In this season of giving, it is important to express appreciation for the kindness shown by others. But that can be difficult when you need to thank someone whose name you don’t know.
Ruby Blackwell understands that conundrum – she owes a debt of gratitude to a person she has never met. This fall, the student at Quincy College was surprised with a $2,000 scholarship from an anonymous donor.
“It’s very interesting and appreciated,” said Blackwell, who is studying to be a nurse. “It’s a random person who is funding my education. Obviously, it’s very helpful and very sweet.”
Blackwell, 20, is one of eight local students at the Plymouth campus in the Cordage Commerce Center who received scholarships through the Quincy College Foundation, a not-for-profit arm of the institution that provides financial assistance to individuals furthering their education. She and two other Plymouth residents – Noah Easton and Logan Zemotel – recently spoke about the generous gifts from people and groups of which they have little or no knowledge. All three are studying for two-year associate degrees and expect to graduate in May.
Easton, who lives within walking distance of the campus at Harborwalk Apartments, received his scholarship from College Courses Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization that helped found Quincy College in 1958. Keen on aiding those who need healing, he is using his grant to fulfill his dream of becoming a physical therapy assistant.
“Having someone who is so generous to help me toward my goal and passion of helping others, I can’t say enough about it,” he said. “It’s really been wonderful.”
A native of Vermont, Easton lived in Maryland before selecting Quincy College as his school. He said it has everything he needs to achieve his ambition, enabling him to balance education, a job, and relationship with his girlfriend. It’s also far more affordable than many area colleges.
“I also work evenings at a physical therapy clinic,” said the 25-year-old. “I get to go to school in the morning and learn about this content, then see patients and work with them.”
“The scholarship is going to go a long way for me this semester when we have clinicals,” he added, “so I won’t be able to work as much. It’s going to be really helpful for me.”
A star athlete at Plymouth North High School, Zemotel wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after graduating last year. He decided to enroll at Quincy College in Plymouth, where he studies business management and also batted a sterling .420 on the baseball team. Zemotel has excelled at both, being named Scholar-Athlete of the month this past spring.
“I was undecided after high school,” he said. “My baseball coach mentioned Quincy College. He talked about how it would be good opportunity for me and how I would be able to play baseball there. The first semester was free too, so that was a big factor.”
Zemotel’s scholarship came from the Cashman Family Foundation, a nonprofit established by the well-known Quincy developer Jay Cashman. The $2,000 award has enabled him to continue his studies while playing sports and working a part-time job.
“I was pretty surprised,” Zemotel said. “Someone called in the fall and said they had a scholarship for me and that I should come to the ceremony. It helps me pay the balance of my college costs.”
In total, 118 students received $2,000 scholarships from the foundation. That support is essential in providing affordable post-secondary education to individuals from Plymouth and elsewhere.
“Last year, we launched the foundation to expand advocacy and philanthropy,” said Scott Pickard, spokesperson for Quincy College. “As a city college, we don’t get an annual infusion of funding from Beacon Hill. That means our success depends on growing our enrollment, securing program-specific grant funding and the generosity of the community who want to support scholarships that help defray the cost of students’ educations.”
For Blackwell, her scholarship from an anonymous donor is proof positive of her success in overcoming obstacles. The 2023 Plymouth North graduate battled a number of learning disabilities, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder, which is why she wants to become a psychiatric nurse.
“I’ve struggled with mental health issues throughout my life,” she said. “I’m very open about it. I spread the knowledge I do have and try to learn more about things I don’t personally deal with.”
“I received my CNA (certified nursing assistant) certification my junior year of high school,” Blackwell said. “I wanted to go on, but a four-year university was too much. For me, Quincy College was the fastest and most-cost effective way of achieving my goal as a psych nurse.”
Dave Kindy, a self-described history geek, is a longtime Plymouth resident who writes for the Washington Post, Boston Globe, National Geographic, Smithsonian and other publications. He can be reached at davidkindy1832@gmail.com.