Elizabeth Gould Scholarship Endowment Committee

History

The funds evolved from the Estate of Elizabeth Burr Gould, the survivor of three Gould Sisters of Fairfield, Connecticut. Their bequest, in 1910, left their beautiful Gould Homestead, as a summer vacation home for women; as many as 50 Fairfield County residents spent their vacations here each summer for a two-week period. It was stipulated that they should be self-supporting unmarried, white Protestant girls between the ages of 15 and 50.

Changes came in the mode of living and the locale as the town progressed and in 1956 the original Homestead on the Old Post Road was sold to make way for the New Post Road Traffic Circle. A small home was purchased- The Turney Homestead. The popularity of this as a vacation home declined and in 1966 only one woman was entertained. The Turney Homestead was then sold (1967) and the Gould Foundation Incorporated was established to provide college scholarships for any worthy girl in Fairfield County, regardless of race, creed, or color.

In 1977 the assets were transferred to the University Of Bridgeport, giving us the responsibility of administering the funds, and continuing the Gould Scholarship Program.

Since 1977, the Fund has provided scholarships to worthy graduates of the Bridgeport, Fairfield, Norwalk, and Stamford High Schools and also to students in the Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing.

Scholarship Criteria

• Awarded only to girls, of Fairfield County (Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, and Fairfield) state of Connecticut, who would not be able to attend college or vocational school without financial help.
• Awarded without regard to race, color, or creed of the applicant.
• Applicant must have equivalent of a high school academic certificate from Bridgeport, Fairfield, Norwalk or Stamford.
• Preference should be given to an applicant who has demonstrated leadership qualities as well as academic excellence.
• Applicant must be recommended by the designated educational institution or recognized scholarship board.
• Renewal of a scholarship from year to year shall depend upon the recommendation of the college of vocational school.
• The selected student must maintain academic record sufficient enough to satisfy the standards of the college or vocational school.

Members

• Thomas R. Oates, Vice President for Administration & Finance, University of Bridgeport (Chair)
• Kathleen Marini, Scholarship Coordinator, University of Bridgeport
• Kenneth Holmes , Dean of Students, University of Bridgeport
• Mark Fries, Senior Vice President, Beardsley, Brown and Bassett
• Richard Harper, Student Teaching Director and Professor, University of Bridgeport
• Sheryl A. Shaughnessy, Esq.
• James Crispino, Senior Vice President for Committee Impact, United Way