Foundation awards scholarships to Schuyler graduates

    SCHUYLER COUNTY—The Northrup Foundation has presented two former Schuyler County students each with a $2,500 scholarship for furthering education.
    Thomas Wickham was the Watkins Glen school recipient while Katlynne Ray was the Odessa-Montour recipient.  Watkins Glen Superintendent Tom Phillips and Odessa-Montour Superintendent Jim Frame were present for the check presentation with former Northrup Foundation president, William N. Ellison, and current president, Brian J. O’Donnell.
    The Northrup Educational Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1937 for the express purpose: “to assist worthy students who are residents of Schuyler County to procure a fundamental education and also to perpetuate the memory of Seaman F. Northrup and his father Flavius W. Northrup, and his mother Josephine M. Northrup and to carry out a plan formulated during the lives of Seaman F. Northrup and his wife Julia Hawes Northrup.”
    Seaman F. Northrup (1876-1935) was born in Beaver Dams, N.Y., and graduated from West Virginia University (1897) and the University of Buffalo (1899). He was a lawyer, District Attorney and Judge & Surrogate in Schuyler County.  The “fundamental education” mentioned in the incorporating document included giving recipients “advice, suggestions, gifts or loans.”
    In the early 2000s the estate of Marie Earl of Montour Falls gave a gift of $150,000 plus stock to the Foundation to be used to continue its mission. Marie Earl was a dedicated director of the foundation for 22 years and a former teacher in the Ithaca school system.
    Ellison recently stepped down as Northrup Foundation president after serving in that capacity for more than 20 years - he remains on the Board. Judge Ellison’s mother Edwina was one of the founding members of the Northrup Foundation.
    Throughout the past several decades dozens and dozens of young men and women have benefitted from interest free loans from the foundation to further their education. In addition deserving high school Seniors are awarded scholarship funds at graduation. Now, for the very first time, the Northrup Foundation is awarding two larger scholarships of $2,500 each in memory of Marie Earl.
    These new scholarships will be an annual event to perpetuate Marie’s memory. The amount of these scholarships will depend upon investment income and may be at different levels each year.