In North Central Massachusetts, demand for skilled workers continues to grow, and Rollstone Bank & Trust is recognizing students who are stepping directly into those opportunities as well as those pursuing higher education.
Through the inaugural River Run Opportunity Awards Program, Rollstone Bank & Trust awarded scholarships to graduating seniors from Fitchburg High School and Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, supporting students heading to college, community college, and skilled trade careers.
The program is built around the belief that regional prosperity depends on multiple pathways to success. The Pathways Scholarship supports students pursuing post-secondary education, while the Workforce Ready Career Kickstarter Scholarship recognizes vocational and technical graduates entering the workforce.
The Bank hosted its ceremony on June 15 in Fitchburg, where students were joined by families, educators, and in some cases, employers already working alongside graduates as they begin their careers.
Lloyd Hamm, President and CEO of River Run Bancorp, said the initiative reflects a more complete understanding of opportunity.
“For a long time, the assumption was that every student should go to a four-year college, and that anything else was settling. That assumption has cost a lot of families a lot of money and has left a lot of great careers undersupported and undervalued,” said Hamm. “The student heading to Northern Essex and the student walking into an apprenticeship on day one both deserve a community that’s in their corner.”
Dr. Allison Dolan Wilson, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Workforce & Academic Innovation at Northern Essex Community College, said the program reinforces an important message for students.
“Students today are making thoughtful, informed decisions about how to build a future that works for them, and community college is increasingly part of that calculation,” said Dolan Wilson. “We’re grateful to River Run for honoring that choice and for helping students see that their community is invested in their success, whatever form it takes.”
The River Run Opportunity Awards Program is funded through the charitable foundations of River Run’s affiliated community banks and supports each institution’s Community Reinvestment Act goals.
Rollstone Bank & Trust has served individuals, families, and businesses across North Central Massachusetts for more than 180 years, with a longstanding commitment to strengthening the region’s economic future and community well-being.