Dipping into Dunkin’s scholarship program

Staff report
CLAREMONT — Samantha Woodman was one of 12 people in the entire state who received a Dunkin’ Donuts scholarship last year.

Woodman graduated in the top 5 percent of her class at Stevens High School last summer and is now taking the equivalent of honors-level classes at the University of New Hampshire, where she studies business.

The Dunkin’ Donuts New Hampshire Scholarship Program is taking applications again. Twelve scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $2,500 each.

The program is open to any qualified high school senior who is a resident of New Hampshire and enrolling full-time in a four-year college, two-year college or community technical college with a focus on business or food service-related fields, according to the company.

The deadline to apply is April 13 at 5 p.m. 

Woodman, meanwhile, is following in her parents’ footsteps. Both are small-business owners in Claremont. Her mother owns a local food store and her father a construction business.

Woodman received a number of scholarships she’s used to cut down on the cost of books, housing and tuition, which is $33,000 a year for in-state students, her mother, April Woodman, said.

“She’s a high-performing student,” Woodman said of her daughter. “She’s able to focus on school as opposed to also having to work this time of year.”

“As local business owners in New Hampshire, we are thrilled to continue serving our local communities through our annual scholarship program,” said Adam Quinn, a New Hampshire Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee, in a press release. 

“Year after year, we are continuously impressed by the smarts, selflessness and determination of the scholarship recipients and look forward to recognizing these students as leaders in the community and helping them achieve their goals through education,” Quinn said.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation reviews scholarship applications and determines awards. It’s unclear exactly how many people have applied to the program. 

Last year, other scholarship recipients in New Hampshire came from Littleton, Seabrook, Chester, Dover, Colebrook, Epping, Jaffrey, Deerfield, Portsmouth, Nelson and Francestown.

“With the increasing cost of education, we know how important these scholarships are in helping New Hampshire students achieve their academic and career goals,” said Judy Burrows, the director of student aid at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in a press release.