Anthony de Freitas Awarded Franzeim Foundation Scholarship

On Friday, June 5 the Chris Franzeim Foundation awarded its first scholarship to Groton-Dunstable junior Anthony de Freitas.

The award is named to honor Chris Franzeim, an English teacher at Groton-Dunstable from 1982 until her retirement in 2009. She was a passionate teacher. It is impossible to convey what teaching meant to her, and how it shaped the scope of her life. In the spring following her retirement, Chris was diagnosed with colon cancer. She fought her illness with tremendous grace and positivity until she died March 19, 2014.

Her students, colleagues, friends and family, all came together to establish the Foundation. One student built a website, another established an indiegogo account. Emails, and Facebook posts went out. One colleague helped establish a bank account for contributions; another researched and found an organization that would help manage the non-profit's finances so fund could be sustainable.

A committee was established composed of former students, former colleagues, and her family members. In the two months following her passing the Foundation raised $15,000 and 70 percent of the contributions came from former students.

It was clear from the outset that there was a strong desire for this award to be different from most scholarships. It was not material to the committee that the student be a straight A student, or one who excels at English or the Arts, although that certainly didn't hurt.

What was most important to the committee was that the award go to the kind of student that Chris Franzeim would have made a difference for as a teacher; a student with potential, who faced greater challenges navigating the crucible of high school, and who needed someone to reach out to them with support, genuine interest, and kindness. For this reason the committee chose not to provide the award to a graduating senior, but instead to a student who could use the assistance to help them complete high school and achieve their academic goals.

This year, the committee selected Anthony de Frietas. De Freitas moved to Groton during his sophomore year from Fall River. In his application de Fritas spoke about his love of writing, and shared some of his personal story and the challenges he has faced. But de Freitas was not alone. All the applicants for the Chris Franzeim Foundation award shared compelling stories in their applications. The committee was struck by the caliber of the candidates, and that the criteria they had sought were so well represented in the applications. The requests for assistance were all justified and the need was so apparent that it reinforced for the committee members the paramount importance of this kind of award.

Although all the applications were strong, there was an element in de Freitas's that stood out. Much of the story he shared did not center on himself, but on a connection he had made with another student in middle school back in Brazil, and his regret that he was not able to do more for him. This theme emerged with eloquence, sincerity, and maturity throughout his application. The committee recognized they had found their recipient.

De Frietas aspires to go to college and to continue pursuing his interest in writing. He has performed in the high school poetry slam competitions, and hopes to do so again next year.

To learn more about the Chris Franzeim, and the Foundation established in her name, you can visit www.franzeim.org. You may also apply or contribute to the scholarship from the website.