ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Paul Stafford, president of the Alumni & Friends of Lynn Classical High School, left, and Principal Gene Constantino plan a fundraiser.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — Lynn Classical High School principal Gene Constantino projects that in two years, the Alumni and Friends of Lynn Classical High School will have given $1 million in college scholarships to students.
The group formed in 1995 and awarded $500 scholarships to 10 students in its first year. In 2014, the group stepped up efforts and began raising money through fundraising events of about 150 people.
Last year, the Alumni and Friends gave more than $84,000 to 85 recipients. Paul Stafford, a retired teacher and president of the group, is planning the fourth annual fundraiser for March 23 at Prince Pizzeria’s Giggles Comedy Club in Saugus. The event will feature a comedy show, dinner, and several raffles.
Stafford graduated from Classical in 1961 and spent 27 of 37 years of his career at the school. When he first attended Suffolk University, he spent $800 on tuition for the year, he said.
“It’s just too expensive today,” Stafford said. “The cost of a college education has become so expensive. These young men and women graduating need all the help they can get. This is my way of helping them get the education they’ve been dreaming of.”
Four of his children and two of his grandchildren are also alumni.
“Classical is an important part of my life — I’m happy to do what I can,” he said.
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In addition to the awards given by the Alumni and Friends, Classical also has a scholarship program run by the guidance department. The $500 to $5,000 awards are established by businesses, or in someone’s name, such as The Michele Durgin Memorial Scholarship, named for the Item features writer and popular Lynn teacher who was killed in an automobile crash on Jan. 28.
The awards are handed out on a separate award night; this year the awards banquet will be June 1 at the school and the Alumni and Friends ceremony is May 30 at St. Michael’s Hall, said Constantino.
Tickets to the fundraiser at Prince Pizzeria, which begins at 6:30 p.m., are $25 each and must be purchased in advance. The price includes pizza, salad, entertainment and raffle tickets.
“It fits with our motto to connect with the past and contribute to the future,” Stafford said. “The fundraiser brings members of the Classical family together and it raises funds for scholarships for (the students’) future.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte
