Barbara A. "Katie" Welch Scholarship

The Barbara A. "Katie" Welch Scholarship honors the memory of beloved Professor Katie Welch who began her career in 1968 in the English Department at Westfield State College. She taught with wit and erudition sharing her passion for music, dance, theater and the visual arts and the diverse cultures of the world that she travelled joyfully. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Katie had a fierce sense of justice and fairness, and she insisted that the college pursue these virtues. Teaching gave Katie great joy because it enabled her to impart these passions to her students. Thus she enriched the lives of many at Westfield State, not only her students, but her colleagues as well. This scholarship provides a one-time, non-renewable award to full-time undergraduate students at Westfield State University who demonstrate academic excellence with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Preference is given to students majoring in English or Theater. Applicants must submit a 300-word essay describing the role literature and all arts play in people's lives and specifically in their own, and must be actively involved in community and campus life.