The Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Helena B. Witkowski Scholarship. This fund comes from Ms. Witkowski’s trust and reflects the largest bequest the QVCC Foundation has ever received. It will allow the Foundation to provide approximately $18,000 in annual scholarships to local students.
Helena B. Witkowski was born in 1927 and grew up on a dairy farm in North Grosvenordale, CT. An Honors graduate of Tourtellotte High School, she went on to the Connecticut Institute of Hairdressing and Cosmetology in Hartford, CT. Ms. Witkowski continued her education while caring for her parents and working full-time in the beauty salon she owned in Putnam, CT. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Connecticut State University and a certificate in education from the University of Krakow in Poland. Ms. Witkowski then joined the faculty at Harvard H. Ellis Regional Vocational and Technical High School in Danielson, CT. She spent many happy, memorable years teaching, mentoring and caring deeply for her students. She retired in 1986 as Department Head of Beauty and Culture.
“Helping students was a hugely important part of my aunt’s life and it gives me so much pleasure to give this to QVCC students on her behalf,” said Edward C. Dalterio, nephew and trustee of the Helena B. Witkowski Trust. Monique Wolanin, Director of Institutional Advancement shared, “We are forever indebted to this trailblazing woman. Helena’s inspirational story illustrates the importance of remembering where once started by giving back to that community. This fund will serve residents of Northeast Connecticut for generations to come.”