The Eugene Atwood Fund’s Trade and Technology Committee announces recipients of their first Eugene Atwood Innovation Award which provides funds for the purchase of tools/equipment needed for a student pursuing a career in a trade. Principals from the each of the nineteen New London County high schools were able to nominate a student in their senior year for the award.    
 
The Trade and Technology Committee at their meeting in April reviewed nominations and voted to award a total of $4,300 to the following students: 
 
2021 Eugene Atwood Innovation Award
Sean Swanke                                                       Bacon Academy
Teia Lee                                                                   Ledyard High School
Marian Eveangelista                                       New London High School
Jackson Kempesta                                           Norwich Technical High School
 
Additionally, two other students from Lyme-Old Lyme High School and New London High School were also award winners.
 
Established in 1916, the Eugene Atwood Fund is a private non-profit located in Stonington, CT and has offered College Bound interest free loans for over one hundred years and has recently launched a Trade/Tech School and Certification/Licensing interest free loan program as continuing their yearly annual award programs. The program is currently seeking applicants on a rolling basis for their Trade/Tech School and Certification/Licensing interest free loan program.
 
For more information about programing or to apply, please visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org.

The Eugene Atwood Fund is excited to announce that our Trade/Tech School and Certification/Licensing Interest Free Loan Program is now open and accepting applications on a rolling basis. Students must be New London County residents and attending a trade/tech school or acquiring certification/licensing for their career.

Funding decisions will be at the discretion of the Trade and Technology Committee and based on the amount of funding available. The application process will close to new applicants when the allotted funding has been disbursed and/or on February 28, 2022, whichever comes first. Applications will reopen again in May, 2022 when new funding becomes available.

OUR HISTORY:
The Eugene Atwood Fund was established in September of 1916 by Mr. Eugene Atwood, the head of the Atwood Machine Company, located in Stonington, Connecticut. Mr. Atwood was an inventor and prized the value of education. He established the Fund with a mission to aid deserving industrious young people who are making an honest effort to accomplish the best results in life.

• In 1916, The Eugene Atwood Fund began providing interest free loans to New London County area college bound students, a practice that still continues today.
• In the early 1950’s, the Board of Trustees established the Eugene Atwood Award as a nod to our founder which provides an award to a student/student(s) based on academic achievement and the individual aligning with our mission statement.  
• In June, 2020, the Trade and Tech Committee was established with a goal of adding a new program that provides interest free loans for individuals in the New London County area who will be attending a Technology or Trade Program.
• In August, 2020, the Trade and Tech Committee announced the addition of the Eugene Atwood Innovation Award to provide an award for the purchase of tools/equipment needed for a student pursuing a career in a trade. 
• In April, 2021, the Trade and Tech Committee announced the Trade/Tech School and Certification/Licensing Interest Free Loan Program would begin accepting applications on a rolling basis.

We will begin accepting applications again for the 2022 Eugene Atwood Award (Principal nominated and based on academic achievement), 2022 Eugene Atwood Innovation Award (Principal nominated with funding for tools/equipment for trade careers) and College Bound Interest Free Loan Program on January 1st with a February 28th deadline.
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Featured in The Day on January 17, 2021

Stonington -- The Eugene Atwood Fund has announced that it has awarded $10,000 each to Ella T. Grasso Technical High School and Norwich Technical High School to purchase tools and equipment for student use in the classroom.

The award, presented in celebration of the fund's 105th anniversary, highlighted its interest-free loan program for New London County college-bound students and the addition of a new loan program for students going to trade school.

 “The idea to focus attention on the area of technology and trades came from within the spirit of our mission statement which is to help industrious hardworking people build careers,” said the fund's Managing Trustee Erica Lindberg Gourd.

Wes Dawley, a member of the fund's trade and technology committee, added, “with over thirty years’ experience in the construction industry, I have seen the downturn in young people getting into the trades and hope that our new trade loan and award programs will engage those considering a future in the trades.”

Grasso Tech in Groton recently opened a new building with state-of-the-art classrooms that include the latest technology and industry-standard equipment with training in 12 technologies.

