Award Memorializes Popular Camp Alumnus
In 2012, The Adirondack Scholarship Foundation, Inc., and the Potel family of Croton-on-Hudson, New York were pleased to announce the creation of The Matthew Potel Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship, which is earmarked for new recipients – one per summer – began in 2013, and memorializes former Pok-O-MacCready camper and counselor Matt Potel, who passed away while climbing in the Adirondacks in 2011, at the age of 22. The Potel family wrote:
In 2012, The Adirondack Scholarship Foundation, Inc., and the Potel family of Croton-on-Hudson, New York were pleased to announce the creation of The Matthew Potel Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship, which is earmarked for new recipients – one per summer – began in 2013, and memorializes former Pok-O-MacCready camper and counselor Matt Potel, who passed away while climbing in the Adirondacks in 2011, at the age of 22. The Potel family wrote:
“Without question, Matt’s devotion to the outdoors in general, and the Adirondacks in particular, was sparked and nurtured at Camp Pok-O-MacCready. When Matt was 13, he asked us to find him an ‘old-fashioned camp.’ He got that at Pok-O, and much more. Matt often spoke of the warm and welcoming atmosphere at camp, where he made some of his very best friends. He was inspired by the counselors and staff to challenge himself, and learn the skills of an outdoorsman. It was on the advice of one of his counselors that Matt went on to sharpen and expand his leadership skills at the National Outdoor Leadership School. We want to honor Matt’s memory by giving other children who exemplify Matt’s passion for the outdoors and his warm and enthusiastic personality, a chance to experience what Matt did at Camp Pok-O-MacCready.”
Speaking on behalf of the foundation, Director Tim Singer said, “This is a wonderful gesture from the Potels. Matt’s sudden passing cut deeply within the camp family and I can’t even imagine how it affected his immediate family. To honor him with this scholarship will give us all a chance to keep Matt’s tremendous spirit alive at camp, while giving a new child a chance to experience the joy and outdoor wonder that so shaped Matt.”
The Matthew Potel Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a first-time scholarship recipient who best fits the following criteria:
The Potel scholarship was the second memorial award created by the foundation in 2012; in January, the Shneor Cheshin Memorial Scholarship was instituted, with its first recipient coming to camp for the 2012 season. In 2014, the Douglas Fischer Memorial Scholarship was established.
Speaking on behalf of the foundation, Director Tim Singer said, “This is a wonderful gesture from the Potels. Matt’s sudden passing cut deeply within the camp family and I can’t even imagine how it affected his immediate family. To honor him with this scholarship will give us all a chance to keep Matt’s tremendous spirit alive at camp, while giving a new child a chance to experience the joy and outdoor wonder that so shaped Matt.”
The Matthew Potel Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a first-time scholarship recipient who best fits the following criteria:
- Is of financial need
- Displays an interest and potential passion for wilderness activities (such as hiking, backpacking, canoeing, caving, rock climbing), while not having had a lot of past experience in outdoor pursuits
- Has demonstrated good academic credentials and intellectual curiosity
- Is interested in environmental preservation
- Demonstrates leadership potential through personality traits such as: responsible, empathic, resourceful, hard-working, enthusiastic, caring.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; A genuine heartfelt interest in other people.
The Potel scholarship was the second memorial award created by the foundation in 2012; in January, the Shneor Cheshin Memorial Scholarship was instituted, with its first recipient coming to camp for the 2012 season. In 2014, the Douglas Fischer Memorial Scholarship was established.