The Ryan Patrick Jones Heart of a Hero Foundation recently awarded 11 scholarships, including two $500.00 scholarships for Westminster Residents, one for a member of the Bread of Life Church (three were available) and seven scholarships for Monty Tech Students.

More scholarship money is available, including a music scholarship at Westminster Elementary School.

This scholarship will be awarded to a family that cannot afford music lessons for their child. Interested families can call us at 978 632 0192 if they wish to apply for that Foundation Scholarship.

Also if any Westminster resident (no matter what age) wishes to attend a local college in pursuit of a career and has been accepted at a college or trade school, they are welcome to contact us to apply for a scholarship.

Ryan Jones Heart of a Hero Foundation Scholarship Recipients from Monty Tech:
Thomas Putnam, Hubbardston ($1,000 ROTC Participant)

Abigail Poirier, Phillipston ($1,000 Academic and $250 Music)

Jacqueline Vera, Fitchburg ($1,000 Academic)

Evan Martin, Fitchburg ($250 Heart of a Hero Sportsmanship)

Robert Brouillette, Fitchburg ($250 Heart Of A Hero Outstanding JROTC Cadet)

Other scholarships awarded:
Mathew Purdy, Burncoat High School, Worcester, ($1,000)  

Elizabeth Purdy, Worcester ($500, Culinary Arts)                       

Ashley Zierle, Bread of Life Church, Westminster, ($500 Westminster Resident Scholarship)

Corina Miller, Fitchburg High School, ($500 Foundation Scholarship)

Alex Fredette, ($500 Westminster Resident Scholarship)

Kathryn Wirzbicki, Gardner, ($500 Holy Spirit Parish Member Scholarship)

About Ryan Patrick Jones
The Ryan Patrick Jones Heart of a Hero Foundation was formed to honor the life of Ryan Jones of Westminster. Ryan was a 2001 graduate of Monty Tech.

While at Monty Tech, Ryan was captain of the football team and a member of the National Honor Society. He went on to Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he studied civil and environmental engineering, graduating in 2005. While at WPI he was a Cadet of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U S Army in the Engineer Corps.

In a letter that Ryan left for his parents before he was deployed to Iraq, he requested that a scholarship be set up in his name in the event that something happened to him.

First Lieutenant Ryan Patrick Jones was just 23 when he died on May 2, 2007 in Baghdad from wounds he suffered when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

His parents took his scholarship request one step further and created the Heart of a Hero Foundation in Ryan’s memory.

In addition to scholarships for graduates, the Foundation supports local youth education initiatives through organizations including the Westminster Elementary and Meetinghouse Schools PTO, Westminster Fire Department, Westminster Police Department (including supplemental funding of the RAD program at the Summer Recreation program last year), Forbush Memorial Library youth programs and the Westminster Senior Center.

Sue Fisher of the Westminster Senior Center said that she is very grateful for the generosity of the Foundation and said that money received will be used for future programs including a Senior Citizen Health Fair and Awareness Day that is currently in the planning stages.

Each year over $20,000 will be available for scholarships and youth programs.

The Foundation also supports NEADS’ Canines for Combat Veterans, the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, area food banks and other programs.