By THOMAS LUCKIE III

North Country Now

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Free Academy senior Cooper Hunter was named the recipient of the William H. Plimpton scholarship on Monday.

The scholarship is designed to provide a college-bound student with major financial assistance while attending the college of their choice. The scholarship aims to help a student meet college expenses.

The first recipient of the scholarship was awarded a scholarship of $15,000 per year for a four-year period totaling $60,000, with the goal of similar financial support for future recipients.

Cooper is the grandson of Tom and Alice Hunter and plans to major in physical therapy at Clarkson University or Nazareth College.

Hunter has participated in four years of soccer, basketball and track and field and is a member of the National Honor Society and Varsity Club. He has volunteered time for blood drives, Ogdensburg Command Performances, Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club Expo, highway cleanup, and other activities.

The senior has qualified for Academic Banquet each year and was named the recipient of the Alan Krause Citizenship Award and the Dave Shea Sportsmanship Award.

The Plimpton Scholarship is awarded to a student who, while in the Ogdensburg City School District, has demonstrated excellence and involvement in school and community culture. The student will have pursued leadership roles in school organizations and school government, will have participated to the extent possible in the school’s extra-curricular and cultural venues and athletic programs, and will have been involved in community service. The recipient of the scholarship is an individual who leads by example and has emulated the highest values and expectations that the school and community have determined to be the standards of excellence.

At its inception, the scholarship was sponsored by Steve Munn, a former Ogdensburg Free Academy graduate and protégé of Plimpton. Although Munn passed away last year, his daughters Michelle and Robyn elected to continue the scholarship in Plimpton’s honor.

Recipients of the scholarship must remain a college student in good standing for the four-year period.

Oversight of the administrative aspects of the scholarship are handled by the Ogdensburg City School District.