CANTON — Ten St. Lawrence County members of the class of 2022 were recently honored as recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Evergreen STEM Scholarship.

Students are awarded the scholarship due to their interest and intent to study in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field while in college. Students apply while in their junior year of high school and are selected during the summer. Recipients will receive a one-year $3,000 scholarship toward their freshman year of college this fall.

The Evergreen STEM scholarship is made possible thanks to the generosity of former Gouverneur resident and Massena native Charles Owens and his late wife, Higouhi “Hi” Owens. The scholarship is a permanent fund of the Community Foundation and provides $30,000 annually for high school students who live in St. Lawrence County. Since its inception, 60 students have been awarded Evergreen STEM scholarships totaling $180,000 in educational support.

“We are now seeing the first college graduates whose educational paths were supported by this program. Many of them are helping supply the workforce needs in the STEM fields in our region. It is fulfilling to see the Owens’ vision for this program come to fruition in meaningful ways,” said Rande Richardson, Northern New York Community Foundation executive director.

Students had the opportunity meet and thank Mr. Owens and his daughter, Sandy Owens Hosier. Parents, school guidance counselors, and several district administrators also attended.

Mrs. Hosier, a retired English teacher who spent 33 years teaching in the Port Byron School District, told students she is grateful her parents had the foresight to create the Evergreen STEM scholarship program.

This year’s students are interested in pursuing careers in education, engineering, medicine, biology, biomolecular science, and mathematics, among others.

Mr. Owens and his wife established the scholarship at the Community Foundation in 2014 to inspire high school students to pursue post-secondary studies and careers in STEM. Mr. Owens spent his professional life as a pharmacist and later in senior management for Kinney Drugs, retiring in 1994. The first scholarships were awarded in 2016. During that time, others have made contributions to help build the permanent fund.

2021-2022 Evergreen STEM Scholars

Katelynn Bennett, Hugh C. Williams High School, Canton, engineering

Dylan Bissonette, St. Lawrence Central School, engineering

Keaton Brabaw, Hermon-DeKalb Central School, pharmaceutical sciences

Harlee Cook, Harrisville Central School, education

Brynn Farley, Gouverneur Central School, civil engineering / architecture

Brianna Grant, Potsdam Central School, biology / medicine

Calea LeBel, Lisbon Central School, chemical engineering

Hailey Morrissiey, Gouverneur Central School, biomolecular science

Daniel Onyper, Hugh C. Williams High School, Canton, engineering

Laney Tiernan, Madrid-Waddington Central School, mathematics or engineering

The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors, and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.