5 New Bedford Students Awarded $200,000 in SouthCoast Scholarships

As the parent of one current college student and another college-bound high schooler set to graduate this weekend, I understand the challenge of getting teens to apply for scholarships. It’s a fine line between giving them a nudge to complete the sometimes-lengthy applications and letting them take ownership of the process.

SouthCoast Community Foundation Makes a Big Impact

If your family is facing college tuition in the coming years, there’s one organization you need to know about. It could be life-changing for both you and your child.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation awards a tremendous amount of scholarships each year to local students. Just last week, the foundation awarded $200,000 in scholarships to five New Bedford high school students, with each student receiving a whopping $40,000 scholarship.

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Students Rewarded for Academic and Community Excellence

Show this article to your kids. These students took the advice of their guidance counselors and it paid off handsomely.

Each of the five seniors was honored for their academic excellence, leadership and commitment to community.

Powered by a Tech Pioneer and New Bedford Native

The $200,000 in scholarships came from Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs, a New Bedford native, co-founder of Qualcomm, and globally recognized philanthropist. Dr. Jacobs returned to his hometown for the event and shared his reflections on the journey from New Bedford High School to pioneering achievements in technology and philanthropy.

Meet the 2024 Jacobs Scholars

Each of this year’s Jacobs Scholars will receive a $40,000 scholarship to support their college education:

• Kyleah Bodden, New Bedford High School –-

• Jaelyn Rodericks, New Bedford High School – Harvard University

• Bao Ta, New Bedford High School – Bridgewater State University

• Veronika Horsky, Global Learning Charter Public School – UMass Amherst

• Ian Lopes, Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech – Roger Williams University

Since its founding in 2001, the Jacobs Family Scholarship has supported 89 students, helping them pursue higher education and long-term success.