements, community or work involvement, recommendation letters, and each applicant’s overall potential and determination.

This scholarship supports a wide range of educational pathways, recognizing that students pursue many different routes toward meaningful careers, including trade programs, community colleges, and four-year institutions.

Applications must be submitted by Thursday, April 9 at 5pm. For full criteria and to apply, visit: www.charlesriverchamber.com/scholarship

Metrowest Educational Foundation scholarships—application deadlines May 1, 2026

Each year the MetroWest Educational Foundation awards both STEM and Arcadius, Emma & Robert Lemieux scholarships to students in the  MetroWest Chamber’s member towns.  In 2020, the Chamber added the following scholarship categories:  the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Scholarship, the Inclusion Scholarship, and the Arthur ‘Ted’ Welte Community Service Scholarship. Scholarship links can be found here.

The applicants must be residents of one of the following towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Framingham, Franklin,Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milford, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston or Westborough.

The Friends of Natick Drama Workshop— application deadline, May 1, 2026

The Friends of Natick Drama Workshop offers scholarships to high school seniors applying in the spring of their senior year. Seniors at all area high schools are eligible to apply provided they have taken part in at least two Natick Drama Workshop productions while in middle school and are planning to attend college or other formal training that fall. Scholarship amounts depend on funding, the number of applicants, and the extent of their participation in Natick Drama Workshop. Scholarship amounts may change from year to year. Applications must be completed fully and received by May 1, 2026 to be considered.

Applications can be completed online or emailed to board@natickdramaworkschop.org

The below scholarship application deadlines have passed:

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Art

Davis Museum debuts its spring exhibits

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magu davis
Museum guests inside “The Immortal Magu” exhibit (Photo by Iris Zhan)

 
People from across the community gathered at Wellesley College’s Davis Museum on Feb. 5 for its spring exhibition opening and reception.

As visitors came into the lobby, student workers gave out feather boas to guests in an homage to the new exhibit “The Immortal Magu” and were welcomed with remarks from Wellesley College faculty and Davis Museum staff, celebrating the significance of the Davis Museum exhibitions as part of the 150th anniversary of the college.

davis museum
Wellesley College Professor Dr. Fiona Maurissette (left), her sisters, and Curator Programs Director Dr. Semente (right). Photo by Iris Zhan

 
The new exhibits included “Only To Be There: Student Traditions At Wellesley,” “The Immortal Magu: A Sixteenth-Century Chinese Painting Up Close” and a new fifth floor with contemporary art from various artists. Guests were also invited to revisit exhibits from last semester that reopened for continued viewing this semester, including “In Focus: Wellesley College Faculty Artists,” “The Worlds of Ilse Bing,” and “Suzanne Ciani: Sound Lounge.”

The new exhibit on Wellesley College traditions contains artifacts, records, and pictures of how student traditions have evolved over time. Some traditions highlighted include Flower Sunday, hoop rolling, step singing, and marathon Monday. They also included lesser known traditions that have been discontinued such as the Wellesley fudge cake and float night. Pictures of students ranged from the 1900s to the 2010s, showcasing the longevity of some traditions.

only to be here davis
Guests viewing the “Only To Be Here” exhibit (Photo by Iris Zhan)

 
“The Immortal Magu: A Sixteenth-Century Chinese Painting Up Close” features a large Chinese scroll painting of Magu, a Taoist goddess associated with beauty and longevity. The exhibit includes details on the steps taken to conserve and repair the painting as well as a poem on the significance of Magu in both Chinese and English translations

ding davis
Dr. Yuhua Ding, curator of “The Immortal Magu,” talking to a guest about her work (Photo by Iris Zhan)

 
The fifth floor showcases a new diverse collection of 2D and 3D contemporary art across many different styles.

The Davis Museum will be doing curatorial tours of these new exhibits as well as drop-in public tours across different themes throughout the museum. You can visit the Davis Museum website to find more information.

contemporary davis
Wellesley College student observing works on the contemporary art floor (Photo by Iris Zhan)
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Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, 2025

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, 2026

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Education

Hardy’s International Night celebrates cultural diversity

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International-night
Photos by Maya Hazarika

The gymnasium at Hardy Elementary School hummed with anticipation Thursday evening as families streamed through the doors, children clutching newly minted “passports” ready for stamping. By 5:30 PM, the space had transformed into something like a crossroads, with 17 countries represented through food tables, craft stations, and a stage where performers would share their heritage with friends and family alike.

This was Hardy’s International Night, now in its fourth year since the format launched, though celebrations of cultural diversity have long occurred at the school. What distinguished this gathering from a typical school event was its purpose to go further than just acknowledging differences.

Fourth graders Angela and Freida have attended every year. Their favorite elements, mango lassi and the lion dance performance, captured the event’s ability to share traditions through public demonstration. Fifth graders Aiden and Abe, who represented Nepal in dance, spoke afterward about cricket matches and Mount Everest proudly.

Principal Grant Smith explained the takeaway he hoped for the evening: students need opportunities not just to learn about other cultures, but to see classmates explain the elements that are part of their identities. The event creates what he called a space for students to “perform and explain and share.”

International-night photo of 3 adults, 1 child

The evening followed with careful planning. From 5:30-5:40pm, the International Chorus, led by music teacher Mr. Corcoran, opened with songs spanning continents: “J’entends le moulin” from Canada, “It’s a Small World,” “El Coquí” from Puerto Rico, “Hum Honge Kamyab” from India, “Numi Numi” from Israel, “Mo Li Hua” from China, “Kye Kye Kule” from Ghana, and “Baba Hai Meta” from Egypt. The lineup itself shows just what elementary school students can process: multiple languages and musical traditions, and cultural contexts.

