At a time when most kids are eager for summer vacation, three North Hampton School students are a little more eager than the rest.
Eighth-grader Willy Bassett, sixth-grader Jacob Balser and fifth-grader Jessica Hubbard will attend summer camp, because of a generous donation by town resident James Finke as part of the Jo-Anne Lent Finke "Open Doors for North Hampton Kids" scholarship program. Finke established the scholarship in memory of his late wife in an effort to reward students who overcome obstacles by allowing them to take part in programs that allow them to explore their passions.
Jo-Anne and James, both avid travelers, met in France in 1948.
"I literally ran into her on a bike," Finke said of their first encounter. "I started swearing at her in my imperfect French and she started swearing at me in her perfect French."
They were married for 42 years before she died in 1996. Finke said the scholarship was consistent with the character of his wife, who worked at the North Hampton Public Library and often assisted people with their tax forms when they could not afford to pay for the service. He and his four children made the decision to "do something that's living" to memorialize Jo-Anne.
Finke met with the students last Friday to discuss the programs they would pursue this summer.
"It's thrilling for me," Finke said. "I lose my composure when I'm with them. Knowing that we're helping ...;"
Hubbard, an animal lover, will be caring for a goat at Bear Hill Camp, a 4-H camp at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown. The six-day camp, which will have Hubbard and a small group of kids, leading goats through the woods, is designed to educate children about goats as pack animals. Hubbard, who moved to North Hampton from Tennessee this past year, was planning to take care of a sheep in her former hometown, but was unable to do so because of the move.
"It gives me something really cool to do," Hubbard said of her renewed excitement for summer.
"I think he's very kind," she said of Finke.
Bassett, an avid outdoorsman, will attend Camp Tico at Pawtuckaway State Park because of the scholarship. The camp, named for former NHS students Tyler Ingram and Corey Checovich offers canoeing, hiking, swimming and enjoying other activities during a five-day program.
"It's exciting that I get to go to camp," Bassett said.
Balser, a student who has been commended for his artistic talent, will attend the Exeter Center for the Creative Arts. Balser, who enjoys drawing and painting, said he would try to save some of the work he creates at the camp to show Finke.
"It's not the run of the mill thing that they're used to doing," said School Nurse Julie Cyr of programs the students will be attending.
Cyr helped identify the students who would benefit most from the scholarship. "This is a life-changing, risk-taking thing for a child," she said.
The students will provide Finke with a written summary of their experiences after they complete the programs.
"I think it's kind of cool that there's just a guy giving money and opportunities to kids and he doesn't even know us," Balser said.Labels: financial aid, free education, high school, scholarship, student loans, study abroad |
