Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarship recipients 

PARKMAN — In this unusual time of pandemic restrictions, the Parkman Grange announces its 2020 Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarship winners. They are David Hession, a music major at the University of Southern Maine, and Bailey Woodard, a biology major (pre-med) at the University of Maine. Both will receive awards of $500.

Although the Grange normally announces and awards winners at the annual Scholarship Supper, this year the winners were contacted electronically and awarded through the mail. The ninth supper was canceled this year, as were most Parkman Grange and many other public events, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bridge (1909-2011) was a lifelong resident of Parkman, a retired schoolteacher and a life member of the Parkman Grange. In her memory, the Grange established the Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit deserving Parkman students continuing their education beyond high school. The Grange annually awards one or more scholarships funded through donations and the proceeds from the annual supper in Bridge’s name. With these awards, the Grange has awarded $12,000 in scholarships since 2012.

The Grange looks forward to hosting the 10th annual Scholarship Supper in 2021. In the meantime, since this year’s supper was cancelled, the Grange is asking for donations to the fund in order to make 2021 scholarship awards. Donations may be made at KC’s General Store or the Parkman Town Office. You can also write a check to Parkman Grange, noting “Scholarship Fund” on the memo line, and mail to Parkman Grange, P.O. Box 114, Guilford ME 04443. Sue Manchester, the Parkman Grange master, can provide additional information at 207-277-3942.