2023 Nontraditional Scholarship Winner

Erika Fenstermacher has been awarded $1,110 as the recipient of the Bedford Women’s Club 2023 Nontraditional Scholarship for Bedford Women. Fenstermacher earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Tufts University in May 1999.  She was employed by Sublime Civil Consultants for several years. When she moved to Bedford, she adjusted her schedule to her family of six and is now a paraprofessional in the Bedford School District. She is also enrolled in Franklin Pierce University to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education with certification in an effort to become an elementary classroom teacher.

For additional information on the Bedford Women’s Club, go to www.bedfordwomensclub.org.

The Bedford Women’s Club is pleased to offer scholarships to adult women who are residents of Bedford wishing to further their education. Scholarships may be applied to any postsecondary school or training program. The club also offers scholarships to young men and young women who are high school seniors and residents of Bedford. 

2023 High School Scholarship Winners

The club is pleased to announce the following 2023 awards of $1,000:

Elsie Munsterteiger, a flutist since age five, has taught herself to play alto and tenor saxophone, bassoon, clarinet, and piccolo. She has earned numerous band awards, and plans to become a music educator.

Lauren Thomas, captain of the Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Team, has been accepted into Northeastern University’s Honor Program to study in the Bouve Health Science Program.

Dylan Vilela has been actively involved in DECA, which prepares emerging leaders for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Bedford High School’s DECA president for four years, he also served as the New Hampshire DECA president and was responsible for 16 high school chapters.

Tracy Xie, co-editor in chief of the school newspaper Unleashed, helps each writer choose a personally engaging topic. She belongs to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Club and the Care Club, where she helps others find their voice.

Elif Yigit and her family fled from Turkey to Iraq when she was 11, and eventually sought asylum in the United States. A natural leader, Elif has earned an IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma at Bedford High School.

The Bedford Women’s Club awarded the Josephine Fearon Scholarship to five graduating seniors at the Bedford High School awards night on June 8. Left to right: Elif Yigit, Tracy Xie, Dylan Vilela, Lauren Thomas and  Elsie Munsterteiger each received $1,000

Betsy Stull (left), chair of the Scholarship Committee, presents the Bedford Women's Club Nontraditional Scholarship award letter to paraprofessional Erika Fenstermacher outside Riddle Brook School.