Honoring the principles upon which the College was founded and the service of the men and women of the armed forces, New England College has instituted the Russell Durgin Military Service Scholarship Program.  The purpose of the scholarship is to bridge the financial gap between the costs of undergraduate tuition at the College and the benefits available through the G.I. bill.  Through this program, New England College aspires to create the same opportunities enjoyed by veterans of WWII for the men and women who have recently served in the military.

The scholarship’s namesake, Russell Durgin, was a lifelong resident of Henniker, New Hampshire home of New England College.  He entered the service at 17 after graduating from a local high school and during his military career earned two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and an Army Commendation medal.  Russell was killed in action while on tour in Afghanistan in June of 2006.  While his hometown of Henniker, New Hampshire will always remember Russell as “the boy with the smile,” New England College is honored to perpetuate his name through the scholarship program and by providing educational opportunities for his fellow service men and women that might not otherwise have been available.

A typical scholarship award for the 2009 academic year could be up to $16,000 and may be used for all undergraduate and graduate academic programs at New England College. The College reserves the right to alter scholarship amounts and eligibility requirements based on changes to Federal veteran’s educational programs. The College’s application fee will be waived for all those applying to the Russell Durgin Scholarship Program.

All veterans from all service periods are eligible for the scholarship program, as well as active military, National Guard, and active reservists. ROTC students are also eligible for the scholarship once they enter the contract phase during their junior year. Recipients may also apply for aid through federal, state, and local financial aid programs.