A new scholarship recently established at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will honor the legacy of brothers Gary and Paul Clancy and support the next generation of students from Ellicottville Central School.
Established by the family of Gary and Paul Clancy, this scholarship will reward Ellicottville Central School seniors who plan to major in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) field and have a cumulative grade of 90% or above in math and science.
The first award from the Gary and Paul Clancy Memorial Scholarship fund will be made in 2025.
Gary and Paul were both graduates of Ellicottville Central School who served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.
While serving in Vietnam, Paul earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Purple Heart.
Paul was employed for 30 years by the Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services, retiring in 2000.
Gary decided to postpone his studies at Buffalo State College to enlist in the Army, where he served as a sergeant during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, Gary worked for the Social Security Administration from 1972 to 1996, retiring as operation supervisor.
“Both my husband Gary and his brother Paul were family-oriented men,” said Barbara Endersen. “They were both good husbands and proud fathers. They would be so happy to see the family encouraging young people to pursue higher education through this memorial scholarship.”
An advocate for higher education, Gary encouraged his children to excel in high school and continue on to receive their post-secondary degrees from accredited institutions.
“Education means a great deal to the Clancy family, and this scholarship will empower students to achieve their educational goals” said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director. “By providing students with the resources needed to succeed, we are investing in the future leaders of tomorrow.”
Donations can be made to the Gary and Paul Clancy Memorial Scholarship Fund at CRCF, 301 North Union Street, Suite 203, or online at cattfoundation.org.
The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).