“We truly appreciate the $10,000 Award from the Eugene Atwood Fund for our trades; each trade will benefit from these funds, said Grasso Principal Patricia Feeney. "The items that we will now be able to purchase will better enhance the overall shop experience for all students; therefore will also allow for greater concentration and skill development that will make our students highly marketable. These items will continue to help our students to be successful in the study of their career choice.”

Norwich Tech offers instruction in 12 career paths. 

“We are so grateful for this wonderful opportunity. Through the very generous award from the Eugene Atwood Fund, all Norwich Tech students will benefit from learning and practicing their skills using current industry equipment," said Principal Patricia D. King.

Fund Administrator Stacey Haskell said the fund is excited to provide this funding to the schools for tools and equipment with the need for experienced skilled workers and tradespeople being in such high demand.
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The fund is accepting applications for its interest-free loan programs and seeking nominations from principals for its award programs through Feb. 28. More information and application can be found at www.eugeneatwoodfund.org.

December 31, 2020 - The Eugene Atwood Fund was featured on WBLQ radio to discuss our 2021-2022 interest free loan program as well as history on our organization as we move into our 105th year.   Applications available through Feb 28th.

Featured in The Day on December 28, 2020

Stonington -- The Eugene Atwood Fund will begin accepting applications for its 2021-22 interest-free loan program on Jan. 1, 2021.

This will be the 105th year the Stonington-based organization has provided interest-free loans to college-bound students from New London County.
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In 2020, an additional loan program was added for those attending trade school. Applicants must be New London County residents who are high school seniors and/or are currently enrolled in college or a trade program.

Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28, 2021. For more information about programming or to apply, visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org. 

The fund was established in 1916 by Eugene Atwood, the head of the Atwood Machine Company, located in Stonington. Atwood, an inventor who prized the value of education, established the fund with a mission to help "deserving industrious young people who are making an honest effort to accomplish the best results in life."

In the early 1950s, the Board of Trustees established the Eugene Atwood Award which provides an award to a student or students based on academic achievement and the individual aligning with the organization's mission statement.

In June 2020, the fund established a Trade and Tech Committee with the goal of adding a new program that provides interest-free loans for individuals in the New London County area who will be attending a technology or trade program. Two months later the committee announced the addition of the Eugene Atwood Innovation Award which provided an award for the purchase of tools and equipment needed for a student pursuing a career in a trade.

 For more information, contact fund administrator Stacey Haskell at admin@eugeneatwoodfund.org
or (860) 535-0005.

​The Eugene Atwood Fund announces the launch of a new loan program for individuals interested in attending trade and technology schools. 
 
Established in 1916, the Eugene Atwood Fund a private non-profit has been providing interest free loans to New London County area college bound students for over one hundred years.  The Trade and Technology Interest Free Loan Program will be a new addition to their programming and will be geared towards individuals looking to start a career, make a career change or to follow a passion.  The program was overwhelmingly approved at the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees this past April.  “The idea to focus attention on the area of technology and trades came from within the spirit of our mission statement which is to help industrious hardworking people build careers,” said Managing Trustee Erica Lindberg Gourd. 
 
The Eugene Atwood Fund Trade and Tech Committee members were appointed at their initial meeting in early in June and include Matt Taylor, Wes Dawley, Aidan Haskell as well as Erica Lindberg Gourd. “This committee will work separate from our Board of Trustees, stated Erica Lindberg Gourd, and includes a well-rounded group of individuals who are all skilled tradespeople.” 
 
“We are so excited to roll out this program, said Eugene Atwood Fund Administrator Stacey Haskell, especially with the need for experienced skilled workers and tradespeople being in such high demand.” 
 
The application process will run from July 1-31 for those looking for interest free loans to attend school in the fall.  “After this round of applications, the Trade and Technology Interest Free Loan Program will run concurrently with the other programs we offer including the College Bound Interest Free Loan Program and the Eugene Atwood Award Scholarship Program which runs yearly beginning January 1st and ending on February 28th ,” said Stacey Haskell.
 
For more information or to apply, please visit www.eugeneatwoodfund.org.