A member of the Lynn English Class of 1955 who recently created a new scholarship for Lynn students to attend Northeastern University visited Lynn English Tuesday morning.
Allan Ditchfield and his wife, Priscilla, have funded the Ditchfield AI Scholarship, which is available to students who have been accepted to Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies and attended a community college, completed college-level course work, and/or have expressed interest in artificial intelligence.
The scholarship will cover up to 75% of tuition costs. It is open to students who have graduated from Lynn English, Lynn Classical or Frederick Douglass Collegiate Academy. It remains in effect for the duration of a student’s degree program, provided they remain in good academic standing. The first six Ditchfield AI Scholars start classes this semester.
The Ditchfields’ donation also allowed for a group of 50 Lynn Public Schools teachers to receive professional development centered on AI and provided by Northeastern educators last week.
The Ditchfields were greeted at English by a group including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Evonne S. Alvarez, Deputy Superintendent Molly Cohen, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology Shannon Bansfield, Principal Dr. Rardy Pena, guidance counselor Matt Wilkins, and teacher P.J. Holey.
After a discussion in which the LPS staff discussed the expanded use of technology in schools, including AI, Holey showed the Ditchfields his classroom and detailed how his students are studying coding, robotics and networking.
Allan Ditchfield graduated in 1968 from Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies, where he gained hands-on experience that complemented the practical skills he acquired in the classroom. He is retired after a successful career as a chief information officer at several large corporations. Priscilla is retired and serving as a community volunteer and philanthropist.
