BETHEL — Telstar Regional High School seniors received $167,000 for higher education during Scholarship Night on Tuesday.

A total of 238 awards were given from businesses, memorials and Project Opportunity.

According to the SAD 44 website, Project Opportunity is a partnership between the SAD 44 educational community and its surrounding business community. It’s geared toward providing students with continuing educational opportunities, even if they don’t qualify for most conventional scholarships.

The scholarships can be used for post-secondary education or participation in educational opportunities outside of the traditional school schedule.

Throughout students’ years at Telstar, they are awarded points based on their grades. A’s are worth three points, B’s are worth two, and C’s are worth one. Improving grades in a subject will earn students bonus points.

Students must apply to receive their scholarship from Project Opportunity at the end of their high school career.

In its 28 consecutive years, the organization has awarded more than $510,000 in post-secondary scholarships to seniors and $200,000 in aspiration grants to underclassmen.

Other awards came from local businesses, including The Bethel Citizen, Grover Gundrilling, and Little Red Hen, and businesses such as Oxford Federal Credit Union and Puiia Lumber.

“We are extremely proud of our 2017 graduates and tonight was a representation of the generosity and support of our communities,” said Telstar high school Principal Cheryl Lang. 

The 40 seniors will graduate Friday, June 9, at the high school.

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