After this, many performances followed. An Indian Bollywood dance, followed by a Moldovan folk song, and a Nepalese dance. Lion dancers then performed, followed by kung fu demonstrations. The evening wrapped up with a participatory bachata and salsa session, where the audience danced in the gymnasium alongside performers.

Around the perimeter of the cafeteria, families staffed tables representing their countries of origin with food, crafts, language stations, games, and cultural displays. Children moved between stations with passports, collecting stamps.

Event organizers Ada Franchino and Sonia Kolenchary, who coordinated much of International Night’s logistics, described challenges that typically result in community event planning. Flow management has become increasingly complicated as participation grows. Organizers continue experimenting with space arrangements that allow circulation around tables and attention to performances.

International night

The performers deserve better attention, Kolenchary noted. With tables and performances sharing the cafeteria, chaos sometimes overwhelms the preparation that students and families put into their presentations. Having all aspects in such a small space creates a sense of community at the risk of certain aspects being lost in the buzz.

Recruitment happens largely through class parent networks and returning hosts, according to Franchino. Once families host a table, subsequent years become a matter of scheduling.

The new school building has expanded what’s possible. More space means more countries represented and more opportunities for hands-on activities. Yet organizers continue refining the format. In past years, some countries presented brief PowerPoint presentations, and sometimes students presented their own research. Last year marked the introduction of outside professional performers alongside student and family acts.

International night

In the future, Kolenchary envisions a possible international week leading up to International Night, with each grade studying and then representing a country’s culture. It would require teacher involvement and curriculum adjustment, but it allows for cross-cultural encounters to become an ongoing practice rather than an annual event. “I would like to see more kids participating and being involved so they actively learn about world cultures,” Kolenchary explained.

Hardy’s International Night focuses on the exchange of cultural traditions through student performances and family contributions. When fifth graders perform a Nepalese dance, they are sharing generational knowledge with a new audience. The event promotes a community model where distinct traditions are preserved while being made accessible to everyone.

This gathering differs from standard classroom lessons because it relies on the lived experiences of school families. The food and performances are provided by parents and relatives, offering an authentic look at the backgrounds of the community. These interactions allow students to see skills and histories that are not always visible during a typical school day.

The event’s value grows through its status as an annual ritual. Students participate year after year, consistently able to build an understanding of their friends’ and families’ values.

International night sign about pakistan

International night poster about Chinese zodiac

International night

International night

Swellesley’s student-produced arts coverage is funded in part by a grant from the Wellesley Cultural Council, a local agency supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

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Seniors

Wellesley Council on Aging back to drawing board on director search

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It looked in January like the Wellesley Council on Aging Board had found its new COA director. Hollie Lucht, an experienced senior services professional with municipal experience, shined during a public interview, and the Board voted to make her an offer.

But Lucht declined the offer. Then a second strong candidate who also went through the public interview process withdrew.

(We reached out to Lucht this week to ask why she declined the offer and will update this post if we hear back.)

An update from the board’s search subcommittee is slated for a meeting on Feb. 19 at 4pm.

The Wellesley Council on Aging’s previous director, hired at the start of 2023 after a challenging hiring process, was placed on leave last April and resigned over the summer.

Previous Wellesley COA Director Heather Munroe left in April of 2022 after a little more than two years on the job. Before that, Gayle Thieme led the COA for 16 years.

The hiring of a new director would have synced nicely with plans next month to celebrate the updated Tolles Parsons Center kitchen. A ribbon cutting ceremony is slated for March 6.

The COA will now be able to take advantage of commercial-grade equipment that has largely been unused since the Center’s 2017 opening due to earlier design and permitting issues. Supporters of the renovation say the kitchen can play a big role in supporting the COA’s mission to advance socialization of the town’s older residents.

Thousands of people—including lots of seniors—visit The Swellesley Report daily to keep current on Wellesley:

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Wellesley looking to automate vehicle gate controllers at Morses Pond entrance

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The town of Wellesley has sent out a request for bids to furnish and install a pair of automated vehicle gates at the entrance to the Town’s Morses Pond property, located at 100 Turner Road. This automated gate system will have a pedestrian warning light and an audible alarm while in operation. The system will be programmable to open and close at designated times, days and dates, including the ability to have programmed automatic exiting to prevent drivers from being locked in. A remote mobile app will be part of the project, so that the gate may be operated remotely, as needed.

The app system will come in handy particularly once the Pond is officially closed for the season, yet warm weather continues, and people still want to access the trails, or hang out on the beach. (Swimming is “at your own risk” after the lifeguards finish their summertime work). Over the years, neighbors have asked the town to give people access to the Morses Pond parking lot, citing times when the Woodlands neighborhood has been overrun with vehicles parking on-street, and sometimes even blocking gate access/emergency access.

Turner Road gate, Morses Pond, WellesleyThe yellow metal Turner Road currently is locked and unlocked manually, typically by town staff, or the Wellesley Police.

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Construction

Wellesley Council on Aging closed Wednesday due to water shutoff

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The Wellesley Council on Aging at the Tolles Parsons Center will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The Water Department will be digging up Washington Street in front of the building and will have to shut off the water to the building, located at 500 Washington St. All COA activities and events are cancelled for Wednesday.

If you are registered for an art class, exercise class, or lunch, you will receive a refund (though the Waterclass may be rescheduled).

Tolles Parsons Center COA

More: Here’s what the Council on Aging-funded study about senior needs discovered

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